Understanding the threat response

CK Therapy : Psychoeducation
So often, when we try to understand our trauma or threat response through biological terminology alone, the information can feel overwhelming or difficult to absorb.
To make this easier, we’ve created a visual way of understanding what happens inside us when our brain senses danger, inspired by Deborah Lee’s examples in the Compassionate Mind Approach to Trauma.
In this model, we imagine three parts of an inner team working to keep us safe:
The Sergeant
This part reacts fast, scanning for threat, sounding the alarm, and getting us ready to survive. It jumps into action automatically, long before we’ve had time to think.
The Administrator
This part steps in to organise, plan, problem-solve and keep everything functioning. It tries to manage the chaos the Sergeant alerts us to.
The Compassionate Person
This part soothes, regulates and helps us feel grounded again. It brings kindness, perspective and calm, which trauma can make difficult to access.
When we’ve lived through frightening or overwhelming experiences, our body can stay on alert even long after the danger has passed. That’s because the brain’s threat system is designed to protect us first, not to evaluate whether the danger is still present.
Understanding these three inner roles can help us make sense of why we react the way we do and how we can gently support ourselves toward safety, compassion and recovery.
If you’d like to explore ;
- Psychoeducation sessions
- developing your own compassionate skills
-trauma informed therapy including EMDR get in touch with us today!
Link in bio or visit www.ckpsychotherapy.co.uk
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