If you’re a certified sex addiction therapist, or someone who has
been through sex addiction treatment, you may be familiar with the
concept of the trauma egg. It plays an important role in the completion
of Task 9, Acknowledge Cycles of Abuse, in Dr. Patrick Carnes’
30 Task Model of sex addiction treatment.
Its use is not limited to sex addiction treatment, though.
Completing and sharing a trauma egg in group therapy or with a therapist
or sponsor can be a very empowering activity for any one working
through the aftermath of emotional trauma.
The trauma egg was developed as a tool for treating emotional trauma
by Marilyn Murray, an internationally-recognized authority on trauma,
abuse, deprivation, and its consequences. Along with The Circles of
Intimacy, The Scindo Syndrome, and The Survival Bricks, it makes up
what’s known as The Murray Method, which she has developed and expanded
upon throughout her more than 30 years of experience.
Marilyn’s work inspires and complements the work of our some of our
own therapists and Senior Fellows at The Meadows. That’s why we feel
especially honored that Marilyn herself has offered to facilitate a
Murray Method Workshop at The Meadows Outpatient Center in Scottsdale,
Arizona. It is the first time in more than 10 years that Marilyn has
offered her training in the United States.
The Trauma Egg
Completing a trauma egg allows a person to take an inventory of
emotionally traumatic and painful events that took place throughout
their lives from birth to the present day. More importantly, the
activity helps them to begin to identify the traumatic personal beliefs
that resulted from those events.
For example, if a child experiences a lot of abandonment, he or she
forms a belief to explain why they were abandoned. The belief they
create may be that there were not good enough or that they were
unworthy.
Traumatic beliefs are disempowering and painful, and they prevent
people from understanding their real emotional needs. Those who don’t
understand their emotional needs often don’t know how to fulfill them in
healthy ways, and may turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or a variety of
other substances and activities to try and fill the emptiness left
behind by their unmet emotional needs.
Through sharing the trauma egg with a therapist or therapy group, a
person can gain a new perspective on the events in their lives, and
begin to challenge and change their core, traumatic beliefs. This is the
key to recovery from addictions and many other behavioral disorders.
The Murray Method Workshop
The Murray Method workshop is a four-day training session that gives
therapists and mental health professionals the opportunity to complete a
trauma egg of their own and to develop deeper insights about the
effects of trauma and abuse on their patients and themselves. CEUs are
available for those who complete the course.
Shereen Hariri, MFT, attended one of Marilyn’s Murray Method workshops and says it really enhanced her perspectives on trauma and treatment:
“We were using [the trauma egg] a little bit with our intensive
outpatient clients who were coming in for sex addiction and love
addiction, but when I took the course with her… I just really got this
experience of getting it….If you want to the full experience, go find
Marilyn and do the whole thing with her.”
Ralph H. Earle (MDiv, PhD, ABPP, LMFT, CSAT)
of Psychological Counseling Services in Scottsdale, Arizona says he
also recommends Marilyn Murray and her Murray Method without
reservation.
“I have used the Murray Method both personally and professionally.
The method impacted me in terms of my own growth—most importantly, I was
“Marilynized” almost 30 years ago when Marilyn was developing her
method. It also impacted me in terms of my relationship with my son… The
Murray Method has literally been used every day in our practice by all
of our therapists.”
Although the workshop is geared toward professionals, all are welcome
to attend. Mostly anyone could benefit from spending time thinking
about their core beliefs and how they may be holding them back. One of
our Intake coordinators would be happy to help you determine whether
this workshop is right for you.
Sessions of The Murray Method will be offered at The Meadows Outpatient Center on
- February 18 – 21, 2016
- March 17 – 20, 2016
- April 14 – 17, 2016
To learn more about the workshop, or to register, call
800-244-4949 or visit
The Meadows Outpatient Center Events page.
