Practically Speaking: Behind the Episode “You Are NOT Unacceptable: Traumatic Invalidation and PTSD”
Traumatic invalidation is a powerful and often misunderstood concept that can play a significant role in the development and maintenance of PTSD. In our latest P4P episode, we sit down with Dr. Robin Brody who shared her insights on what traumatic invalidation is and how it contributes to trauma responses, including PTSD.
Listen to the full discussion here: You Are NOT Unacceptable: Traumatic Invalidation and PTSD
So what IS traumatic invalidation? Traumatic invalidation occurs when a person’s emotions, behaviors, or identity are repeatedly dismissed, belittled, or rejected by important people in their lives—such as family members, bosses, or societal structures. It can manifest as emotional neglect, severe criticism, unequal treatment, or outright denial of one’s reality. This form of invalidation is particularly harmful because it doesn't just diminish the person's emotional experiences; it directly challenges their sense of self-worth and belonging in the world.
Dr. Brody explains that traumatic invalidation can come from both interpersonal and systemic sources. For example, an individual might face invalidation from a family member who constantly criticizes their emotions or behaviors, or they could experience societal invalidation through discrimination or marginalization.
What is the link to PTSD? While we typically think of PTSD as resulting from a single traumatic event, Dr. Brody points out that traumatic invalidation can also play a pivotal role in the development of PTSD. This is especially true when invalidation becomes chronic and pervasive, changing the way an individual sees themselves and their world. In some cases, the invalidation itself—whether it’s emotional abuse, exclusion, or blame—can become the primary trauma.
For example, sexual assault survivors who are not believed or are blamed for the assault often experience additional trauma through invalidation, which can be just as damaging as the initial event. Similarly, Vietnam War veterans faced not only the horrors of war but also societal invalidation upon returning home, which often worsened their PTSD symptoms. Dr. Brody’s experience working with various trauma survivors, including 9/11 responders, revealed that invalidation-related trauma often surfaces as the most distressing and impactful trauma, even when it doesn’t meet the traditional DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. “When we sit down and we try and identify an index trauma to do CPT with or PE with, I am continuously amazed by the frequency with which a traumatic invalidation-related instance that might not be considered meeting criteria for criterion A, that that is actually the index trauma that is most distressing, most haunting, most impactful at this point in their lives.” she says. This highlights that invalidation can be as devastating as any event typically classified as trauma.
At its core, traumatic invalidation tells the individual that they are not acceptable. This deep sense of rejection can threaten a person’s very sense of humanity, much like a Criterion A trauma does. When an individual is invalidated, they may internalize harmful beliefs such as "I don’t belong," "I am unworthy," or "I am crazy." These beliefs can lead to ongoing shame and isolation, making it harder for individuals to trust themselves or others.
When traumatic invalidation is present, it can create persistent trauma cues that trigger these negative beliefs, leading to heightened emotional and behavioral responses similar to PTSD. This is why Dr. Brody argues that, for many people, trauma symptoms may not just stem from an event, but from the ongoing invalidation they experienced before, during, or after that event.
One of the key takeaways from Dr. Brody’s insights is the importance of recognizing traumatic invalidation in therapeutic settings, especially for those struggling with PTSD. Tools like psychoeducation and screening measures can help identify this issue, allowing therapists to validate the person’s experience and provide the necessary support for healing. If you are interested in learning more about traumatic invalidation, and specifically what YOU can do to better assess and address it directly in your practice, take a listen to this episode. Helping individuals understand and name their experience of traumatic invalidation can be a profound step in their recovery. We hope your next step is to listen on your favorite podcast platform.
As always, stay curious and mind you EBP’s. Until next time…
Listen to the full discussion here: You Are NOT Unacceptable: Traumatic Invalidation and PTSD
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working as the Associate Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.
Traumatic invalidation is a powerful and often misunderstood concept that can play a significant role in the development and maintenance of PTSD. In our latest P4P episode, we sit down with Dr. Robin Brody who shared her insights on what traumatic invalidation is and how it contributes to trauma responses, including PTSD.
Listen to the full discussion here: You Are NOT Unacceptable: Traumatic Invalidation and PTSD
So what IS traumatic invalidation? Traumatic invalidation occurs when a person’s emotions, behaviors, or identity are repeatedly dismissed, belittled, or rejected by important people in their lives—such as family members, bosses, or societal structures. It can manifest as emotional neglect, severe criticism, unequal treatment, or outright denial of one’s reality. This form of invalidation is particularly harmful because it doesn't just diminish the person's emotional experiences; it directly challenges their sense of self-worth and belonging in the world.
Dr. Brody explains that traumatic invalidation can come from both interpersonal and systemic sources. For example, an individual might face invalidation from a family member who constantly criticizes their emotions or behaviors, or they could experience societal invalidation through discrimination or marginalization.
What is the link to PTSD? While we typically think of PTSD as resulting from a single traumatic event, Dr. Brody points out that traumatic invalidation can also play a pivotal role in the development of PTSD. This is especially true when invalidation becomes chronic and pervasive, changing the way an individual sees themselves and their world. In some cases, the invalidation itself—whether it’s emotional abuse, exclusion, or blame—can become the primary trauma.
For example, sexual assault survivors who are not believed or are blamed for the assault often experience additional trauma through invalidation, which can be just as damaging as the initial event. Similarly, Vietnam War veterans faced not only the horrors of war but also societal invalidation upon returning home, which often worsened their PTSD symptoms. Dr. Brody’s experience working with various trauma survivors, including 9/11 responders, revealed that invalidation-related trauma often surfaces as the most distressing and impactful trauma, even when it doesn’t meet the traditional DSM-5 criteria for PTSD. “When we sit down and we try and identify an index trauma to do CPT with or PE with, I am continuously amazed by the frequency with which a traumatic invalidation-related instance that might not be considered meeting criteria for criterion A, that that is actually the index trauma that is most distressing, most haunting, most impactful at this point in their lives.” she says. This highlights that invalidation can be as devastating as any event typically classified as trauma.
At its core, traumatic invalidation tells the individual that they are not acceptable. This deep sense of rejection can threaten a person’s very sense of humanity, much like a Criterion A trauma does. When an individual is invalidated, they may internalize harmful beliefs such as "I don’t belong," "I am unworthy," or "I am crazy." These beliefs can lead to ongoing shame and isolation, making it harder for individuals to trust themselves or others.
When traumatic invalidation is present, it can create persistent trauma cues that trigger these negative beliefs, leading to heightened emotional and behavioral responses similar to PTSD. This is why Dr. Brody argues that, for many people, trauma symptoms may not just stem from an event, but from the ongoing invalidation they experienced before, during, or after that event.
One of the key takeaways from Dr. Brody’s insights is the importance of recognizing traumatic invalidation in therapeutic settings, especially for those struggling with PTSD. Tools like psychoeducation and screening measures can help identify this issue, allowing therapists to validate the person’s experience and provide the necessary support for healing. If you are interested in learning more about traumatic invalidation, and specifically what YOU can do to better assess and address it directly in your practice, take a listen to this episode. Helping individuals understand and name their experience of traumatic invalidation can be a profound step in their recovery. We hope your next step is to listen on your favorite podcast platform.
As always, stay curious and mind you EBP’s. Until next time…
Listen to the full discussion here: You Are NOT Unacceptable: Traumatic Invalidation and PTSD
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jenna Ermold, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist working as the Associate Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.