How We Can Heal: Recent Episodes
Lisa Danylchuk
Season 7 ends with a look back at what we built together: a collection of conversations designed to support embodied, collective trauma healing. I’m taking a summer pause, but before we step away, I want to name the themes that kept returning across the season and why they matter if you live with complex trauma, support survivors, or work in mental health.
You’ll hear a quick tour of the guests and topics that shaped this run of the How We Can Heal podcast, from preventing organized and extreme abuse to disability pride, intergenerational resilience, and the ways music can become a bridge back to self. We also touch the clinical questions: how borderline personality disorder can be mistaken for complex trauma, how trauma-informed research is helping us Find Solid Ground, and what to keep in mind when offering transgender-affirming support in trauma therapy. We close with a nod to predictive processing and the Flash Technique, pointing to practical ways the brain can update and soften stuck threat responses.
Then the lens widens. A reflection inspired by Artemis space travel lands on a truth that’s hard to unsee: from far enough away, Earth looks like one lifeboat. That perspective invites gratitude and a deeper sense of connection, the kind that makes healing feel less lonely and more like a shared crew effort.
If this season supported you, scroll back and catch what you missed, share a favorite conversation with a friend, and stay connected for updates. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell me which guest or idea you want to hear more about next!
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Today I’m joined by trauma therapist and EMDR trainer Thomas Zimmerman to talk about Flash technique, a fast-evolving approach that aims to process traumatic memories with dramatically less distress, especially for people with complex PTSD and dissociation who may struggle with the “admission cost” of standard EMDR.
We unpack what Flash is, why it can work even when someone cannot tolerate long activation, and how it differs from simply “distracting” yourself. Thomas explains his predictive processing version of Flash through a clear image: instead of dumping the whole memory into awareness, we bring in one tiny “bean” of it, then shift into a strong pleasant scene to create the kind of sensory mismatch that helps the nervous system update. We also explore why dissociation can be a brilliant adaptation, how culture shapes what we think healing should look like, and why resourcing can be practical, tolerable, and even fun.
We get concrete about clinical application too: the core resources Thomas teaches, why sensory grounding matters, how parts-informed consent changes the pace, and when to slow down for DID or severe amnesia. We close with where the research is headed, what Thomas is building next through trainings and a nonprofit, and why accessible trauma therapy could matter at a societal scale.
If this conversation sparks something for you, subscribe, share it with someone who’d benefit, and leave a review. What’s one idea from this talk you want to try or think about more?
Learn more:
https://thomaszimmerman.us/
https://emdrcleveland.com/
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Pronouns can feel like a tiny detail until you realize they are a real-time test of safety. When someone’s identity has been questioned, policed, or punished, the smallest moments in a therapy office can signal either danger or relief. I sit down with Dr. Lou Himes, a licensed psychologist and certified specialist in transgender mental health, to get concrete about what gender-affirming care looks like when trauma, dissociation, and systemic betrayal are part of the story.
We talk about how Dr. Himes found their way into working with transgender clients, why many well-intentioned clinicians still hesitate, and how a trauma-informed lens can help us understand anger and guardedness as protection rather than “resistance.” We dig into identity-affirming therapy as dignity-affirming care and self-determination, including why it can be more healing to honor a client’s self-definition early on than to rush toward certainty or a perfect clinical formulation. Dr. Himes also shares how psychodynamic psychotherapy makes room for contradiction, parts of self, and shifting truths without treating clients as deceptive.
We also zoom out to the sociopolitical climate and what helps when anxiety spikes: boundaries around the news, a return from hypervigilance to inner focus, and simple co-regulation that prioritizes breath and presence. Finally, we touch the tender terrain of spirituality and religious trauma, and the idea that deep therapy is “soul work” that helps people grow back the parts of themselves they had to hide.
If this conversation supports you, subscribe, share it with someone who cares about LGBTQIA+ mental health, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one idea you’re taking with you?
Learn more about Dr. Himes here: https://drhimes.com/
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This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
The people most harmed by trauma are often the ones research quietly leaves out: clients dealing with severe dissociation, chronic self-harm risk, suicidal crises, and symptoms that don’t fit neatly into a study design. That’s why this conversation with clinical psychologist and trauma researcher Dr. Bethany Brand lands so hard and so hopefully. We talk about Finding Solid Ground (FSG), a structured stabilization program created specifically for complex trauma, complex PTSD, and dissociative disorders, and why its step-by-step approach can help both survivors and the therapists supporting them.
We unpack how the program was built over 15 years with a “dream team” of experts plus direct feedback from people with lived experience with dissociation. Bethany explains the logic behind the sequencing across modules: grounding as the true foundation, separating past from present to reduce flooding from traumatic intrusions, then moving into safety planning and emotional work only after clients have enough internal resources to tolerate it. We also explore the unique role of brief teaching videos and workbook practice, including why the videos can feel relational while still staying safely under the client’s control.
Then we dig into the research. Bethany walks through results from a randomized controlled trial showing Finding Solid Ground adds measurable benefit beyond individual therapy alone, along with individual-level findings like reliable change and reduced deterioration. We also touch on what clinicians report learning and how the program can strengthen the therapy relationship, build self-compassion, and expand adaptive capacities in ways people don’t always expect from “stage one” trauma treatment.
If you’re looking for evidence-based trauma stabilization tools, grounded coping skills, and a clearer map for dissociation treatment, press play. If the conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs a steadier path, and leave a review so more people can find this work.
Learn more about FSG here: https://www.findingsolidground.info/
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What if trauma healing is less about excavating one awful moment and more about learning how to move through life again with skill, support, and a steadier nervous system? I’m joined by Dr. Rochelle Sharpe Lohrasbe, a clinical counselor, educator, and supervisor with four decades of experience in complex trauma, dissociation, EMDR-informed work, and deeply somatic approaches to resilience. We talk about the philosophy behind her upcoming book, Trauma and Somatic Healing: Wayfinding and the Intelligence of Experience in Therapeutic Practice, and why “wayfinding” can be a kinder, more realistic framework than trying to conquer trauma head-on.
We explore how trauma therapy can become too reductive, focusing on pieces without enough time or space for integration. Rochelle shares why resourcing matters, how “state becomes trait” can turn adaptive survival responses into identity, and why shifting the conditions around a person can be just as important as what happens inside them. We also dig into how language shapes healing, how clients and therapists can get stuck making trauma feel too big, and how building capacity through smaller steps can restore movement and hope.
One of my favorite parts is Rochelle’s use of nature metaphors: the self as a landscape, emotions as weather, and learning to surf internal waves instead of becoming the tsunami that wipes everything out. We end with a grounded conversation about contentment, authenticity, and the kinds of relationships and daily moments that quietly rebuild a life after trauma. If you’re looking for trauma-informed, body-based insights on complex PTSD, dissociation, somatic healing, and resilience, this one is for you.
If you enjoy the show, please subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. What’s one idea from this conversation you want to try this week?
Support the show
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
What if the most misunderstood diagnosis in mental health is actually a trauma story told in code? We sit down with Janina Fisher to unpack why many “borderline” symptoms are survival adaptations and how Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) helps people find steady ground without getting lost in overwhelm. This is a conversation about dignity, clarity, and the profound relief that comes when symptoms are seen as protective parts doing their best to keep us safe.
Janina walks us through the core moves of TIST: recognizing structural dissociation, naming parts linked to fight, flight, freeze, submit, or attach, and using mindful awareness to “notice the part, then notice you noticing.” That simple shift creates a compassionate observing self that calms intensity and restores choice. We talk about reframing suicidality as a mercy offer from a protector, and understanding the inner critic as a rule-enforcer shaped by dangerous homes rather than a permanent enemy. Along the way, Janina shares how stabilization grows when curiosity replaces control, and why skills only work when tied to what is actually happening in the room.
We also get practical. You’ll hear how to spot feeling memories when the past feels painfully present, how to ground in ways that are responsive rather than prescriptive, and how therapists can avoid old traps like trying to “make” clients connect with emotions. For those seeking help, Janina offers questions to ask when vetting clinicians and points to training pathways and her new workbook, Embracing Our Fragmented Selves, designed for survivors and therapists alike.
If you’re ready to see borderline dynamics through a trauma lens, this episode offers a map filled with compassion and usable steps. Subscribe, share with a colleague or friend who needs this reframe, and leave a review to tell us which insight shifted your practice or your healing journey.
Learn more about Dr. Fisher here: https://janinafisher.com/about/
Support the show
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
What if healing trauma started with a wider lens—one that includes history, culture, policy, and the daily negotiations of belonging? We sit down with clinical psychologist and researcher Usha Timolinarra to examine how immigration, racism, and collective memory shape individual symptoms, family dynamics, and community resilience. The conversation moves from the shift in care from “what’s wrong” to “what happened, to the include social, economic and political contexts, among others. Context matters, across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
Usha unpacks dissociation as more than detachment, describing a dual sense of self that many immigrants and their children develop to survive competing expectations. We explore the costs and strengths of compartmentalization, the normalization of silence around sexual violence among Indian American and Mexican American families, and why breaking that silence can threaten belonging even as it opens space to heal. Listeners hear how survivors bridge Western psychotherapy with community-rooted and indigenous practices, building bicultural healing that honors both science and tradition.
For therapists, we dive into staying steady in a volatile sociopolitical climate: tending to our own stress, practicing lifelong cultural learning, and inviting specificity around shame, guilt, and identity. Usha illustrates how psychoanalytic concepts—defense, transference, countertransference—become more powerful when joined with a social lens that recognizes racism, colorism, and policy as active forces in the room. We track practical routes from therapy to impact: mentoring students, briefings on the Hill during the DREAM Act era, and using media to translate data with empathy and urgency.
We also tackle the debate on racial trauma as a diagnosis, the lived effects of chronic racism, and Usha’s current research on early-career psychologists of color and the intergenerational legacy of colorism. The throughline is hope with a backbone: speak truth, remember history, and keep widening the range of possible futures for our clients, our communities, and ourselves. If this resonates, follow the show, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more listeners can find these conversations.
Learn more about Dr. Tummala-Narra here:
https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/lynch-school/faculty-research/faculty-directory/Usha-Tummala-Narra.html
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When the world feels heavy and full of noise, how do we make space for breath, truth, and light? We invited mezzo soprano Molly Mahoney to share how singing— anything from opera to jazz to cabaret—became both her art and her way of meeting hard days with honest hope.
Molly’s new recording of Over the Rainbow with Grammy-winning pianist John Wilson anchors our conversation: not as a sugar-coated escape, but as a grounded arc from jumble and rain to a place beyond the rainbow. We talk about why this timeless song still resonates, how long exhales settle the body, and what happens when a melody lets you feel before you have to explain.
Together, we unpack the somatic side of voice: simple alignment resets, shhhh exhales, and micro-moments against a wall or on the floor that open the ribs and low back. Molly shares stories from her voice studio, where adult beginners—many told to “just mouth the words”—discover that singing is learnable, gentle, and deeply human. With breath support, vowel shape, and kind feedback, pitch becomes a skill and expression feels safe again. We explore live performance as co-creation, the quiet magic of audience attunement, and the way small imperfections turn into fresh choices on stage.
Parenting threads through our talk too: prenatal lullabies, toddlers who light up when a song returns, and the rituals that bind families and friends in kitchens and living rooms. Music becomes a practice for everyday resilience, a place to set burdens down without denying them. If you’ve ever thought “I can’t sing,” this is your invitation to try—one inhale, one long note, one truthful lyric at a time. Press play to learn breath tools you can use today, hear the story behind Over the Rainbow, and remember why your unique voice matters.
If this conversation moves you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs some light, and leave a quick review so more people can find these tools and stories. Your voice matters, and it helps our healing community grow.
Listen on Spotify and Apple Music:
https://linktr.ee/mollymarymahoney
Learn more about Molly:
www.mollymarymahoney.com
"Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg
"Meadowlark" from The Baker's Wife by Stephen Schwartz
Molly Mahoney, voice
John Wilson, piano
Cory Todd, recording engineer and mastering
recorded December 2025 at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on a Steinway piano
Photo credit (sky with clouds): Veronique Kherian
Support the show
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
What happens when compassion meets competence—and lived experience leads the way? We invited Anne Nicely and Lexi M., co-founders of Beauty After Bruises, to share how a homegrown effort to help one survivor of dissociative identity disorder expanded into a nationwide bridge for people living with complex trauma and dissociation. From funding care to educating clinicians, their mission is simple and urgent: make healing possible, practical, and grounded in research.
We unpack the real differences between trauma informed and trauma competent care, why the best therapists’ rosters are often full, and how short trainings can’t substitute for years of learning with complex PTSD and DID. Lexi explains why she chooses anonymity for safety and modeling boundaries, while offering rich, accessible psychoeducation through articles, symptom management guides, and hope-centered resources. Together, we explore the daily practices that prevent burnout—tight boundaries, humor, brief news windows, playful resets, and a “hope folder” of wins—so survivors, families, and helpers can keep going.
The conversation gets specific about consent and communication. Families often want to help but can overreach; meta-questions like “Would it help if I asked about this?” and “Is this helping or hurting?” return agency to survivors and protect pacing. We highlight practical stabilization: check basics first (sleep, food, water, movement), ask “What do I need right now?” and, if stuck, reverse engineer by testing a few supports. Anne and Lexi also share what scale could look like with serious funding: year-long therapy grants and more robust therapy boxes for those without local clinicians, ensuring continuity and real foundations for healing.
If you care about complex trauma, dissociation, and the path from buzzwords to better care, this episode offers clarity, candor, and grounded hope. Listen, share with a colleague or loved one, and tell us your biggest takeaway. If it resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it along to someone who needs honest encouragement today.
Support the show
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
What if therapy could feel creative, embodied, and joyful—and still deliver precise, measurable change? We sit down with David Archer—anti-racist psychotherapist, EMDRIA-approved trainer, and developer of Rhythm and Processing—to rethink how healing happens for complex PTSD, racial trauma, and dissociation. David lays out a clear, accessible path from predictive processing and memory reconsolidation to practical tools you can use right away: client-led actions, music and imagery, community rituals, and therapeutic “surprise” that helps the brain update old patterns without forcing catharsis.
Across the conversation, we explore how EMDR grows stronger through an anti-oppressive lens that welcomes culture, faith, and art into the room. David shares real-world examples of using visualization, pets, numbers, and rhythm to create disconfirming experiences that soften hyper-vigilance and despair. We also talk frankly about therapist burnout and vicarious trauma, and why protecting helpers is non-negotiable if we want sustainable care. Boundaries and action alongside recovery and rest offer ways to organize both clinical work and daily life.
We widen the lens to institutional betrayal, misdiagnosis tied to racial bias, and the urgent need for trauma-informed systems that value courage over comfort. Instead of fitting clients into rigid methods, David urges us to let clients generate the method—an approach that supports neurodiversity, scales to groups, and keeps humanity at the center of mental health. If you’re curious about predictive processing, memory reconsolidation, EMDR, or culturally responsive care, this is a grounded, hopeful roadmap for change.
If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague or friend, and leave a review on your favorite app. Your words help others find the tools—and the courage—to heal.
Connect with David here!
Meeting Groups:
https://calendly.com/archertherapy/
Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhythmandprocessing
Anti-Ractist Psychotherpy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1777450438
Racial Trauma Recovery:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1777450470
Trainings:
https://archertherapy.com/
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Are you a therapist looking to organize your business? Try SimplePractice! Start with a seven-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months.
Just go to https://www.simplepractice.com/ to claim the offer!
Curiosity heals faster than control. That’s the thread we follow with Lynette Danylchuk, PhD—trailblazing psychologist, past ISSTD president, and coauthor of Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation. We talk about why the field has exploded with research and lived-experience leadership, and how the best therapy now balances sturdy containers with deep listening. Tools matter, but timing, consent, and relationship matter more. When we lead with humility, the psyche reveals its own map.
We get honest about clinician burnout and how to refill the well with beauty, community, and expressive arts. Long exhale singing, a moonlit walk, laughter with a trusted friend—these aren’t luxuries; they’re nervous system care. Lynette reframes dissociation as creativity under pressure, showing how fierce protectors once patterned after harm can be reclaimed in service of dignity. Integration becomes alignment: every self-state moving with the values the person chooses, not the rules of past abuse.
We also zoom out to collective trauma. React or respond? That choice shapes movements and mental health alike. Using anger as fuel for care keeps the frontal cortex online and harm in check. We talk intergenerational resilience, asking about ancestors to find the strengths that carried families through. For those seeking help, we share practical routes—referrals, skill-building programs, and the persistence it takes to find a good fit. And for a culture that long blamed victims, we name the shift underway: more empathy, more protection for children, and more voices rising to end the silence.
If this conversation gives you a spark—share it with someone who needs language for what they’re feeling, subscribe for more grounded healing talks, and leave a review so others can find us. Tell us: what practice helps you respond, not react, this week?
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Are you a therapist looking to organize your business? Try SimplePractice! Start with a seven-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months.
Just go to https://www.simplepractice.com/ to claim the offer!
What happens when accessibility stops being an afterthought and becomes the starting line? That question drives our conversation with journalist, podcast host, and disability rights advocate Laszlo Jacksai, whose work blends reporting, storytelling, and community care to challenge the subtle and not-so-subtle ways ableism shows up in daily life.
We trace Laszlo’s path from launching Friends With Wheels to writing Disabled and Proud, and hear how authenticity—over algorithms—shaped his creative voice. He breaks down the difference between support and spectacle, explains why “you’re an inspiration” can land as a burden, and shares candid stories about accommodations that exist on paper but fail in practice. From IEPs and speech-to-text to seating at a crowded restaurant, he shows how small design choices add up to either friction or freedom.
Laszlo also maps the power of community, highlighting the DO-IT Program at the University of Washington and the value of peer networks that turn isolation into belonging. We talk practical allyship—ask before helping, learn the language of disability justice, build feedback loops at school and work—and we look at simple tools that rebuild energy and confidence, like guided meditations and self-hypnosis apps. His view of resilience is refreshingly human: not a quick bounce-back, but a steady commitment to keep showing up, try new strategies, and trust yourself through the next curveball.
If you care about disability advocacy, accessibility, inclusive education, and mental health, this conversation offers clear steps and real stories you can act on today. Listen, reflect, and share this episode with someone who’s designing a space, leading a classroom, or rethinking how they offer help. If the show resonates, follow, rate, and leave a review—then tell us: what’s one accessibility change you’ll champion this week?
Listen to Friends with Wheels here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friends-with-wheels/id1623717823
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**Are you a therapist looking to organize your business? Try SimplePractice! Start with a seven-day free trial, then get 50% off your first three months.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/ to claim the offer!**
What happens when we stop treating child sexual abuse as isolated “bad apples” and start seeing it as organized crime shaped by networks, money flows, and technology? We sit down with Dr. Michael Salter—criminologist, author, and global leader in child protection—to map the hidden systems that enable abuse and the practical steps that can disrupt it without re‑traumatizing survivors.
Michael shares how internet evidence shattered old myths and revealed collaborative, often sadistic offender networks operating on encrypted platforms. He explains why public awareness has surged while policy and policing lag behind, and how offender demographics—more educated, higher income, well‑networked—complicate investigations. We unpack the stark difference between high conviction rates for online offenses and the uphill battle of prosecuting intrafamilial abuse without corroborating evidence, then dive into how banks and payment rails have become crucial terrain for detection and disruption.
From the therapy room to the courtroom, we explore what it takes to support survivors of organized and extreme abuse. Michael offers grounded guidance for clinicians on pacing, reality testing, and building strong supervision so we can hold hope instead of collapsing into vicarious despair. We examine DARVO, the self‑protective reflexes of institutions, and how to prepare clients for the realities of reporting. Most importantly, we highlight shame‑sensitive, dignity‑affirming design—small details that signal worth at every step—and learn from Australia’s Royal Commission, which turned logistics into healing by treating survivors like they truly matter.
This conversation is candid, compassionate, and actionable. If you’re a therapist, advocate, policymaker, or concerned listener, you’ll leave with a clearer map of the problem and a blueprint for change: integrate therapy, law enforcement, finance, and tech; design for dignity; and keep public attention focused even when headlines shift. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help bring more light—and more accountability—to this work.
Learn more about Michael's work at: https://www.organisedabuse.com/
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A quiet shift in one enzyme may be steering how we age—and how strong we stay. Dr. Helen Blau, trailblazing Stanford scientist and 2025 National Medal of Science honoree, joins us to unpack a breakthrough decades in the making: prostaglandin E2 is essential for muscle stem cell repair, yet a degrading enzyme creeps up with age, draining that signal and eroding strength. Her team calls it a “gerozyme,” and blocking it with a targeted small molecule restored muscle size, power, and endurance in aged mice. The first human safety trial is complete, and a Phase 2 study in sarcopenia is on deck.
We dig into the practical takeaways for athletes and anyone over 50: why the inflammatory wave after training is needed for rebuilding, how common NSAIDs can blunt the very gains you’re chasing, and where a future therapy might help overcome anabolic resistance after illness, injury, or bedrest. Dr. Blau connects the dots across regenerative medicine—tissue‑specific stem cells, iPSCs, and organoids—to show how disease can be modeled in a dish and how patient‑matched cells are speeding smarter drug discovery. We also touch on her early work proving cellular plasticity, new insights on telomeres shortening in heart cells without division, and what “quality” muscle means for safe aging.
Beyond the lab, we talk truth about unproven stem cell clinics, the progress and remaining gaps for women founders in biotech, and the urgent threat of research defunding that stalls clinical trials and drains the talent pipeline. There’s a clear throughline: if we want longer, stronger years—true health span—we need rigorous science, sustained support, and smart training habits that work with our biology, not against it.
If this conversation sparked a shift in how you think about aging and recovery, tap follow, share with a friend who lifts or runs, and leave a review. Your support helps bring evidence‑based breakthroughs to more people—and speeds the path from lab bench to everyday life.
This BONUS EPISODE is our holiday gift for you! If you're looking for somewhere to offer a holiday or year end gift, please consider directly supporting scientists like Dr. Blau & their labs. Donations keep projects alive while funding is disrupted.
Dr. Blau: https://profiles.stanford.edu/helen-blau?tab=bio
The Lab: https://med.stanford.edu/blau-lab.html
The Book: https://www.amazon.com/Stem-Cells-Rescue-Helen-Blau/dp/1621825280
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What if the presence you practice in mindfulness is the same wiring that makes secure attachment possible? That question drives our conversation with clinician, author, and teacher Christine Forner, who introduces Securefulness—a relational state where an attuned nervous system helps another human co‑regulate. Christine explains why care isn’t sentimental; it’s a biologically essential force that organizes safety, regulation, and health. When true care arrives, dissociated pain often surfaces, which can feel like getting worse. She reframes this as healing beginning and uses a powerful “care isn’t the bucket” story, plus a re-feeding analogy, to show how to pace nourishment without overwhelming the system.
We get practical about what Securefulness looks like in the room: noticing micro‑signals like a shoulder hitch or a shift in breath, naming danger qualities, and adding immediate protections—hoodies, pillows, sunglasses, softened gaze—to reduce social threat and restore choice. Christine shares how therapeutic nurturing has helped clients reduce suicidal ideation within weeks by leveraging presence, titration, and interoception. She also digs into primal isolation threat, how shame language takes root in early deprivation, and we talk about why the inner critic is better replaced by an “inner celebrant” that collaborates with the body’s needs.
Zooming out, we challenge the idea that violence is human nature. Christine defines misogyny as disdain for Homo sapien nurturing and argues that many systems are fight‑state adaptations, not destiny. We explore evolutionary roots of co‑regulation, theory of mind as soothing, and why humans likely evolved in stable, alloparenting communities where care was central. There are signs of change: expanding parental leave, trauma‑informed practice, and evidence that stable resources like universal basic income lower addiction and crime while improving health and learning. If we organize society around care—as infrastructure, not charity—healing gets hard but possible, and repeatable.
If this conversation sparks something in you, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review wherever you listen. Your reflections help shape what we explore next—what stood out most to you?
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What does it really take to endure when the air thins, the quads burn, and doubt gets loud? We sit down with ultrarunner Katharina Hartmuth—Hardrock and UTMB podium finisher and winner of the 330 km Tor des Géants—to unpack the mental game of mountain ultras and the deeper work that fuels lasting resilience. From long stretches above 12,000 feet to the rare quiet of a small, devoted race community, Katharina explains why Hardrock feels both brutal and beautiful—and why she keeps coming back.
Katharina is candid about the lows: altitude-driven vision issues, bonks that won’t quit, and the storm-lashed nights where every step is a question. Her toolkit blends practical strategy and inner steadiness—separating pain from harm, checking ego at the door, and letting joy lead and metrics follow. We go further into healing, where she draws a firm line: running is therapeutic, but it isn’t therapy. Years of psychotherapy widened her window of tolerance, rebuilt trust, and turned setbacks into learning. We explore stigma, access, and the biology of stress, showing why mental health care deserves the same respect as injury rehab.
Injuries have tested her in recent years: a car accident, knee surgery, a last-minute bone bruise, and a nagging foot issue. Instead of spiraling, Katharina has learned to reframe recovery as training for patience, leaned on cross-training and strength, and practiced self-kindness that maintains her sense of worth and identity. She also shares how she’s reshaping life for sustainability—creating more rest, more nature, and taking a bold step to focus on running full-time.
If you’re curious about the psychology of endurance, the Hardrock culture, or how therapy and trail running can work together to heal, this conversation is your map. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement today, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. What hard thing you’re ready to try next?
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When slowing down feels dangerous, your body might be living in Global High-Intensity Activation(GHIA): always on, always braced, always moving. Today we sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist and Somatic Experiencing faculty member Mahshid Hager to name that pattern, trace where it comes from, and chart a humane path back to rhythm.
Mahshid explains why a body wired for survival often resists rest, and how to work with that reality using micro-rests that your system will actually allow. We unpack the gas-and-brake reciprocity between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, the difference between hyperarousal and global high, and how swings between overdrive and full collapse can fuel chronic pain, inflammation, and exhaustion. Along the way, curiosity shows up as the quiet superpower ~ because genuine curiosity cannot coexist with threat.
Mahshid shares a story about her relationship with the mountains over the years, and how the same thing that triggers panic can become a source of awe years later - not with forced exposure, but with care for the body. We also reflect on capitalism’s applause for burnout and the 24/7 news cycle that delivers shock without local action. You’ll hear smart, doable suggestions for managing news & technology in a way that keeps you engaged , but not overwhelmed.
If you’re always in GO mode, running on fumes, or trying to support clients through trauma, this conversation offers language, tools, and hope. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a break, and leave a review to help more listeners find their way back to rhythm.
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What if the most powerful medicine starts with warmth, rhythm, and trust in your own body? Today we sit down down with licensed acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, and yoga teacher Tara Tonini to trace how trauma-informed Chinese medicine can steady the nervous system, smooth cycles, and support conception, pregnancy, birth prep, and postpartum in a way that fits into real life. From liver qi and kidney jing to the heart-mind connection, Tara translates complex ideas into simple choices you can make today.
We dig into why many people are “acu-curious” yet needle-averse, and how energy work, qigong, and gentle touch can move qi without needles. Tara breaks down yin and yang as a practical parenting tool—intensity peaks, ease returns—and shows how seasonal eating, warm foods, and cozy rituals rebuild blood, improve sleep, and calm anxiety. She shares why chronic heat practices can dry you out, how cold plunges may impact kidney qi, and how warmth is medicine for conception and early postpartum recovery. You’ll hear concrete tips like herbal foot soaks for insomnia, body tapping along meridians to relieve pain, and using familiar yoga postures as targeted meridian stretches for better flow.
We also explore postpartum care through the lens of “sitting the moon,” with nourishing herbs, digestible meals, and home scents that signal safety. Tara’s trauma-informed clinical approach centers consent, pacing, and patient agency. If you’re navigating fertility, preparing for birth, or rebuilding after, this conversation offers grounded tools and a kinder way to meet your body where it is.
If this resonates, follow and share the episode, leave a review on your favorite app, and tell us the practice you’ll try today. Your story might spark someone else’s healing.
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Mothers are asked to offer the critical early childhood care that shapes people and impacts communities, while systems fail to offer them the basic care they need to thrive.
We invited Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, health psychologist and IBCLC, to map the real drivers of maternal mental health and the surprisingly simple supports that change everything: responsive care, consistent follow‑through after screening, and communities designed to include mothers instead of isolating them.
We trace the chain from attachment to lifelong outcomes—why secure bonds in the first thousand days predict resilience, school success, and adult health—and why rising ACEs signal a collective failure, not individual weakness. Kathleen challenges outdated hormone‑only narratives and explains how stress systems, trauma history, and cultural fit shape postpartum depression. She shares practical shifts any hospital or community can adopt today: walking groups that blend sunlight and peers, Baby Cafés that normalize feeding and connection, and staff who can spot a painful latch and intervene before a spiral begins. We also dig into sleep: red night lights, keeping baby close, and the counterintuitive finding that exclusive breastfeeding moms often sleep more overall because resettling is faster.
For families and friends asking “how can I help?”, we lay out concrete steps: protect a lying‑in period, offer hands‑on care, screen out unhelpful voices, and create an emergency four‑hour sleep window when she’s hanging by a thread. We look squarely at high‑risk groups, especially military mothers, where depression rates soar—then expand the toolkit with options beyond medication when needed: CBT, acupuncture, omega‑3s, vitamin D. We discuss innovations like rTMS, as well as emerging research on the careful use of ketamine with severe suicidal depression. Cultural trust matters; offering choices increases access and honors lived experience. We close with resources you can use now, from community programs to free postpartum art that normalizes breastfeeding and early parenting.
If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who supports new parents, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review—your words help more families find the care and connection they deserve.
Learn more at: https://praeclaruspress.com/
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What if the moment you stop trying to fix yourself is the moment real relief begins? That’s the surprising turn in our conversation with meditation teacher and parent Cara Lai—authorized in the Theravada lineage (IMS, Spirit Rock) and known for an approach that’s honest, funny, and deeply humane. Cara traces her path from art school and a “soul-sucking” office to early retreats that opened a brighter world, then a year-long retreat that didn’t go to plan. Living with Lyme disease, she discovered that discipline without tenderness can harden into harm, and that the path must be larger than the cushion.
We dig into collective pain, intuition, and the limits of control—how Western culture overvalues productivity while dismissing the “soft” skills that stabilize families and communities. Parenting reframes practice: interruptions became invitations, metta becomes embodied, and desire connect us with life-giving intuition. Cara shares how micro-mindfulness moments—feeling joy fully, pausing in a trigger, relaxing the urge to fix—can change a day. She offers practical on-ramps: start with 8 minutes, consider a short retreat if appropriate, and let nature, humor, and community widen your capacity.
This is a story about the middle way reimagined for modern life: less about perfect posture, more about real presence; less about control, more about trust. If you’ve ever tried to meditate your pain away, if parenting has blown up your schedule, or if softness feels “inefficient,” this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and tools you can use today.
If this resonates, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and tell us: what will you soften around this week?
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Yoga doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful. That's the refreshing message from Melanie Salvatore August, who brings her background as a classically trained actor, writer, and veteran yoga teacher into a conversation that strips away pretense and gets to the heart of what makes practice sustainable.
Melanie's journey began with meditation books discovered as a preteen and evolved through her years in New York and Los Angeles before motherhood completely transformed her approach. With disarming honesty, she shares how having three children forced her to reimagine what yoga could look like - leading to her book "Kitchen Yoga" and a philosophy of "microhabits within opportunities." These practical strategies include putting self-care tools where you'll actually use them (like a toothbrush in the kitchen drawer) and finding moments for stretching, breathing, or gratitude practice throughout ordinary activities.
The conversation explores her concept of "fierce kindness" - the gentle but firm redirection of ourselves from fear-based patterns toward love and connection. Melanie offers wisdom about pausing before reacting, using awareness of death to prioritize what truly matters, and finding community to support your practice. Her evolution as a teacher reveals how yoga itself has changed, becoming more inclusive and adaptable while still honoring its transformative potential.
Whether you're struggling to start a practice, finding ways to maintain connection through different life seasons, or seeking to deepen your existing relationship with yoga, Melanie's practical wisdom serves as both permission slip and invitation. As she puts it: "Even bad yoga is good yoga" - a reminder that showing up imperfectly is infinitely better than waiting for perfect conditions that rarely arrive. Ready to discover how simple shifts might transform your everyday experience? This conversation shows the way.
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What if the key to living more fully isn’t thinking harder, but reconnecting with your body? In this week’s episode of How We Can Heal, Lisa sits down with actor and teacher Josh Pais to explore what it really means to “lose your mind” and why that might be the best thing you can do.
Josh shares how his father's work as a theoretical physicist alongside Einstein sparked a profound insight: emotions are simply atomic vibrations. This perspective forms the foundation of his groundbreaking approach to acting and authentic living. Rather than labeling sensations as "good" or "bad," Josh invites us to experience them fully as energy moving through our bodies—a practice that can transform anxiety into aliveness, fear into fuel for creativity.
The conversation explores how suppressing sensations disconnects us from our bodies, triggering what Josh calls "the mind"—that abusive internal voice telling us we're not enough. This disconnection doesn't just limit our creative expression; it affects our ability to form genuine connections with others. Whether you're an actor preparing for an audition, an entrepreneur making a presentation, or anyone navigating daily interactions, this pattern of suppression creates barriers between you and authentic engagement.
Josh introduces fascinating concepts like "kinespheres"—energetic patterns extending beyond our physical bodies—and offers practical tools for playing with these energies to transform how we show up in the world. He guides us through understanding impulses as our purest form of self-expression, challenging the cultural conditioning that teaches us to second-guess our natural responses.
Ready to increase your tolerance for the full spectrum of human experience? Josh's approach offers a path to greater aliveness, creativity, and connection—not by changing your thoughts, but by stepping out of them entirely and into the vibrant reality of embodied presence.
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Ever feel like polarization makes meaningful conversation nearly impossible? Dr. Donna Hicks returns with transformative insights on navigating our divided world through dignity consciousness.
At Harvard's Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Hicks witnesses dignity violations daily yet remains steadfastly committed to her groundbreaking work. She reveals why these violations feel so viscerally painful – our brains process them identically to physical wounds – and offers practical tools for interrupting our instinctive reactions. Forget counting to ten; taking ten deep breaths actually changes your neurochemistry, creating space for thoughtful response rather than reflexive reaction.
The conversation explores what Hicks calls our "relentless ambivalence" as humans – we simultaneously crave safety through self-preservation and connection through dignity recognition. This tension leaves us constantly choosing which impulse will guide our interactions. When approaching difficult conversations, Hicks recommends genuine curiosity: "I'm really curious about how you arrived at your conclusions." This simple yet profound shift creates safety and honors the other person's inherent worth.
Most powerfully, Hicks shares her vision for a dignity-conscious society built on education and practice. From elementary schools to boardrooms to political chambers, she's witnessing growing receptivity to dignity-based approaches. Her nephew, recently appointed President of Ecuador's National Assembly, explicitly leads with dignity principles – proving these concepts can transform even the most contentious political environments.
For those struggling to connect with their own dignity, Hicks offers this bridge: recognize that unworthiness stems not from personal deficiency but from dignity violations experienced. "I'm worthy, no matter what" becomes possible when we understand "something bad happened to me" rather than "something is wrong with me."
Ready to transform your approach to conflict? Listen now to discover how dignity consciousness can heal our divided world – one conversation at a time.
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Lucy Bartholomew brings Australian sunshine to this captivating conversation about finding purpose on mountain trails and wisdom in difficult moments. When Lucy was just 15, she discovered her passion for ultra running alongside her father, embarking on a journey that would take her from weekend camping trips to world championship podiums.
What began as quality time with her dad evolved into a career marked by remarkable achievements—winning Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K, placing third at Western States, and becoming one of only two women to complete both UTMB and the Ironman World Championships in a single year. Yet through her success, Lucy maintains a refreshing perspective that prioritizes joy, connection, and process over outcomes.
The conversation takes a profound turn as Lucy reflects on her father's heartbreaking yet transformative Western States experience in 2023. After ten years of trying to gain entry through the lottery, he completed the entire 100-mile course but missed the official cutoff by just two minutes. Through a documentary that captured this emotional journey, her father became an unexpected spokesperson for valuing the experience over the result—a powerful reminder that what matters most isn't the finish time but the courage to begin and the determination to continue.
Lucy shares her practical wisdom for navigating both trail and life challenges: breaking overwhelming distances into manageable segments, recognizing when physical needs like hunger are masquerading as emotional lows, and maintaining unwavering optimism that "maybe it will get better." Her ability to find joy in the process—even when that means hiking up a mountain pass while eating pizza during UTMB—exemplifies why she's beloved in the ultra-running community.
Whether you're a seasoned ultra runner or someone who's never laced up running shoes, Lucy's insights on resilience, community, and finding your own path will inspire you to embrace challenges with curiosity and courage. As she prepares for another UTMB race, her message remains clear: sometimes the most meaningful journeys are the ones where we dare to cut our own trail.
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What does it truly mean to show up whole and authentic in a world that encourages fragmentation? Dr. Thema Bryant doesn't just talk about integration—she embodies it as a psychologist, author, professor, sacred artist, and minister leading transformative work in trauma healing and relationship building.
Dr. Bryant shares her excitement about merging different aspects of her identity and work, challenging the notion that we must compartmentalize ourselves based on context. "I'm excited about not being segregated within myself and with other people, but to be inviting for us to engage with our whole selves," she explains. This radical authenticity creates ripple effects, encouraging others to bring their full humanity into spaces where they've previously felt silenced.
Our conversation explores the powerful frameworks of decolonial and liberation psychology. Decolonial psychology deconstructs harmful colonial impacts—extraction, dehumanization, and power imbalances—while liberation psychology builds a vision for collective freedom. Dr. Bryant challenges the field's arrogance in assuming psychotherapy is the only path to healing, calling for cultural humility and recognition of diverse healing traditions that have sustained communities for generations.
Perhaps most provocatively, Dr. Bryant calls for mental health professionals to embody the healing they claim to facilitate. "I would love us to actually be well," she says, noting how many practitioners suffer from self-erasure and neglect. She critiques training systems that preach self-care while penalizing boundary-setting, and challenges the field's silence on systemic issues affecting mental health.
From the healing power of arts and cultural practices to the importance of releasing relationships that don't serve us, Dr. Bryant offers practical wisdom for navigating our interconnected existence. She reminds us that "liberation is interwoven, it is collective. It cannot be on the backs of other people's bondage."
The conversation closes with a vision of a world with "more ease in our bodies, more ease with each other, more ease in our spirits," while acknowledging the ongoing need for intentional resistance against harmful patterns. Dr. Bryant's integration of psychology, spirituality, arts, and justice work offers a roadmap for authentic, holistic healing that honors our full humanity.
Join us for this soul-nourishing conversation that will transform how you think about healing, relationships, and creating meaningful change in our complex world.
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Dr. Judith Herman, a towering figure in trauma studies and author of the landmark books "Trauma and Recovery" and "Truth and Repair," takes us on a journey through the evolution of trauma understanding from the 1970s—when we didn't even have terminology for what victims experienced—to today's complex landscape of healing and justice.
Drawing from decades of clinical work and research with survivors, Dr. Herman reveals how trauma exists within frameworks of dominance and subordination that permeate every level of human organization. "Whenever you have a dominant group and a subordinate group, especially when that dominance is deeply embedded in cultures and traditions, ultimately that dominance is enforced by violence," she explains. This perspective illuminates why healing cannot happen in isolation from addressing social power structures.
Perhaps most revolutionary are her findings about what survivors actually want from justice systems. Through interviews with 30 trauma survivors, she discovered that punishment of offenders—the primary offering of our criminal justice system—ranked surprisingly low on survivors' priority lists. Instead, survivors unanimously desired public acknowledgment of what happened, particularly from bystanders rather than perpetrators. They wanted the harm recognized and denounced by their communities. As one survivor powerfully stated, "I think he'd get a kick out of talking about what he did. He wouldn't really be sorry."
Dr. Herman's wisdom extends beyond analysis to action. She advocates for small community groups as starting points for change, emphasizing that healing happens in connection with others. "You can't do it alone," she reminds us. Her mother's saying—"activism is the antidote to despair"—continues to guide her vision for a world built on relationships of equality and mutuality rather than dominance and submission.
Join us for this profound conversation with a true pioneer whose work has transformed how we understand trauma, healing, and the pursuit of justice. Listen, share, and be part of the movement toward a more trauma-informed society.
On September 15th I'm offering a new, free training Freedom from Trauma - register here!
https://howwecanheal.com/freedomfromtrauma/
In this free 60-minute training, I’ll guide you through a compassionate process of identifying trauma and exploring a path forward. Together, we’ll connect with the inner resources and resilience that make healing possible, so you can move beyond surviving and begin to truly thrive.
In this session, we’ll explore:
✨What trauma is and how to recognize it - understanding the signs and patterns that may be shaping your life.
✨Pathways through trauma - tools and approaches to help you find your way forward with compassion.
✨Resilience and psychological resources - practices to strengthen your inner foundation for growth and healing.
✨Steps toward thriving - how to move from simply getting by to living with more ease, connection, and vitality.
This hour together is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and connect with the deeper strengths that are already within you. Whether you’re new to this work or looking to deepen your practice, you’ll leave with practical insights and supportive practices you can carry into your daily life.
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Ready to transform your healing journey? Season six of the award-winning How We Can Heal podcast brings fresh perspectives and powerful insights every Monday. We've assembled an extraordinary lineup of powerhouse healers, teachers, athletes, researchers, and even actors who will share their unique approaches to personal and collective healing.
This season dives deep into transformative concepts like liberation psychology and tyranny while exploring how moments of courage—whether small daily choices or life-altering decisions like embarking on year-long meditation retreats—can reshape our lives. Our conversations will challenge conventional thinking about healing while offering practical wisdom you can apply immediately.
Season five connected us with remarkable stories: Dr. Frank Corrigan revealing how deep brain reorienting heals shock, athletes sharing their journeys through cancer and community-building, and the heartwarming tale of Dion Leonard adopting Gobi, the loyal dog who ran 70 miles with him across the Gobi Desert. Season six promises even more compelling narratives, beginning with the legendary Dr. Judith Herman, followed by Dr. Thema Bryant, exploring healing across individual and societal dimensions. We'll also learn from yoga and meditation teachers Cara Lai and Melanie Salvatore-August before concluding with some exciting surprises, including a professional actor you've definitely seen on screen.
What healing are you seeking most right now? What excites you about this season? I'd love to hear from you at info@howwecanheal.com. Your comments, reviews, and shares have built this community of healing-seekers, and I'm deeply grateful. Subscribe now so you don't miss a single transformative conversation as we explore how we can heal ourselves and our world together.
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Dr. David Spiegel, Wilson Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, brings over 40 years of expertise in trauma, hypnosis, and mind-body medicine to this fascinating conversation. Drawing from decades of scientific research, Dr. Spiegel reveals how hypnosis serves as "controlled dissociation," offering a powerful pathway for trauma recovery by allowing people to revisit difficult experiences while maintaining physical comfort.
The conversation takes us deep into the neuroscience of trauma and healing. Dr. Spiegel shares remarkable findings from brain imaging studies showing how hypnosis actually turns down activity in the brain's alarm system and reduces self-judgment, creating space for new perspectives and healing. Particularly fascinating is his explanation of how hypnosis can reduce pain perception by over 50% - without medication or side effects.
Personal stories bring the science to life, from Dr. Spiegel's first experience using hypnosis with an asthmatic girl in crisis to his wife successfully using hypnosis during childbirth. His genetic "illness" of hypnosis, inherited from his psychiatrist father who used it to treat trauma in World War II veterans, creates a touching through-line in his lifelong dedication to understanding how our minds can heal our bodies.
The conversation bridges clinical approaches with accessible self-help strategies. Dr. Spiegel explains how two-thirds of adults are naturally somewhat hypnotizable, then details how his Reverie app makes these powerful techniques available to anyone dealing with stress, insomnia, or trauma. The discussion reveals fascinating parallels between hypnosis and yoga, showing how both practices engage the brain's natural capacity for healing through focused attention and absorption.
Ready to tap into your brain's natural healing abilities? Discover how hypnosis might serve as an underutilized "app" you already possess, and learn why focusing on what you're for rather than what you're against creates more effective healing. Whether you're a clinician or someone seeking relief from trauma or stress, this episode offers profound insights into our remarkable capacity for transformation.
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Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
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This episode is also sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
What if everything we've been taught about trauma and healing has been filtered through a colonial lens? Dr. Laura Brown —psychologist, author, and activist with over 40 years of groundbreaking work in feminist therapy—challenges us to reimagine healing outside the medical model that has dominated Western thinking.
Dr. Brown takes us on a profound journey from her early activism in the 1960s through her pioneering work in trauma psychology, weaving together personal narrative with radical theory. She articulates how medical systems have colonized healing processes that humans have practiced for millennia, turning natural responses to harm into "disorders" requiring professional intervention. "People have been healing from trauma since human beings became human beings," she reminds us, inviting practitioners to question the foundations of conventional approaches.
The conversation expands beyond clinical settings to examine how trauma and power operate in our broader society. Dr. Brown offers wisdom about maintaining our integrity and voice in challenging times, protecting our nervous systems from becoming hijacked by those who don't deserve access to our activation, and finding small yet meaningful ways to resist injustice daily. Her perspective on trauma work as inherently political challenges the false neutrality many clinicians adopt, while her vision of collaborative healing relationships dismantles hierarchies between "expert" and "patient."
All while navigating cancer recovery and a vocal disorder affecting her speech, Dr. Brown embodies the resilience she describes, finding joy in aikido, nature, friendship, and beauty. Her message inspires hope not through toxic positivity but through genuine engagement with both suffering and possibility. Whether you're a healing professional or someone on your own recovery journey, this episode will transform how you think about trauma, power, and our collective capacity for change.
Want to keep creating opportunities for healing together? Subscribe at howwecanheal.com to continue exploring how we can create more humble, culturally responsive approaches to trauma that honor every person's inherent power and wisdom.
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Trauma leaves invisible wounds that shape our relationships, survival strategies, and capacity for connection. In this profound conversation with Dr. Robert Mueller, we journey through the complex landscape of trauma therapy, examining both the protective role of avoidance and the human yearning to be truly seen and understood.
Dr. Muller shares his deeply personal connection to trauma work as a child of Holocaust survivors, revealing how his parents' experiences during childhood shaped not only their parenting but also his professional path. With remarkable candor, he articulates how his own anxieties around control and uncertainty continue to influence his clinical work, offering a refreshing glimpse into the very human experience of being a trauma therapist.
At the heart of our discussion lies a compassionate exploration of avoidance in trauma recovery. Dr. Muller introduces the concept of "trauma fragments" – those subtle disclosures that slip through otherwise protective defenses, signaling a readiness to process painful experiences. He offers practical insights for therapists navigating the delicate balance between honoring defenses and gently challenging them, emphasizing curiosity over confrontation as the pathway forward.
Perhaps most powerfully, Dr. Muller challenges the cultural pressure many trauma survivors face to forgive their perpetrators. He reframes forgiveness not as a virtuous endpoint but as a fluid process that may ebb and flow throughout one's healing journey. This perspective liberates survivors from the burden of toxic positivity, honoring the complexity of their experiences without demanding premature resolution.
Whether you're a therapist seeking to deepen your trauma-informed practice or someone on your own healing journey, this conversation offers a roadmap grounded in compassion, patience, and profound respect for the wisdom of our protective responses. As Dr. Muller reminds us, healing comes not from bypassing difficult emotions but from creating contexts where they can be safely felt, understood, and integrated into our life stories.
Facing the unimaginable pain of losing a child, Anna Ratnathicam Diab opens her heart to share the story of her daughter Carolina, who passed away suddenly at age 11 during a family trip to Uganda in 2019. What unfolds is a raw, honest conversation about navigating grief's unpredictable terrain and finding meaningful ways to honor a child's memory.
Anna vividly recalls Carolina's vibrant personality—her love of bright colors, her notorious sweet tooth, and her habit of wearing "pattern on pattern on pattern" that made her mother chuckle. When describing the day Carolina died after complaining of a headache, Anna doesn't shy away from the brutal reality of those moments in a remote hospital, making impossible decisions no parent should face. The scene of local women gathering outside the hospital in the dark early morning hours, standing silent vigil with Anna in her grief, creates an unforgettable image of human connection transcending language and culture.
Rather than following predictable stages, Anna describes grief as waves—initially constant and overwhelming, gradually becoming smaller and more predictable over time. "There's still moments that suddenly trip me up," she shares. "Now I know you just have to sit in it and it will pass and you'll put yourself back together again."
Five years after Carolina's death, Anna has discovered unexpected pathways to healing: maintaining relationships with Carolina's friends, finding places to honor her memory (including a street intersection named for Carolina outside her elementary school), and remaining open to spiritual connections.
Perhaps the most powerful moment comes when Anna recalls experiencing genuine joy again while watching a UCLA basketball game—something she and Carolina had enjoyed together. "It felt foreign...but in a good way," she explains. "Like oh yeah, I will feel this again." Her message to other bereaved parents cuts through platitudes to offer the one truth she could have absorbed in early grief: "You will feel joy again."
Whether you're navigating your own grief journey or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers profound insights into how we carry both our losses and our capacity for joy forward.
Award-winning author of "The Yoga of Parenting," Sarah Ezrin shares how yoga philosophy provides a framework for navigating parenthood's chaos with grace and self-compassion.
The yoga practice she once knew - with its hours on the mat and meditation cushion - has transformed into what she calls "yoga snacks": micro-moments of mindfulness chosen throughout her day. These might look like lighting a favorite candle amid dinner preparation madness, taking five deep breaths during an argument between her sons, or remaining calm enough to give herself the Heimlich maneuver while the kids continue playing, oblivious to her distress.
Today we explore how our perceptions of yoga shift throughout life stages - from the achievement-oriented physical practice many begin with to the deeper, more integrated approach that emerges through parenthood.
Sarah's vulnerability about her postpartum anxiety and the surprising ways yoga showed up during that challenging time offers a refreshing counterpoint to the curated perfectionism often seen in wellness spaces. The permission she grants - to adapt, to struggle, to let go of rigid expectations - comes from hard-won wisdom.
"The most advanced practice I've ever done is trying to co-parent with another adult and raise children together," Sarah reflects, highlighting how relationships amplify our growth edges.
Beyond individual practices and communication challenges, we discuss the systemic changes needed to truly support families: paid leave, affordable childcare, and community-centered approaches to raising children. Sarah envisions a return to village-style support systems where resources are shared and parents aren't left struggling in isolation.
For those feeling overwhelmed by conflicting parenting advice and impossible standards, Sarah offers this centering truth: "You are the best parent for your child." Trust your intuition, offer yourself grace, and remember that the yoga is found not in perfection, but in returning again and again to presence.
Learn more about her work at https://sarahezrinyoga.com/
Get the full transcript of each show at https://howwecanheal.com/podcast
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
What if the transformation into parenthood isn't just about survival, but offers a unique window of opportunity for profound growth? In this illuminating conversation, classical singer and Alexander Technique practitioner Madison Smith challenges the harmful notion that we should "bounce back" after childbirth, offering instead a revolutionary perspective on the neurological shifts that occur during this major life transition.
"Your body's not coming back, and I don't say that negatively," Madison explains. "Your body has moved beyond what was available prior." Drawing from her extensive background in voice, movement, and somatics, Madison explores how our brains physically change during parenthood — creating not deficits, but heightened neuroplasticity and learning capacity. This shift rewires us to respond intuitively to our children while simultaneously opening doors to accelerated growth in other areas of our lives.
The discussion delves into the problematic landscape of postpartum fitness, where anatomically incorrect cues like "belly button to spine" prioritize aesthetics over function, sometimes causing lasting injury. Madison shares her own journey of postpartum back pain and how proper understanding of core engagement through expansion rather than contraction ultimately led to healing. She offers practical guidance on breathing techniques that support true core stability while regulating the nervous system, demonstrating how rest and respiratory awareness can be powerful yet underrated tools for recovery.
Perhaps most compelling is Madison's reframing of major life transitions not as setbacks but as opportunities for transformation. Whether you're navigating parenthood, menopause, illness, or any significant change, this conversation invites you to release your grip on who you were and explore the expanded possibilities of who you're becoming. Connect with your body as a source of wisdom, release the pressure to "do it all," and discover what's true for you now — not what was true before or what others expect of you.
If you're in the San Francisco area, look for Madison's in-person workshops for mothers and teens. Find her online at madisoprano.com or on social media @madisoprano.
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
What if sports were designed around athlete wellbeing instead of profit? In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Diane Williams shares the buried history of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), an organization that flourished in the 1970s and early 1980s with a radical vision for collegiate athletics centered on education and student development.
Dr. Williams, a professor of kinesiology at McDaniel College and former NCAA All-American athlete, reveals how this women-led organization created a completely different approach to sports governance than the male-dominated NCAA. With her interdisciplinary background in American Studies, Sports Studies, and Gender Studies, she unpacks how the AIAW's educational philosophy prioritized athlete wellbeing while still fostering high-level competition.
The conversation delves into why this history matters today, as athletes across all levels struggle with mental health challenges, restrictive gender norms, and exploitative systems. Dr. Williams shares powerful insights about creating more inclusive, body-positive athletic spaces that welcome diverse bodies and abilities. From her experience as "Lady Hulk" in roller derby to her work with current students questioning athletic norms, she offers a blueprint for reimagining sports culture.
Most compelling is the story of how the AIAW ended – not because its model failed, but because it threatened existing power structures. As Dr. Williams explains, "It wasn't just the organization that disappeared but an entire alternative vision for what athletics could be." This forgotten chapter in sports history offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in creating healthier approaches to physical activity, competition, and embodiment.
Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or simply someone interested in how we might build more humane and inclusive systems, this conversation will transform how you think about sports culture and its possibilities.
Learn more & connect with Dr. Williams at: https://www.mcdaniel.edu/about-us/profiles/diane-l-williams-phd
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
What happens when a casual curiosity about trail running transforms into a life-changing journey of service? Bugi's remarkable story unfolds as she recounts her evolution from a nervous first-timer at a Brazen Racing event to becoming "the other Kenyan" – an ultra runner who now feeds 42 children daily through her foundation in rural Kenya.
The magic of the trail running community shines throughout this conversation as Bugi describes finding her people through those long, vulnerable hours spent traversing mountains together. "When you spend six or seven hours with someone, you become real," she explains, highlighting how these connections sustained her through profound grief after losing her mother. Running became her constant companion through life's challenges – a space for processing emotions, finding clarity, and building self-belief.
Most powerfully, Bugi shares the genesis of the Okullo Foundation, which began with a simple act of kindness: paying a child's $6 school fees after finding him unable to attend class. What started as addressing an immediate need evolved into a comprehensive program providing meals, education, healthcare, and hygiene products to kindergarteners at a school just steps from her family home. Through donations from her American running community, these children now have backpacks, proper toilets, clean water, and nutritious food – transforming their educational experience and health outcomes.
Beyond her service work, Bugi offers wisdom about overcoming fears, building confidence, and embracing community. Her journey from doubting her abilities to setting ambitious ultra-running goals mirrors her approach to community service: start where you are, take one step at a time, and trust that showing up matters. As she puts it, "What brings me hope is that kindness and empathy still exist."
Ready to be inspired by how one person's passion can create ripples of positive change? Listen now and discover how the simple act of lacing up your shoes might lead to unexpected purpose. And if Bugi's story moves you, she extends an open invitation to visit Kenya and see the foundation's work firsthand!
Learn more about the Okullo Foundation at: https://okullofoundation.org/
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
This episode is sponsored by Ultrasignup, the leading marketplace for discovering, registering, and managing trail running events across the United States. With a mission to promote the spirit of trail running and outdoor adventure, UltraSignup hosts a diverse range of races and events. When you visit Ultrasignup.com you’ll find over 5000 events – about half of which are NOT ultra-distance. You’ll also find stories highlighting runners, race directors, training tips, running destinations, and the growth of the sport in their weekly newsletter and online magazine. Visit https://ultrasignup.com/ to explore the possibilities and plan your next adventure!
Napa Wilderness Trail Runs kicks off the morning of May 17, 2025! Whether you're a seasoned trail runner, just starting out, or just want to come hang out in nature, there’s a place for you here. You might come out for the 10k fun run, 1/2 Marathon: 30k Scenic Trek , 50K Endurance Challenge, or 40 Mile Elevation Beast. Make it a weekend adventure by camping out under the stars & soaking up the energy and natural beauty. And if you’d rather not run but still want to be a part of the fun, you can volunteer! Register at: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=116228
Todd Glieden's life transformed forever when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, spending 90 days at Stanford Hospital undergoing intensive treatment. This experience became the catalyst that helped him discover his true self after years of feeling directionless. "I don't think I discovered myself until then," Todd reflects, describing how cancer pushed him to reevaluate everything.
The unexpected support he received during his illness revealed surprising truths about relationships. People he barely knew showed up with rides and meals, while some he considered close disappeared entirely. This pattern of finding strength in community would become the defining theme of Todd's recovery and subsequent life journey.
When Todd discovered trail running through a local group, everything changed. The shy, reserved person who once hesitated to approach strangers transformed into someone known and loved throughout the running community.
What makes Todd's story particularly powerful is how he's channeled his experiences into creating spaces for others to heal. As the owner of Bay Trail Runners, he organizes events that welcome participants of all abilities. His greatest joy comes from witnessing someone complete their first trail race or half marathon, knowing firsthand the transformative potential of these achievements. "To go out and give that experience to somebody else now in my life is a great feeling," he shares.
The trail running community offers something increasingly rare in modern life—unconditional support during life's hardest moments. Through shared adventures on mountain trails, Todd has built connections that transcend ordinary friendships. These relationships have sustained him through multiple health crises, proving that healing happens not just within medical facilities but within communities bound by shared passion and mutual care.
For anyone facing difficult circumstances or seeking a new beginning, Todd's message is simple yet profound: "Let people into your lives" and "try something." Whether it's walking around a lake or venturing onto a local trail, the first step toward healing often involves stepping outside—both literally and
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
Lucja Leonard's journey from forging sick notes to avoid PE class to completing a 300-mile ultramarathon across the Arizona desert reveals the transformative power of pushing beyond perceived limits. Just five days after finishing this monumental race, Lucja shares how she navigated extreme sleep deprivation, 90-degree heat, and those inevitable moments where every life decision is questioned.
The conversation dives deep into what pulls someone toward such extreme challenges. For Lucja, it's the extraordinary process of breaking down completely—reaching points of vulnerability and suffering—then rebuilding herself stronger than before. This cycle of breakdown and renewal has fundamentally changed her relationship with her body, transforming years of negative body image into profound respect for what her body can accomplish. "I am strong and fearless," she reflects, noting how ultra running has taught her that bodies of all shapes and sizes can perform incredible feats.
We explore the surprising parallel between ultrarunning and life itself—how both involve waves of struggle and recovery, both require asking for help, and both reveal our true character when pushed to extremes. Lucja shares beautiful moments of human connection on the trail, from strangers offering head torches to trail angels appearing with water when she and her pacer were desperately dehydrated miles from the next aid station.
As a coach who recently guided another runner through their first 300-miler, Lucja offers wisdom for anyone facing seemingly impossible challenges: "Just try. You don't know what you're capable of." Whether you're contemplating your first 5K or wrestling with life's biggest obstacles, this conversation illuminates how embracing challenge rather than avoiding discomfort can lead to profound personal transformation.
Connect with Lucja on Instagram @RunningDutchie or visit FindingGobi.com to learn about her upcoming speaking events where she appears with her husband Dion and their famous four-legged companion Gobi, whose remarkable story has inspired people worldwide.
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
Dion Leonard's life changed forever when a small dog joined him for 80 miles of a grueling 155-mile ultra-marathon across the Gobi Desert in China. Their story of connection, separation, and eventual reunion became a New York Times bestseller, but behind this heartwarming tale lies an equally powerful journey of personal healing.
Before becoming a world-class endurance athlete, Dion was a pack-a-day smoker who couldn't run around the block. His transformation began with a drunken bet about a half marathon, fueled by the same determination that would later help him complete some of the world's most challenging races, including the Triple Crown of 200s and Badwater 135.
Throughout our conversation, Dion speaks candidly about using ultra running as a mechanism to process his difficult childhood. Running became a space where anger could transform into achievement, where painful memories could be worked through with each mile. For years, he approached races with a punishing intensity, finding release at finish lines rather than enjoyment in the journey.
The most profound shift came when Dion faced a pivotal choice during that fateful race in China – continue pursuing the lead or turn back to help a small stray dog cross a water obstacle. His decision to choose connection over competition opened an unexpected chapter that would test his resilience in new ways, especially during the six-week search for Gobi after she went missing in a city of 3.5 million people.
Whether you're drawn to stories of human-animal bonds, fascinated by endurance sports, or seeking inspiration for your own healing journey, Dion's experiences remind us that transformation often begins with a single step – or as he would say in his distinctly Australian way, simply "having a go."
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
Dr. Frank Corrigan joins us to share his groundbreaking approach to trauma healing called Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR). With his melodious Scottish accent and over 30 years of experience as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Scotland's National Health Service, Frank explains how his quest to help severely traumatized patients led to this innovative method that addresses trauma at its deepest neurobiological roots.
The magic of DBR lies in its focus on a critical moment most approaches miss – the milliseconds of "shock" that occur in the brainstem before emotions like fear, rage or shame ever emerge. Frank walks us through how traditional trauma therapies often overlook this crucial phase, potentially explaining why some people remain stuck despite years of treatment. Through fascinating explanations of brainstem structures like the periaqueductal gray and superior colliculi, he illustrates how DBR's sequence of processing works with our brain's natural healing mechanisms rather than against them.
What makes DBR truly revolutionary is its methodical, slow approach that begins with establishing "where self" – a neurological anchoring in present time and space – before identifying the subtle "orienting tension" that precedes shock. By attending to these early responses before emotions flood in, clients often experience processing that feels manageable rather than overwhelming. Frank shares moving clinical examples, including how DBR has helped people with traumatic bereavements that remained unresolved for decades despite trying numerous other approaches.
Ready to explore this transformative approach yourself? Whether you're a mental health professional interested in training or someone seeking healing from complex trauma, Frank's compassionate explanation offers hope that even the most deeply embedded trauma responses can be addressed when we understand the brain's natural healing sequence. Visit deepbrainreorienting.com to learn more about this exciting development in trauma therapy that's showing promising research results.
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
Welcome back to the How We Can Heal Podcast!
Season 5 is coming April 14th With new episodes dropping every Monday. You've probably heard the saying, "time heals all wounds," and while healing often does take time, there are other elements and skills that can support the process.
This season we'll focus on those moments, choices, and approaches that help us choose and experience healing. In addition to highlighting the voices of stellar clinicians and mental health professionals this season, you'll also hear personal journeys of healing and how different people at very different times in life found their way through the most challenging circumstances and fostered healing through intentional choices and moments of connection.
I also want you to know that you're officially listening to an award-winning podcast now! Last month at the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation annual conference in Boston, Massachusetts How We Can Heal was awarded the Audio Visual Media award. It's such an honor for the podcast to be recognized in this way, and I wanna thank the organization its members, as well as all of the guests on this podcast – and YOU listening right now.
It's wonderful to know that these conversations are resonating, and I so love hearing from you. So keep posting comments on YouTube, reviews on Apple and Spotify and wherever you're listening right now, and I encourage you to reach out, email your thoughts, questions and ideas to me at info at howwecanheal.com.
In season 4, we started with Dr. Ruth Lanius talking about deep brain reorienting & wrapped with Dr. Jennifer Gomez talking about healing cultural betrayal for Black women and girls. We also had Dr. Donna Hicks on the show to talk about leading and healing with dignity – so relevant right now, definitely go back & listen in if you haven't heard that one yet. And we had Dan Shaw talking about traumatizing narcissists, as well as Dr. Lauren Lebois describing recent fMRI studies on trauma and dissociation.
This season will kick off with Dr. Frank Corrigan, creator of Deep Brain Reorienting. He'll share, in his own sweet Scottish words, how DBR is different from many popular approaches to trauma recovery and how clients have responded to this unique treatment. From there, I'll be highlighting a few friends and legends in the ultramarathon community. So you'll get to hear the various ways these people have found healing on the trail. Spoiler alert, it isn't all about running - there's so much more!
I'll also be highlighting folks this season who support mothers and parents in unique and embodied ways. After exploring these personal journeys, we'll wrap with some more icons in the field of trauma and recovery. So we pay tribute to folks who are trailblazing from a research and clinical perspective, as well as those with their feet on the ground – or hands in the diaper pail as it may be.
I'm so looking forward to sharing the season with you. Drop me a line at info at howwecanheal.com and let me know what you're looking forward to. I'll see you there and I'll see you next week for episode one of Season five of the How We Can Heal Podcast.
Till then!
Season 5 of the How We Can Heal Podcast is sponsored by SimplePractice.
If you want to simplify the business side of your work, I highly recommend Simple Practice!
Right now they’re offering a special 7-day free trial with 70% off your first 4 months for How We Can Heal listeners.
Go to https://www.simplepractice.com/howwecanheal to take advantage of this offer today!
Healing the Cultural Betrayal of Black Women & Girls: Bringing the Dreamstorm to Life
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk speaks with Dr. Jennifer Gomez about cultural betrayal trauma, particularly in the context of black women and girls. This in-depth discussion explores the complexities of holding perpetrators accountable, transforming cultural expectations, and the importance of small wins in the healing process. Dr. Gomez also shares insights from her recent book, 'The Cultural Betrayal of Black Women and Girls: A Black Feminist Approach to Healing from Sexual Abuse,' and her collaborative work in the field of trauma recovery.
00:52 Acknowledging Our Sponsor: ISSTD
02:14 Welcoming Dr. Jennifer Gomez
02:44 Discussing Dr. Gomez's Book
02:50 Cultural Betrayal Trauma
04:19 Personal Reflections and Feedback
07:14 Navigating Family Dynamics
12:12 Healing and Differentiation
21:41 Small Wins and Institutional Courage
26:16 Restorative Justice and Accountability
31:50 Accountability and Relational Repair
32:54 Expectations and Apologies
34:19 Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
36:09 Empathy and Collective Responsibility
41:08 The Role of Perpetrators in Prevention
47:51 Cultural Shifts and Professional Roles
54:50 Upcoming Talks and Publications
58:05 Conclusion and Resources
Season 3 Episode 6 The Importance of Cultural Betrayal Trauma, with Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez
Season 3 Episode 7: DreamStorming - Finding Hope & Joy in the face of Cultural Betrayal, with Dr. Jennifer M. Gómez
Jennifer’s upcoming ISSTD presentation: https://www.isst-d.org/training-and-conferences/upcoming-conferences/2024-washington-dc-regional-conference-2/
Harvard DID Conference: https://cmecatalog.hms.harvard.edu/stronger-together-dissociative-identity-disorder
Jennifer’s website:
https://jmgomez.org/
-- This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs. Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
BEHIND THE SCENES CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. KATHLEEN KENDALL-TACKETT
In this behind-the-scenes episode of the 'How We Can Heal' podcast, psychotherapist Lisa Danylchuk welcomes health psychologist Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, an expert in women's health, trauma, and maternal mental health. They delve deep into the science and practical interventions to support mothers, highlighting Dr. Kendall-Tackett's extensive research and recent publications. The episode covers the significance of community support, the impact of stress on breastfeeding, and the importance of secure attachment. Listeners gain insights into practical ways to foster maternal mental health and resilience in the face of trauma.
00:56 Meet Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett
03:54 The Importance of Community Support
06:09 Challenges in Postpartum Care
07:41 The Role of Healthcare Providers
09:18 The Impact of Trauma on Health
12:04 Breastfeeding and Mental Health
14:59 Effective Communication in Healthcare
20:59 Building Trust with Trauma Survivors
31:28 Processing Trauma in Therapy
32:02 The Science Behind Trauma and Physiology
32:54 Debunking Myths About Health and Trauma
34:18 Cannabis Use Among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms
37:34 The Importance of Secure Attachment
41:43 Challenges and Solutions in Breastfeeding
52:05 Final Thoughts and Resources
Psychoneuroimmunology, Depression and Maternal Mental Health with Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, psychotherapist Lisa Danylchuk engages in an insightful discussion with Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett, a health psychologist expert in women's health. The conversation delves into Dr. Kendall Tackett's research on breastfeeding, maternal mental health, and postpartum depression. Key topics include psychoneuroimmunology, oxytocin's role in stress regulation, and practical guidance for new mothers. The episode also addresses the essential need for social support systems, inadequacies in U.S. parental leave policies, and community-driven support within African American communities. Listeners are offered valuable insights into the interconnectedness of mental and physical health and are encouraged to visit howwecanheal.com for additional resources and show notes.
00:56 Meet Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett
03:19 Understanding Psychoneuroimmunology
05:45 Inflammation and Mental Health
08:24 Bridging Trauma and Healing
10:48 Managing Chronic Pain and Trauma
32:48 The Role of Oxytocin in Healing
35:49 The Role of Oxytocin in Labor
36:31 Stress and Its Impact on Labor
37:34 Ways to Increase Oxytocin
38:33 Breastfeeding and Mental Health
43:33 The Importance of Sleep for New Parents
49:44 Social Support for New Mothers
56:44 Preventing and Relieving Postpartum Depression
01:06:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
THE NEUROSCIENCE OF TRAUMA AND DISSOCIATION WITH DR. LAUREN LEBOIS
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk welcomes Dr. Lauren Lebois, a cognitive neuroscientist specializing in trauma and dissociation. They discuss the neurobiology of PTSD, dissociation, and DID, highlighting key brain regions and their functions. Dr. Lebois shares insights from her research, the importance of neuroplasticity, and the vital role of repair in healing. They also delve into indigenous perspectives on trauma and the upcoming DID course at Harvard. The episode captures the complexity of trauma recovery and emphasizes the transformative power of understanding and treating dissociation.
00:52 Sponsorship Acknowledgment
02:10 Introducing Dr. Lauren Lebois
03:41 Personal Connection and Parenting
04:57 Dr. Labois' Journey into Trauma Research
08:54 Understanding PTSD and Dissociation
13:08 Functional and Structural Brain Changes
24:09 Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program
25:35 Complexity of Brain Models
28:48 Goldilocks and Trauma: Finding Balance
29:12 Bridging the Gap: Tools for Trauma Recovery
29:27 Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress and Dissociation
30:35 The Brain's Adaptability and Neuroplasticity
31:02 Recognizing Progress in Healing
31:58 Gesture and Learning: Insights from Research
33:32 Indigenous Perspectives on Trauma and Soul Loss
35:52 Current Research on Trauma and Dissociation
42:22 Parenting with a Trauma-Informed Lens
44:21 Music and Memory: Personal Reflections
48:18 Resources and Further Learning
51:41 Maintaining Hope and Humor in Challenging Work
54:02 Conclusion and Gratitude
For more info about Lauren's work visit: https://www.ddtrp.com/
To learn about McLean and Harvard Medical School’s Inaugural Conference on DID visit:
https://cmecatalog.hms.harvard.edu/stronger-together-dissociative-identity-disorder/agenda
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Traumatic Narcissism and Cult Dynamics With Dan Shaw
In this episode of the How We Can Heal Podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk welcomes Daniel Shaw, a psychotherapist trained in psychoanalysis and trauma-informed therapies, to discuss traumatic narcissism and cult dynamics. Daniel shares his personal journey from being an actor early in life to becoming a member of what he discovered over time was a spiritual cult. Today he shares how these experiences spurred his interest in trauma, and why he coined the term "traumatizing narcissist". He elaborates on the behaviors and characteristics of traumatizing narcissists, the impact on their victims, and how these dynamics can manifest in various relationships and institutions. They also touch on the importance of recognizing these abusive patterns for effective therapy and recovery. This episode aims to validate and support victims of traumatic narcissism while providing insights for therapists.
00:52 Acknowledging Our Sponsor: ISSTD
02:13 Introducing Daniel Shaw
03:43 Daniel Shaw's Journey into Trauma Work
15:01 Understanding Traumatic Narcissism
31:43 Delusional Contagion and Narcissistic Omnipotence
34:48 Impact on Victims and Coercive Control
39:32 Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program
41:01 Abuse in the Yoga Community
44:28 Narcissism in Helping Professions
48:39 Personal Reflections on Authoritarianism
51:49 Resources for Healing from Narcissistic Abuse
56:57 Hope and Human Potential
58:48 Podcast Conclusion and Acknowledgements For more info about Dan's work
visit: https://danielshawlcsw.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs. Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Secular Spirituality and Healing From Religious Trauma with Britt Hartley
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk interviews Britt Hartley, a secular spiritual director and author of 'No Nonsense Spirituality.' Britt shares her journey from Mormonism, explores the concept of spirituality without dogma, and emphasizes the importance of connection, presence, and personal rituals in daily life. They discuss how spiritual practices can be integrated into everyday activities, creating meaning and intentional living. Listeners are invited to explore personalized spiritual paths and the balance between masculine and feminine energies in healing and spirituality.
00:55 Meet Britt Hartley: Exploring Secular Spirituality
03:45 Understanding Religious Trauma and Secular Tools
06:00 Navigating Spiritual Practices in Daily Life
18:10 The Balance Between Order and Chaos
26:12 Feminism and Spirituality: A Balanced Approach
29:51 Yoga for Trauma: Online Training Program
31:14 The Role of Connection in Spirituality
32:56 Creating Your Own Community
34:21 Embracing Vulnerability and Honesty
39:57 Integrating Spirituality into Daily Life
44:51 Finding Magic in Everyday Moments
54:52 Awakening to the Present
58:06 Connecting with Brett and Her Work
59:54 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
Mentalizing For Healing, Connection & Growth with Janne Øestergaard Hagelquist
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk welcomes Janne Øestergaard Hagelquist, a licensed psychologist from Denmark, to discuss trauma treatment and mentalization. Janne shares her professional journey and experience in working with children, adolescents, and families affected by neglect, abuse, and violence. The conversation explores the mentalization theory, trauma recovery, and its practical application with various groups, including those on the autism spectrum. They delve into the significance of empathizing with others, the challenges of working in trauma recovery, and how fostering a mentalizing approach among professionals can lead to better outcomes for traumatized individuals. The episode also highlights Janne's recent work and publications, providing resources for those interested in learning more about mentalization.
00:00 Introduction to Season Four
00:54 Meet Janne Ostergaard Hagelquist
02:01 Janne's Journey into Trauma Recovery
10:06 Understanding Mentalization
14:06 The Justin Bieber Story
24:33 Mentalization and Trauma Recovery
28:00 Applying Mentalizing in Personal Life
28:55 Client Success Stories with Mentalizing
31:29 New Themes in Mentalizing Work
32:56 Mentalizing in Different Settings
36:25 Mentalizing with Traumatized Children
44:18 Mentalizing with Autism
48:21 Intergenerational Trauma and Resilience
51:50 Resources and Future Projects
54:09 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Learn more at: https://www.centerformentalization.com/
Janne Østergaard Hagelquist is the founder of Center of Mentalization and takes care of day-to-day management, development and management of the center.
Janne is an authorized psychologist and approved specialist in the field of child psychology and supervision. She has over a long period worked with children, adolescents and families, who have been the target of neglect, sexual abuse and/or violence. She has experience in both supervising and teach other professionals, who are working with children or adolescents.
Janne Østergaard Hagelquist is the author of many different books on mentalization.
In 2012 her book “Mentalization in the meeting with marginalised children” was published in danish.
In 2013 she was a co writer on the danish book ”Pedagogy in the 24-hour care centre for children and adolescents”.
In 2014 she and psychologisk Marianne Køhler Skov published the book “Mentalization in pedagogy and therapy” in danish.
In 2015 she published the danish version of the Mentalization Guidebook and in 2016 the english version was released.
In 2016 she and EMBA Heino Rasmussen published the book “Mentalization in organisations” in danish.
In 2017 the book “Mentalization in families” by Janne Oestegraard Hagelquist and EMBA Heino Rasmussen was published.
LEADING & HEALING WITH DIGNITY WITH DR. DONNA HICKS
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host and psychotherapist Lisa Danylchuk delves into a rich conversation with Dr. Donna Hicks, the Harvard psychologist who operationalized and popularized the concept of dignity. This episode explores Dr. Hicks' impactful work in international conflict resolution, how she arrived at her 10 elements of dignity, and how to identify and address dignity violations.
Dr. Hicks outlines the profound role dignity plays in healing and how this translates to leadership, including practical applications for creating a culture that fosters health, joy, and connection in personal, professional, and societal contexts. This discussion stems from Dr. Hicks' books, 'Dignity' and 'Leading with Dignity,' and underscores the psychological and communal role of dignity in healing.
00:00 Introduction to Season Four
00:52 Acknowledging Our Sponsor: ISSTD
02:14 Introducing Dr. Donna Hicks
04:56 The Concept of Dignity in Conflict Resolution
12:19 The 10 Elements of Dignity
25:11 The 10 Temptations to Violate Dignity
32:41 Normalizing Conflict Resolution
33:37 The Epidemic of Workplace Silence
35:26 Creating a Safe Space for Feedback
36:47 The Power of Dignity in Leadership
38:44 Systemic Issues and Policy Changes
40:31 Dignity in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
44:15 The Importance of Acknowledgement
49:02 Love and the Evolution of Human Connection
55:11 The Role of Self-Worth in Dignity
01:00:27 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
For more information about Dr. Donna Hicks, including her books, please visit: https://drdonnahicks.com/.
Dignity and Leading with Dignity are also available via audiobook on Audible.
--
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Trauma & Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems With Joanne Twombly LICSW
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, psychotherapist and trauma specialist Lisa Danylchuk continues Season 4 with an insightful conversation featuring guest Joanne Twombly, a seasoned psychotherapist with expertise in complex PTSD and dissociative disorders. They discuss the nuances of trauma treatment and the implications of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, touching upon groundbreaking aspects of dissociation, trauma recovery, and the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment methods.
00:00 Introduction to Season Four
00:52 Sponsor Acknowledgment and ISSTD Overview
02:11 Introducing Joanne Twombly
03:45 Joanne's Journey into Trauma Therapy
11:34 Understanding Dissociation
18:27 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Explained
37:20 Managing Overwhelming Emotions in Therapy
39:36 The Importance of Safe Space Imagery
40:59 Integrating IFS with Trauma and Dissociation
45:13 The Role of Training and Continuous Learning
49:07 The Path to Healing and Client Empowerment
56:21 The Importance of Awareness and Referral
01:00:49 Upcoming Workshops and Training Opportunities
01:07:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This episode is sponsored by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD).
The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is an international, non-profit, professional association organized to develop and promote comprehensive, clinically effective and empirically based resources and responses to trauma and dissociation and to address its relevance to other theoretical constructs.
To learn more and become a member, visit: https://www.isst-d.org/
Visit https://cfas.isst-d.org/ to access educational offerings for both professionals and non-professionals
Anti-Racist Psychotherapy & Racial Trauma Recovery with David Archer LMFT
In this episode of the How We Can Heal podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk interviews psychotherapist David Archer, a specialist in trauma therapy and an advocate for LGBTQ, Black, Indigenous, and people of color. They delve into David's transformative journey from software engineering to trauma therapy, his development of the rhythm and processing approach, and the philosophy behind his books on anti-racist psychotherapy and healing racial trauma. They discuss the healing power of integrating joy, gratitude, and cultural resources into therapy, and how David's creative remix of therapeutic concepts parallels the innovative spirit of hip hop.
00:00 Introduction to Season Four
00:52 Meet David Archer: Advocate and Author
02:38 David's Journey to Trauma Therapy
08:14 Developing Rhythm and Processing
13:08 Exploring Racial Trauma and Healing
34:42 Memory Reconsolidation and Hip Hop
40:31 Exploring EMDR Therapy and Racial Trauma Recovery
42:09 The Art of Healing Through Hip Hop
43:12 Challenging Deficit Models in Education
43:40 Reframing Trauma and Creating New Narratives
45:00 The Role of Art in Therapy
48:33 The Importance of Gratitude in Healing
56:03 The Need for More Anti-Racist Therapists
01:03:51 Personal Reflections and Future Musings
01:10:34 Concluding Thoughts and Gratitude
Learn more from David Archer:
Transforming Complex Trauma: Reflections on Anti-Racist Psychotherapy (https://amzn.to/3TjRf4z)
Audiobook (https://www.amazon.ca/Transforming-Complex-Trauma-Reflections-Psychotherapy/dp/B0D5F8FWJB/
Website: https://archertherapy.com
Deb Dana LCSW on Polyvagal Theory and Healing Your Nervous System
In this episode of the 'How We Can Heal' podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk converses with Deb Dana, an expert in complex trauma, on polyvagal theory's role in trauma resolution. The discussion unpacks the nervous system's hierarchy, neuroception, co-regulation, and practical insights for therapists and clients. Additionally, personal experiences of managing life's transitions are shared, highlighting self-regulation's importance in fostering stability and societal connection. The episode inspires hope and provides resources for trauma recovery and nervous system management.
00:00 Introduction to the How We Can Heal Podcast
01:13 Meet Deb Dana: Polyvagal Theory Expert
03:32 Discovering Polyvagal Theory
05:52 Understanding the Nervous System
09:30 The Importance of Co-Regulation
13:59 Navigating Trauma Responses
17:46 Dorsal Vagal and Dissociation
21:19 Blending States and Trauma Recovery
34:01 Yoga for Trauma: Training Program
39:40 Therapists and Polyvagal Theory
40:11 Therapeutic Presence and Nervous System Communication
40:30 Clinicians' Experiences and Client Outcomes
40:59 Understanding Nervous System Responses
42:50 The Power of Small Changes
43:18 The Role of Patience and Persistence
44:19 The Impact of Therapy Over Time
45:01 Navigating Nervous System Reorganization
46:56 Challenges in Therapy and Protocols
53:19 The Importance of Glimmers
57:44 Balancing Trauma and Positive Moments
01:07:12 Debunking Polyvagal Theory
01:11:21 Resources and Final Thoughts
Exploring Deep Brain Reorienting and Neurofeedback with Dr. Ruth Lanius
In this episode of the 'How We Can Heal' podcast, host Lisa Danylchuk returns from parental leave to engage in an enlightening discussion with Dr. Ruth Lanius, a leading expert in the field of trauma and dissociation. Dr. Lanius explores her groundbreaking work on the neurobiology of PTSD, particularly focusing on Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) and neurofeedback as therapeutic modalities. She elaborates on how DBR targets the subconscious brain, helping to stabilize emotional responses and improve trauma reactions. Dr. Lanius also shares insights from her studies on the impact of trauma on the brain and therapeutic outcomes, highlighting remarkable patient recoveries and ongoing research. The episode underscores the importance of tailored approaches in trauma therapy and celebrates resilience and recovery.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:51 Introducing Dr. Ruth Lanius
04:00 Exploring the Subconscious Brain
07:34 Deep Brain Reorienting: A New Approach
14:01 Clinical Insights and Patient Experiences
20:23 Challenges and Considerations in Trauma Therapy
28:18 Feeling Stuck as a Clinician
28:36 Yoga and Trauma Recovery
29:16 Introducing Yoga for Trauma Online Training
30:44 Exploring Neurofeedback for PTSD
34:59 Alpha Neurofeedback and Its Effects
36:59 Personal Experiences with Neurofeedback
40:31 The Art of Trauma Therapy
42:11 Ruth's Journey into Trauma Research
45:29 Intergenerational Trauma Studies
46:17 Finding Hope in Trauma Work
48:04 Closing Remarks and Resources
We’ve reached the final episode of season 3. Together with the help of my partner Alex, we’re answering listener questions, recalling some of the most important things we’ve learned from our guests about dissociation and trauma, and discussing some of our favorite moments from the past season.
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Across the world, hypnosis is often treated like a gimmick: used for entertainment at shows, overly dramatized in television and movies, etc. But our guest today, Wendy Lemke, has been using hypnosis as a powerful tool for healing victims of trauma for decades.
Wendy is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience. She now runs her own practice, Lemke Counseling & Consulting. Wendy is an American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) certified approved consultant, an active member and former Vice President of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), and an active member of the Minnesota Society of Clinical Hypnosis (MSCH).
Wendy is a sought-after presenter for her engaging style and expertise in the fields of clinical hypnosis, ego state therapy, and trauma-related disorders. With her skills, Wendy has clients all around the globe. Listen as she shares her passion and clinical hypnosis knowledge with us in this episode of How We Can Heal.
RESOURCES:
More about Wendy Lemke:
https://www.wendylemke-psy.com/about
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
In the world of trauma recovery, sometimes you can be an expert, and still not realize when you yourself are suffering from the effects of trauma. That’s where Guy Macpherson found himself. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and has spent the last several years studying the impact and treatment of trauma and early psychosis. Despite that, Guy needed help from others to identify his own trauma. In 2014 Guy founded The Trauma Therapist Project to raise awareness of trauma, and create an educational and supportive community for new trauma workers. Now, the associated podcast has hundreds of episodes and an audience in more than 160 countries. As Guy explains, a determined approach to help trauma victims can go a long way, regardless of a therapist’s level of experience.
RESOURCES:
About Guy’s Trauma Therapist Project
https://thetraumatherapistproject.squarespace.com/about-1
More on Guy:
https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/faculty-members/guy-macpherson-phd/
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Why is dissociation so hard for even mainstream psychologists to understand? How can we better diagnose Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Our guest, Dr. Simone Reinders, helps us explore the answers.
Dr. Reinders is a leader and international expert in the neurobiology of dissociation. She was the first to provide evidence that DID is related to early traumatization, and her research has been pivotal in our understanding of it. As a Senior Research Associate & Lecturer at the Department of Psychological Medicine in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London, Dr. Reinders has shown that DID and post-traumatic stress disorder share neurostructural biomarkers. We also talk about how Dr. Reinders’ work can aid the diagnosis of DID, which also points to how machine learning could assist in the diagnostic process.
Resources:
Bio Kings College: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/a.a.t.s.reinders.html
Article: https://www.maudsleybrc.nihr.ac.uk/posts/2020/december/dr-simone-reinders-on-how-brain-imaging-unravels-theory-on-trauma-based-causes-for-dissociative-identities/
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Disassociation comes in different forms and affects people in different ways. Our guest, Kathy Steele, has been treating people suffering from disassociation since the 1980s.
Kathy is a Past President and Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), and has also served on the Board of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). She even helped develop treatment guidelines for Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Her vast work has earned her a number of awards, and has led to her becoming a sought-after consultant, supervisor, and international lecturer on topics related to trauma, dissociation, attachment, and psychotherapy.
Kathy shares her humor, compassion, and vast experience with us in this episode.
Resources:
https://www.kathy-steele.com/
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Cultural betrayal can have a painful impact on entire groups of people, but there are ways to overcome it. In a continuation of a conversation we started with Dr. Jennifer Gómez, we dive into the concept of “DreamStorming”, and explore the bigger picture of cultural, racial, and gender privileges. At the end, just when we thought we were finished, our producer Christine sparks up a passionate debate on how the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade is a powerful example of cultural betrayal for many women. Please listen to our previous episode with Dr. Gómez, if you haven’t already. Dr. Gómez developed Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory as a tool for examining the impacts of discrimination and inequality in the wake of trauma. As an Assistant Professor at Boston University in the Clinical Practice department and as a faculty affiliate for the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Dr. Gómez has made tremendous contributions to trauma therapies. She’s a black feminist trauma researcher and race scholar dedicated to understanding the effects of physical, sexual and emotional trauma in diverse and marginalized populations. Check out some of her published work below.
Resources:
Dr. Jennifer Gómez's site: https://jmgomez.org/
Her book: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/cultural-betrayal?tab=1#
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
We’re going deep on racism and sexual trauma in this episode. We’re also exploring the theory of cultural betrayal, specifically by members of your same race, culture, or even family. Hear how it’s applied to celebrities, politicians, and everyday people. Our guest, Dr. Jennifer Gómez wrote the book on cultural betrayal (literally). Dr. Gómez published groundbreaking work after she developed Cultural Betrayal Trauma Theory as a tool for examining the impacts of discrimination and inequality in the wake of trauma. As an Assistant Professor at Boston University in the Clinical Practice department and as a faculty affiliate for the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Dr. Gómez has made tremendous contributions to trauma therapies. She’s a black feminist trauma researcher and race scholar dedicated to understanding the effects of physical, sexual and emotional trauma in diverse and marginalized populations. There is something interesting for everyone to take away from this conversation.
Resources:
Dr. Jennifer Gómez's site: https://jmgomez.org/
Her book: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/cultural-betrayal?tab=1#
Link to Jennifer Freyd Episode →https://howwecanheal.com/institutional-courage-with-jennifer-freyd/
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Dr. Mary Anne Kate is a researcher specializing in interpersonal trauma, attachment, and post-traumatic disorders. She talks with Lisa about her research paper published in 2021, titled: Childhood Sexual, Emotional, and Physical Abuse as Predictors of Dissociation in Adulthood.
Hear how Dr. Kate identified predictors of dissociation in adults, and demonstrated that women who disclosed being sexual abused had a 106-fold risk of clinical levels of dissociation.
For her vast amount of work, Dr. Kate was awarded the Chancellor's Doctoral Research Medal from University of New England, and the David Caul Award from the ISSTD for her PhD on childhood maltreatment, parent-child dynamics, and dissociation. In 2021, Dr. Kate won the Morton Prince award for Scientific Research.
She’s currently the Lecturer Practitioner for the Master of Professional Psychology program at Southern Cross University and holds an adjunct research position at the University of New England
Links to items discussed in this episode:
Dr. Kate’s publications and MID-60 resources are available via ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mary-Anne-Kate
Dr. Kate’s free MID Training: Webinar: Dissociation and dissociative disorders
https://novopsych.com.au/news/dissociation-and-dissociative-disorders/
ISSTD Public Resources:
https://www.isst-d.org/public-resources-home/
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting.
Dr. Bethany Brand, one of the leading researchers in the world on dissociative disorders, joins Lisa today to discuss her remarkable work in the field of trauma. Dissociative disorders were long thought to be nearly impossible to study or treat, but Dr. Brand’s research is not only debunking common myths but creating tools for therapists and patients to manage dissociation. She tells us about her groundbreaking TOPDD (Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders) Study, how it was developed, ran its extraordinary results, and what research still needs to be done. Lisa and Dr. Brand also discuss the importance of trauma-informed therapy for patients experiencing dissociation, and the need for dissociative disorders to be a more prominent part of conversations about PTSD. Join us for this fascinating, inspiring conversation.
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/psychology/facultystaff/bbrand.html
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDR & complex trauma expert Michael Coy joins Lisa in this episode to continue this season’s discussion on dissociation. Michael tells us how he learned about trauma and what drew him to dedicate his practice to people coping with the impacts of complex trauma and dissociation. We also discuss how dissociation can impact the practice of EMDR and the different modes of thought among practitioners on how to use the treatment with patients experiencing dissociation. Plus, he shares that the most important lessons he’s learned as a therapist are that there are no shortcuts to therapy, and the biggest breakthroughs can come from accepting that there is always more to learn.
https://www.dmcoy.com/main/For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting
Megan Zipin - mother, wife, marathon runner, poet, and survivor of the Boston Marathon bombings - joins host Lisa D for this episode of How We Can Heal. They discuss how the trauma of the bombings manifested physically and mentally for Megan over the last ten years since the attack, how she has found healing through yoga, writing, and helping others, and what she wants to teach her young children about resilience and hope. She also reads several selections from her upcoming book of poetry "First Light." This inspiring episode is for anyone experiencing the lasting effects of trauma on their journey to healing.
Get Meghan's book " First Light" https://www.amazon.com/First-Light-Meghan-Zipin/dp/B0BP9VT1C3
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This episode was produced by Bright Sighted Podcasting
Dissociation is a common element of trauma that’s rarely discussed but should be. Kicking off Season 3 of How We Can Heal, host Lisa D gives us an introduction to the concept and causes of dissociation, as well as a preview of the new season dedicated to exploring this subject. Lisa also shares her view on the messaging and application of the increasingly popular trauma treatment EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), and specifically her response to how it was discussed on an episode of The Huberman Lab Podcast.
Huberman's podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31wjVhCcI5Y
For full transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
This podcast is a production of Bright Sighted Podcasting
In Season 3 of How We Can Heal is about Dissociation and Dissociative disorders. Dissociative disorders involve experiencing a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity.
Dissociative disorders usually develop as a reaction to trauma and help keep difficult memories at bay. Symptoms — ranging from amnesia to alternate identities — depend in part on the type of dissociative disorder you have. Times of stress can temporarily worsen symptoms, making them more obvious.
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk chats with the inspiration and "seed planter" behind the podcast, Mr. Alex Castellanos. The pair dive into memorable moments, how the podcast flowered from its seed, and what to expect for Season 3. So let's get reflecting with Alex.
06:02 Season 2 Healing Takeaways
12:14 Why Lisa started the podcast
19:43 What to expect for Season 3
25:45 What gives Lisa hope
Enjoying the podcast? Tell me how to make it even better: https://forms.gle/qyhuMJhbxkbz4BbJ6
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk chats with Jennifer Freyd, Ph.D., a researcher, author, educator, speaker and so much more. The pair discuss Freyd’s path to finding the Center for Institutional Courage, how the connections we have to institutions affect us, and her research on DARVO. Now, let’s wrap up Season 2 and get talking about how we can heal.
About Jennifer Freyd:
Jennifer J. Freyd, PhD, is a researcher, author, educator, and speaker. Freyd is the Founder and President of the Center for Institutional Courage, Professor Emerit of Psychology at the University of Oregon, and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine, Affiliated Faculty at the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, and Affiliated Faculty, Women's Leadership Lab, Stanford University. She is also a Member of the Advisory Committee, 2019-2023, for the Action Collaborative on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Higher Education, National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Freyd was in 1989-90 and again in 2018-19 a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. Freyd currently serves as the Editor of The Journal of Trauma & Dissociation.
Freyd is a widely published and renowned scholar known for her theories of betrayal trauma, institutional betrayal, institutional courage, and DARVO. She received her PhD in Psychology from Stanford University. The author or coauthor of over 200 articles and op-eds, Freyd is also the author of the Harvard Press award-winning book Betrayal Trauma: The Logic of Forgetting Childhood Abuse. Her most recent book Blind to Betrayal, co-authored with Pamela J. Birrell, was published by John Wiley, with seven additional translations. In 2014, Freyd was invited two times to the U.S. White House due to her research on sexual assault and institutional betrayal. In 2021 Freyd and the University of Oregon settled Freyd’s precedent-setting equal pay lawsuit.
Freyd has received numerous awards including being named a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, an Erskine Fellow at The University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In April 2016, Freyd was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation. Freyd was selected for the 2021 Christine Blasey Ford Woman of Courage Award by the Association for Women in Psychology.
Additional Bio: Jennifer Joy Freyd profile by the American Psychological Association.
Outline of the episode:
- 04:26 Defining Institutional Courage
- 18:54 Institutional Betrayal & Betrayal Blindness Explained
- 33:29 The link between individuals and the institutions we love
- 47:47 DARVO: Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender
- 54:38 Lab Research Institutional Courage
Resources:
Jennifer’s Website: https://www.jjfreyd.com/
Center for Institutional Courage: https://www.institutionalcourage.org/
Dynamics Lab: https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/
South Park DARVO clip: https://southpark.cc.com/video-clips/gfwbrf/south-park-it-s-called-darvo
You can follow Dr. Freyd on Twitter at @jjfreydcourage
Full Episode Transcript: howwecanheal.com/podcast
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk chats with New York State Licensed Psychologist, Professor, Author (and more) Sheldon Itzkowitz. The pair go in-depth on Dissociation, Sheldon’s work with DID patients and discrimination, understanding evil, and more. Tune in to keep talking about how we can heal.
Outline of the episode:
- [04:21] How Dr. Itzkowitz chose his career in Psychology
- [12:12] We’re not Freud bashing, but…
- [26:40] Working with DID patients and why it’s meaningful
- [37:42] The awful treatment of DID patients and Dr. Itzkowitz’s “why”
- [44:46] Where to go to start learning about Dissociation
- [49:46] Do you answer this common therapist question correctly?
- [57:12] Identifying your different “Self States”
- [1:05:24] Understanding evil in people
- [1:15:34] What’s giving Dr. Itzkowitz hope right now
Resources:
Website:https://www.sheldonitzkowitzphd.com/
Book: Psychoanalysts, Psychologists and Psychiatrists Discuss Psychopathy and Human Evil
ISSTD: ISSTD - International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation
Full Transcript at howwecanheal.com/podcast
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk chats with Love Story Yoga Founder, Stephanie Snyder. The pair dive into yoga's role in trauma recovery, Stephanie's work with the San Francisco Police Department, and incorporating yoga philosophy into everyday life for personal growth. So let’s get talking about how we can heal.Outline of the episode:
[03:58] When yoga entered Stephanies life
[15:54] Stephanie’s path to teaching yoga
[20:12] Teaching yoga to the San Francisco Police department
[33:25] Do you cut and run?
[47:10] Moving through trauma we can’t control
[50:18] What gives Stephanie hope
Resources:
Website: www.stephaniesnyder.com
Upcoming in-person workshop with Lisa at Lovestory Yoga in San Francisco!
Healing Trauma & Promoting Resilience Through Yoga — Love Story Yoga
Full Transcription:
howwecanheal.com/podcast
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk continues her chat with 'Chill & Prosper' Author Denise Duffield-Thomas. The pair had such an in-depth conversation part 2 was a must, so let's pick up where they left off and continue the conversation.
About Denise Duffield-Thomas:
Denise Duffield-Thomas is the money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world.
She helps entrepreneurs charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives.
Her books 'Lucky Bitch', 'Get Rich, Lucky Bitch', and 'Chill & Prosper' give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abundance without burnout.
Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 8,000 students from all around the world.
Outline of the episode:
- 04:41 Making money from real estate
- 21:02 What gives Denise hope right now
- 31:53 That one time it rained money
- 37:23 There’s Always More Mantra
- 42:02 The underrated skill we all need
- 53:11 Abundance vs. Enoughness
Resources:
Website: https://www.denisedt.com/
Chill and Prosper: https://www.denisedt.com/books
Tune into Denise’s podcast: https://www.denisedt.com/podcast
Full Transcript: howwecanheal.com/podcast
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk chats with Chill and Prosper Author Denise Duffield-Thomas. The pair dive into all things money culture, developing your strong money mindset and creating a work-life balance around the way you want to live. Their discussion went so in-depth the episode is split into two parts. Stay tuned next week for PART 2.
About Denise Duffield-Thomas:
Denise Duffield-Thomas is the money mentor for the new wave of online entrepreneurs who want to make money and change the world.
She helps entrepreneurs charge premium prices, release the fear of money and create First Class lives.
Her books 'Lucky Bitch', 'Get Rich, Lucky Bitch', and 'Chill & Prosper' give a fresh and funny roadmap to living a life of abundance without burnout.
Her Money Bootcamp has helped over 8,000 students from all around the world.
Outline of the episode:
- [5:15] Being a Chillprenuer
- [15:07] Money Culture & Excavation Work
- [25:48] What your school shoes say about you
- [39:44] Our collective money trauma—taxes
- [51:17] Developing your anchor
- [55:39] ADHD & taboo topics
Resources:
Website: https://www.denisedt.com/
Chill and Prosper: https://www.denisedt.com/books
Tune into Denise’s podcast: https://www.denisedt.com/podcast
Full Transcript: https://howwecanheal.com/podcast/
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk speaks with Carrie Owerko, founder of The Playground. Tune in to hear the pair discuss all things PLAY, their love of dance, and how movement can heal.
Listen on Apple | Spotify | Google | Amazon
About Carrie Owerko:
Carrie Owerko is renowned yoga and movement teacher with a vast international following. She has travelled throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America to share her unique interdisciplinary approach, which weaves movement and exercise science principals into her decades-long study of yoga. She has taught at Kripalu, Triyoga London, Omega Institute, Iyengar Institutes internationally, and many other venues. Carrie created a series of best-selling online courses for Yoga Journal, and has been featured in Yoga International, Prevention Magazine, The New York Times, and other publications.
Recently, Carrie founded The Playground, a virtual studio and library where she imparts her intelligent, playful and evolving approach to yoga and movement with students globally.
Carrie has been a mover, dancer, and athlete throughout her life. Early on, this love of all forms of movement led her to the study of performance. After earning a BFA in Dance and Theater from Loretto Heights College, she attended and graduated from the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse Theater School in NYC. She then spent several years working for a movement/educational/experimental theater company called The Irondale Ensemble Project. After Irondale, she continued her movement inquiries and became a Movement Analyst (CMA), having completed her studies at The Laban Institute in NYC. Her passion for continuous movement exploration also took her into a decades-long, in-depth study of yoga. She eventually earned a Senior Level Iyengar teaching credential. Additionally, she is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), Functional Range Conditioning Mobility Specialist, among other certifications.
Outline of the episode:
- [03:54] What play is to Carrie?
- [17:33] Sparking learning and creativity through play
- [27:07] Safe movement of the body
- [38:18] Solving body boredom and self-exploration
- [46:08] The privileged and importance of safety
- [56:26] Creating a space to heal with PLAY
Resources:
Website: https://www.carrieowerko.com/
The Playground: https://www.carrieowerko.com/on-demand
Full Transcript: howwecanheal.com/podcast
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk speaks with Brave Thinking Institute Health & Wellbeing Division Founder and TRANSCENDANCE creator, Jennifer Joy Jiménez. The pair come together bonding over their joy of moving the body and overall well-being. Tune in to hear their discussion on tapping into your inner movement, creating your own path towards healing, and Jennifer’s entrepreneurial journey.
About Jennifer Joy Jiménez:
Jennifer Joy Jiménez is the Founder of the Health & Well-Being Division at Brave Thinking Institute, as well as a highly sought-after speaker, consultant, trainer and coach.
Through her transformational retreats, workshops and cutting-edge Vibrant Healthy Woman Program, Jennifer has coached thousands worldwide to become more confident, healthy, joyful, abundant and full of life, so that they feel fully empowered to make the difference they are here to make in the world.
Jennifer has been featured in publications like Self, Shape, Oxygen and Woman’s World, and on TV on Fox Business, NBC News and more. In addition, she’s shared the stage with thought leaders Marianne Williamson, Maya Angelou, Byron Katie, Bob Proctor, Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra and others.
She's also the creator of the highly acclaimed transformative movement modality TranscenDance™️, helping people of all ages and backgrounds world-wide, move stuck energy, dance their dreams into reality, and truly thrive with joy and vitality in their body temple!
Outline of the episode:
- [00:03:06] Jennifer’s greatest and darkest moment
- [00:16:13] Tapping into your inner movement
- [00:28:06] Creating a healing pathway for injury recovery
- [00:36:42] what led Jennifer to marry personal development, transformational coaching, and conscious dance
- [00:54:42] Our Magical Meat Suit
- [00:56:56] The love diet
- [01:04:36] What brings Jennifer hope
Resources:
Brave Thinking Institute Health & Wellbeing Division
https://www.bravethinkinginstitute.com/health-wellbeing
Jennifer@BraveThinkingInstitute.com
(310) 383-8259 Cell
TRANSCENDANCE™ - Mind Body Movement Class
(www.BTI.com/DanceNow)
Vibrant Healthy Woman Coaching Program
https://www.bravethinkinginstitute.com/health-wellbeing/offer/vhw/register/v
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk and Zabie Yamasaki discuss healing through trauma-informed yoga. Zabie walks us through her start in yoga and her path to helping survivors with her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum.
About Zabie Yamasaki:
Zabie is the Founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga, an organization that offers trauma-informed yoga to survivors, consultation for universities and trauma agencies, and training for healing professionals. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum is now being implemented at over 30 college campuses and trauma agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, Yale, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University.
Zabie is widely recognized for her intentionality, soulful activism, and passionate dedication to her field. She is a trauma-informed yoga instructor, resilience and well-being educator, and a sought after consultant and keynote speaker. She has worked with thousands of survivors to support them in their healing journey, ground them in their own worthiness and remind them they are inherently whole. Zabie centers survivors in her work, and provides them with tools to help uncover trauma imprints, support the healing process, create balance of the nervous system, and lessen the grip that past experiences of trauma may have on the heart.
She received her undergraduate in Psychology and Social Behavior and Education at UC Irvine and completed her graduate degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs at The George Washington University. Her work has been highlighted on CNN, NBC, KTLA 5, and The Huffington Post.
Zabie is a survivor, mother, partner, daughter, sister, friend, and activist. She has received countless awards in victim services and leadership, including the Visionary in Victim Services award from one of the largest rape crisis centers in California and the Voice of Courage Award from Exhale to Inhale. She is the author of the book and affirmation deck published by Norton: Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault: Practices for Healing and Teaching with Compassion.
Outline of the episode:
- [3:19] Zabie’s first yoga experience
- [7:14] The start of yoga teacher training
- [20:37] Understanding how trauma translates into our everyday lives
- [35:34] Everyday grounding and powerful tools from Zabie
- [43:04] Processing stress and learning to rest
- [54:29] The future of trauma-informed yoga
- [1:00:50] What gives Zabie hope these days
Resources:
Website: zabieyamasaki.com
Zabie's book, Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault
Susana Muńoz Mantra, "I'm not behind or unproductive. I'm doing as much as my mind and body are allowing me to do under perpetual stress and fatigue."
Full Transcript: howwecanheal.com/podcast
Tell Me About You: https://forms.gle/WuF5K8XggF7Spn1A9
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk and Nityda Gessel discuss a path towards healing with a trauma-conscious yoga approach. Nityda shares more on her Trauma Conscious Yoga Method and motivational words to help you towards healing.
About Nityda Gessel:
Nityda Gessel, LCSW, E-RYT, is a mother, licensed somatic psychotherapist, trauma specialist, yoga educator, speaker, author, and heart-centered activist, residing on the unceded land of the Chesepian people, commonly known as Virginia Beach, VA. Nityda has devoted her life to uplifting others, working at the intersection of Eastern spirituality, holistic mental health, and embodied activism. She is the founder of the Trauma-Conscious Yoga Institute, creator of The Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method®, and author of forthcoming Norton book on trauma healing and embodied spirituality.
Outline of the episode:
- [00:02:31] How yoga came into Nityda’s life
- [00:18:34] Slow therapy with trauma patients in private practice
- [00:27:46] The Trauma Conscious Yoga Method
- [00:32:30] Nityda’s start to trauma-informed yoga
- [00:36:45] Shifts in the yoga community
- [00:42:52] Practices to create a safe place for others
- [00:53:24] Supportive words for those struggling right now
- [00:55:18] What gives Nityda hope right now
Resources:
Website: traumaconsciousyoga.com
Follow Nityda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trauma_conscious_yoga_method/
The Trauma Conscious Yoga Method on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcgzt-xiX9obhWy5UVgvpqA/videos
Tune into more: howwecanheal.com
Tell me about you: https://forms.gle/WuF5K8XggF7Spn1A9
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk and Erica Chang come together to discuss their love of yoga. The pair talk about their experience working with traumatized youth, practicing yoga to feel grounded, and what teaching looks like today.
About Erica Chang:
Erica has practiced yoga since 2010 and completed her 200 hour yoga teacher certification with Pamela Higley at Samdhana Karana Yoga. She has also completed the Yoga Behind Bars training and volunteered at Remann Hall, teaching yoga and meditation to youth.
With yoga, she has found a melding of the best things in her life: spirit, athleticism, sweat, breath, laughter, community, and rhythm. Her goal as an instructor is to offer a space to explore, allowing others to become curious about what they are capable of as they leave a little stronger, a little softer and a lot more balanced.
Outline of the episode:
- [9:45] From practice to teaching
- [13:05] Teaching yoga at a youth detention center
- [21:01] Teaching yoga with a trauma approach
- [23:09] Erica’s work at the Attorney General's Office
- [25:43] Rooted tools for yoga teachers
- [28:31] Teaching yoga online and transitioning back to in person
- [35:48] Erica’s yoga practice
- [45:39] Bringing yoga to the youth
- [49:17] What gives Erica hope
Resources:
Join Erica on the mat: https://edgeworksclimbing.com/tacoma/fitness_instructors.htmlInstagram @ericachang_Find more at howwecanheal.com/podcast/
Tell me about you:https://forms.gle/WuF5K8XggF7Spn1A9
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk, and Rha Goddess discuss society's relationship with money, the issue with Capitalism, and paving the way to a successful and fulfilling life. The entrepreneurial soul coach helps us better understand ourselves with her unique methodology.
Listen on Apple | Spotify | Google | Amazon
About Rha Goddess:
Rha Goddess is the entrepreneurial soul coach behind hundreds of breakthrough changemakers, cultural visionaries and social entrepreneurs. From multiple NY Times Bestsellers to multi-million dollar social enterprises, Rha’s unique methodology has empowered a new generation of conscious entrepreneurs to stay true, get paid, and do good. From the onset of her more than 30-year career as a cultural innovator, social impact strategist and creative change agent, Rha has drawn on the power of creativity, culture and community to move hearts, minds and policy.
Rha’s book, The Calling (St. Martin’s Press) leverages her unique methodology into a step by step blueprint for finding your purpose and making your most profitable contribution.Outline of the episode:
- [5:04] Awareness of money
- [11:02] Rha’s story of chasing money from a funder
- [20:13] When Rha took her relationship with money back
- [22:50] Viability and sustainability for nonprofits
- [31:11] Our relationship with money
- [36:46] 6 Root Causes
- [38:08] Society and scarcity
- [48:27] Paving the way to success
- [52:27] I've got issues with Capitalism
- [01:03:40] Moving our dollars in alignment with our values
- [01:15:27] What gives Rha hope
For more on Rha and the How We Can Heal Podcast, head to our website: www.howwecanheal.com
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk, and Lynette Danylchuk break down trauma, dissociation & intergenerational resilience. Lynette, who I call Noonaheeyot (my sweet mama) helps us understand dissociation and what we can do to heal through these hard times.
Listen on Apple | Spotify | Google | Amazon
About Lynette Danylchuk:
Lynette Danylchuk, PhD., is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked in the field of trauma and dissociation for over 30 years. She has worked with people struggling with PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. She is a Past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), and has received ISSTD’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She is currently doing consultation work with therapists around the world, and completing the second edition of the book she and Kevin Connors co-authored, ‘Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation: A Practical Guide for Navigating Therapeutic Challenges’.
Outline of the episode:
- [4:13] Noonaheeyot”s start in trauma work
- [6:59] Working with Veterans
- [28:28] Understanding harm reductions
- [29:41]complex developmental trauma & the offensive as a defensive strategy
- [39:48] thoughts on parenting: should you let kids cry it out during sleep training?
- [42:15] What it’s like being a therapist and a parent at the same time
- [45:05] Common themes during Lynette’s 30 years of working with complexly traumatized people.
- [53:10] Advice for people who are having a hard time emotionally
Resources:
Find Lynette and Kevin’s book, Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation: A Practical Guide to Navigating Therapeutic Challenges.
Connect with Lynettte on LinkedIn & @ldanylchuk on Twitter
Find a therapist at https://isstd.connectedcommunity.org/network/network-find-a-professional
Join me this summer for a live training intensive in yoga for Trauma Recovery at https://howwecanheal.com/live/
In this episode of How We Can Heal, Lisa Danylchuk pauses to a look back at where we've been during Season One. So, come with us as we select some of our favorite moments. We started with Gabby Bernstein, where we talked about trauma, dissociation, and what it means to have Happy Days. We go on to hear from Kris Carr, Suzanne O'Brien, Guy MacPherson, Kira Willey, Tricia Huffman, Heather Hall, Rosita Cortizo, Christine Forner, Delia Ginorio, Dui Turner and Meghan Zipin. It has been an absolute pleasure to interview all of these experts and share their sincere stories about "how we can heal."
Season two launches July 5th. In the meantime, you’ve got a bit to catch up, re-listen to your favorite episodes, and share your thoughts with me at howwecanheal.com/podcast
Next season we’ll be covering topics like trauma-informed yoga, the intersection of service work and economy, and so much more.
The tragedy in Uvalde, TX, that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers has many people feeling confused, angry, and deeply sad. Licensed psychotherapist and founder of the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery Lisa Danylchuk has an open conversation discussing how you and why people may be feeling this traumatized and what they can do to help. "We just go into shutdown and overwhelm in the face of a really massive disaster. And that's actually biologically wired. It's supernormal. So if you're there just know. That's okay. And you're a human being with a nervous system," Lisa explains. In this bonus episode, she also interviews her producer and former TV broadcaster Christine O'Donnell who reported on the Sandy Hook tragedy on how she copes with traumas and triggers.
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk and Meghan Zipin talk about how yoga helps address stress caused by extreme events. Boston Marathon is one of the major world marathon events hosted annually. But aside from being a world event, the Boston Marathon became even more famous because of what happened in 2013. Here, Meghan shares her first-hand experience of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, what she struggled with in having PTSD, and what trauma-informed yoga means to people like her whose lives are penetrated by trauma.
Meghan Zipin on defining PTSD
After what took place during the 2013 Boston Marathon, everything seemingly changed right after for Meghan. Everything that happened before that was no more the custom in her daily life. It may have not impacted Meghan physically—but it affected her emotionally and mentally. From there on, constantly feeling jumpy became her routine.
A constant hyper-vigilance and alertness perpetuated Meghan’s default body state. It interrupted her sleep at night. And because of the stress that the event perpetuated into her system, Meghan found it difficult to throw herself into anything that she couldn’t gauge as ‘predictable.’ The disorder she experienced became a pattern. And before she knew it, Meghan was already experiencing PTSD beyond what she could fully grasp about her condition.
About Meghan Zipin:
Experienced Owner and emerging writer with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. Skilled in Business Planning, Market Research, Management, Healthcare, and Business Relationship Management. Strong healthcare services professional with an MBA focused in Management and Leadership from Boston College - Carroll School of Management.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:11] How Meghan found yoga
● [05:45] Yoga served as something that anchored me
● [10:09]Yoga does a great job at helping us recognize how we can shift gears
● [15:09] Meghan Zipin on the struggle to admit to having PTSD
● [20:11] People with PTSD can’t identify and name what they’re going through
● [27:18] The concern for ‘touch’ in trauma-informed yoga
● [32:02] How Meghan transitions her clients from one move to another during yoga sessions
● [38:17] You never really know what someone is going to walk away with after yoga sessions
● [41:57] Meghan Zipin on using intake forms with clients
● [48:30] What gives Meghan Zipin hope?
Resources:
Website: https://www.meghanzipin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-delaney-zipin-51851a35/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mismegs82/?hl=en
Don’t forget to enroll by May 24th for the Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program:
http://howwecanheal.com/y4t/
Tell Me About You! I want to get to know the How We Can Heal Audience and how I can make the show even better. Tell me about you here: https://forms.gle/14s7XpU8WmhuPgrGA
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk, and Dui Turner talks about how yoga impacted her life as a woman in the military and her students' life on a bigger picture. As someone in her 40s, who's been in service for 25 years, Dui helps us understand how yoga can be carried through everything, how she champions women's inclusion and leadership, and about her upcoming book that talks about the science, the art, and the you of teaching yoga in the military.
Yoga in Context
"Yoga is a spectrum," Dui describes. It's a practice that welcomes and loves everyone that joins despite their background and knowledge of yoga. Whether you're in it for the exercise or for the fullness of the spiritual experience, yoga embraces everything in between in order for everyone to fully benefit from the practice, no matter what they aspire to achieve from doing it.
With that being said, this is why trust is critical between a yogi and a student. A yogi is cautious about how they relate to students, and they strive to create safe spaces for everyone in their class. Whether a student is someone completely new to physical wellness or from the military trying to address trauma and stress, a yogi works best knowing that an approach to teaching yoga is not a one size fits all; it adjusts to each individual.
About Dui Turner:
Duilia is an officer in the United States Air Force and a veteran of two major conflicts. She is also the founder of Integrative World, a community focusing on promoting healthy approaches and techniques to support balanced lifestyles. She has studied a variety of healing arts including Tai Chi, Qi Gong, sound therapy, meditation, and Yoga. She has also contributed to various yoga blogs, public talks and Yoga for Veterans trainings.
Dui completed the "Yoga Philosophy Intensive Course" offered by the AC Foundation in Hawaii. She has earned 200-hr and 500-hr Yoga certifications specializing in Yoga for veterans coping with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS). She is a Transformative Coach, Certified Reiki Master and Health Coach. She is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. She holds a B.S. in Meteorology and a MBA in Global Management.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:06] Yoga pulled me in from Tai-chi
● [06:44] How does yoga fit in the life of a military woman?
● [12:35]Everybody in my generation has lost friends
● [19:56] Yoga is a spectrum, and it embraces everything in between
● [24:56] What is a yoga practice for? For life!
● [33:39] Dui Turner on women's inclusion and leadership
● [42:24] We're in an era of women's firsts'
● [48:25] The practices that Dui relies on every day
● [55:08] Breathing goes with you everywhere
● [01:01:47] A book for yoga teachers in the military setting
Resources:
Website: https://www.integrativeworld.com/
MIND YOUR CLASS, Book by Duilia Mora Turner:
https://www.integrativeworld.com/book-mind-your-class
Breaking Barriers Podcast: https://www.audible.com/pd/Podcast/B08K57HG8N
Today on the How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk sits with Delia Ginorio to unfold the realities of working in the field of violence interception. In her experience and the experiences she's listened to, healing clearly is a journey. For everyone, it is lifelong work. In this talk, Delia shares the limitations and boundaries she sets for herself in survivor restoration. She also speaks on the areas she struggles at in work, how she determines when to work and when to walk away, and the pieces that give her hope to continue every day.
Victims sometimes become perpetratorsFor Delia Ginorio, the Director of the Survivor Restoration Program at the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, resources and support programs for survivors and victims of abuse and trauma are always critical. This helps survivors process what they've experienced and to have a platform where they can be heard. In her experience in the field, not having these can carry adverse effects on a survivor.
As Delia recalls her younger years, she puts into the picture how vital support is for abuse and trauma victims. Growing up with trauma, Delia identifies herself as a furious young woman. She carried so much anger that it wouldn't be hard for her to be aggressive to anyone. She was just waiting for somebody. If not for the direction she was taken to in her current career, Delia, in her own words, 'could easily be in prison right now.'
About Delia Ginorio:Delia Ginorio is the Survivor Restoration Program Director for the San Francisco Sheriff's Department (SFSD) and a nationally recognized expert in criminal justice reform and approaches. Ms. Ginorio is a key leader in the award-winning Resolve to Stop the Violence Project (RSVP).
Outline of the episode:● [02:03] One to three sessions are nothing in therapy
● [08:46]Honoring Delia Ginorio's late mother
● [14:21]Victims sometimes become perpetrators
● [19:01] Delia Ginorio's limitations on animal abuse cases
● [27:14] Violence isn't the answer
● [32:42] Delia Ginorio – The hardest population for me to work with
● [38:19] It's healing and powerful for a survivor to share their stories and be heard
● [43:11] It's easier to stay angry than to be deeply sad and hurt
● [49:06] How does Delia find the balance between doing her work and not doing it
● [55:07] But even some of the folks I thought were never going to change are my coworkers today!
Resources:
DV Hotline #'s in San Francisco
Woman Inc: (877) 384-3578
La Casa de las Madres: (877)503-1850
Riley Center: (415) 255-0165
SF Woman Against Rape: (415) 647-7273
Five Keys Schools and Programs
Community Works West – Justice Demands Humanity
RSVP Video Clip:
Resolve to Stop the Violence: Innovator's Focus
Domestic Violence Support and Resources
You are not alone. 24/7 help is available if you need support. Reach out for help if your partner or someone in your life is:
Putting you down
Hurting you
Threatening you
Making you feel afraid
In an emergency, call 911
If it is not safe to call 911, you can text 911.
24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call 1-800-799-7233 anytime.
More Resources: https://bit.ly/3wiWZ2R
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk and Christine Forner break down dissociation, mindfulness, and securefulness. Even before becoming a therapist, Christine had always been exposed to trauma work. As she words it, Christine is someone whose more centered when around other people's challenges. Today, Christine helps us understand what securefulness means, the challenges to mindfulness and dissociation, why she believes mindfulness is our parent brain as humans, and much more.
Dissociation and Mindfulness – Two Different Sides
Christine, during the interview, describes how she's come to realize the polarity of dissociation and mindfulness as two opposing brain and body states. For her, dissociation is both concrete and abstract. The same thing with mindfulness. When a person is dissociative or mindful, either way, they'll experience feeling altered in the beginning. They think differently, hence why they're both in polar states.
Because they're two different points from two parallel extremes, aiming for the other while currently in the opposing state can often create a challenging transition. When a person is dissociated, a therapist suggesting mindfulness as an initial aid to the issue may seem like someone waking up a patient in the middle of open-heart surgery.
About Christine Forner:
Christine Forner, B.A., B.S.W., M.S.W., R.S.W., has over thirty-five years of experience working with individuals with Trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Dissociation, Developmental Trauma, and Dissociative Disorders.
Christine started her career as a public educator for a sexual assault center, moving to a domestic violence center, and eventually was drawn to working at a feminist-based organization that focused on long-term counseling for women at a very low fee. It was here that she began her passion for working with individuals who experience traumatic dissociation.
Starting her own private practice in 2011, she has specialized training in EMDR, Ego State Therapy, Meditation, and Mindfulness for severely traumatized people and is a certified Sensorimotor Psychotherapist. Receiving a degree in both Woman's Studies and Social Work, Christine has a unique background that helps individuals understand that much of human suffering is a side effect of an enormous number of traumatic experiences.
Christine teaches locally and at an international level on dissociation, complex trauma, the intersection of dissociation and mindfulness, as well as the role that misogyny and the patriarchy play in the origination and perpetuation of complex trauma dissociation, and the many layers of psychopathy.
Christine has won several Presidential awards, a Mid-Life career award, and is an International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation Fellow. She was the President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation in 2019, served on the board of the ISSTD since 2010, and was the ISSTD treasurer from 2012 to 2017.
Outline of the episode:
● [03:37] Getting exposed to trauma at the age of 16
● [05:33] My clients taught me how to be a therapist
● [11:59]When and how did Christine get into mindfulness?
● [18:00] When we're in a dissociative state…
● [24:01] What does mindfulness feel like for someone whose extremely dissociative?
● [30:37] Mindfulness is a relational thing
Resources & Articles Mentioned:https://bit.ly/3y79iSr
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk talks to Dr. Rosita Cortizo about her approach to helping women and moms heal internally through simple and subtle ways. For Dr. Rosita, a mother must know how to take care of herself. And that covers all aspects of well-being. But how can one mom start when there's just so much asked for from mothers? Dr. Rosita shares how volunteer work opened her to her current field of specialty, how trauma affects motherhood and womanhood, and why it's all-important for everyone to learn about how they got into this world.
Mothers – what place do you have in this world?
Even with the current generation's awakening to more open discussions on mental health, it's surprising to see how most people are still very unfamiliar with anything that has to do with therapy. No matter how necessary, some say, therapy is still very inaccessible for some. And mothers are not alien to the issue. For Dr. Rosita, economic concerns are one of the leading factors; a mother's responsibilities are number two.
In her experience, Dr. Rosita cites a straight entry point that can change how moms look at therapy as a whole: it's through education. Moms need to understand that it's essential to feel good about themselves. How a mother feels will impact how others feel in her care. Dr. Rosita teaches moms that they are the 'queens' of their bodies and children. If a mother doesn't feel good about herself, she cannot teach her children how they can feel good about themselves—let alone self-care and self-love.
About Dr. Rosita Cortizo:
Rosita Cortizo, originally from Panama City, Panama, in South America, currently works as a high-risk, multicultural, bilingual prenatal and perinatal clinical psychologist for women's health services working with female adults and children.
Dr. Cortizo has worked in Public Health in Southern California with pregnant women at high risk with multiple diagnoses, traumatic stress, dissociative processes, and relational crisis for more than 30 years.
She holds licenses as both clinical psychologist (2001) and marriage family therapist (1998); and earned a Master of Arts in Psychology with a specialty in Chemical Dependency (1993) in San Diego, California. She is EMDRIA Certified, an Approved EMDR Consultant, and the 2021 ISSTD President.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:58] What volunteer work opened Dr. Rosita Cortizo to
● [05:33] I wanted to see how far my volunteer work would go
● [10:10]Treating trauma in public health was nothing like in the textbooks
● [15:00] Birth is a painful conversation!
● [20:29] In what avenue does Dr. Rosita Cortizo begin to work on a mother's interpersonal healing
● [25:56] Moms need to learn self-soothing so their children can learn it too
● [31:02] Why it definitely helps to get to know your patients more personally
● [35:30] Compare then despair
● [44:03] It's who, not how!
● [50:35] Dr. Rosita Cortizo – I want to be a hand for all moms!
Website: http://www.rositacortizo.com/
More Resources: https://howwecanheal.com/prioritizing-trauma-healing-for-pregnant-women-with-doctor-rosita-cortizo/
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk talks to Dr. Heather Hall about the different staggering studies that show the factors that affect trauma and dissociation and how some psychiatric practices disserve the treatment of trauma. Should trauma treatment be treated like checking boxes off a list? Dr. Heather helps us understand the ethnic density effect, how neighborhood environments affect dark-skinned immigrants in London, and how support systems can never be overlooked in treating trauma patients.
How Attachment Works
By definition, Dr. Heather Hall describes attachment as 'the process by which trauma transcends' from one generation to another. For example, on parenting. If one is raised in an abusive and neglective environment, it'd be almost natural for that person to not have any substantial model of how a parent should adequately be to a child. In this type of situation, a disorganized attachment can develop.
If a person experiences this kind of attachment, insecurities can and may most definitely affect their approach to raising children. From being raised in trauma, this person will then be exposed to another phase of trauma wherein they will not be able to function ideally in the face of a child they can't connect with. In effect, the person with this kind of attachment will also expose the child to the same disorganized attachment.
About Dr. Heather Hall:
Dr. Hall is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She has over thirty years of experience. She combines expertise in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy to develop treatment plans tailored to each patient. Before establishing her private practice, Dr. Hall was an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF and UC Davis.
She is currently on the board of directors of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and specializes in treating complex trauma. In addition, she is the co-chair of the ISSTD's Public Health Committee and chair of the Annual Conference Committee. Dr. Hall is a graduate of Smith College in Northampton, MA.
She completed her medical training at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA, and her psychiatric training at The Institute of Pennsylvania hospital.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:28] What drew Dr. Heather to becoming an MD Psychiatrist?
● [07:14] Some psychiatrists ignore a patient's trauma history
● [12:31]It's hard to be in a system that's not trauma-informed
● [18:02] A good portion of the homeless are trauma survivors
● [24:03] Voter turnout affects psychoses for darker-skinned immigrants in areas in London
● [31:46] With no trauma history, assessing symptoms may turn out like checking boxes off the list
● [37:09] The different factors that can affect a patient-psychiatrist connection and vice versa
● [43:07] From 'what's wrong with you?' to 'what happened to you?'
● [50:53] The importance of close contacts that are educated on how trauma history affects people
● [56:31] Dr. Heather Hall – on checking your patient's coping mechanisms
Website: https://www.heatherhallmd.org/
For Publications by Dr. Heather Hall: https://howwecanheal.com/dissociation-schizophrenia-and-systemic-racism-with-dr-heather-hall/
Tricia Huffman is a podcast host, speaker, Manager of Integrity to Grammy Award-winning artists, and founder of Your Joyologist. While living out her first dream as a touring sound engineer, she saw that everyone, including the people we think “have it all,” often doesn’t feel fulfilled and fights doubts, worries, and compares themselves to others daily. With her unique background and knowledge in self-care and wellness, she first created her Joyology to keep artists healthy, grounded, and inspired in body and mind while on tour. She now spreads her mission to claim joy daily via her empowering social media posts, real talk podcast, coaching work, product line, and Own Your Awesome daily inspiration app, and everything that she does.
She is based in Los Angeles, where she is raising her strong-willed, independent, creative daughters and F-ing the shoulds while claiming joy daily.
You can learn more about Tricia and her work at triciahuffman.com, @_triciahuffman, yourjoyologist.com, and @yourjoyologist, and subscribe to her Claim It! Podcast.
Full Transcript Available Here
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk welcomes Kira Willey as she discusses how she incorporates music, yoga, and mindfulness for very young children. Kira has had over a decade plus years of experience in music, mindfulness, and teaching kids. Today, Kira shares her story behind how she started on this path, how she perceives energy, and what for her mindfulness is and what mindfulness is not.
Music – it's where I need to be
While working in a previous parent and child program, Kira spotted this ad about children's yoga training for teachers in the workplace. Admittedly, Kira wasn't 100% into it at that time. Nevertheless, by looking at the ad, Kira knew that it was something she would do. The training also didn't come cheap. Yet, Kira had a go with it anyway. Mentally, Kira already had some part of the thing planned out in her head. Once she gets the certificate, she was certain she'd incorporate music into her teaching.
Kira's love for music can be understood very easily in this interview. Bringing her guitar everywhere was not an issue for Kira. To her, 'it was like a crutch.' So she's very comfortable handling it. What she's not comfortable with, however, is being in a room with 25 six-year-olds. For Kira, music is so easy to love. It makes brains light up, and it influences everyone's energy. And even though there's science behind that, Kira believes you don't need Science to experience it.
About Kira Willey:
Kira Willey is the author of six children's mindfulness books: Peaceful Like a Panda, the Mindfulness Moments for Kids board book series, and the bestselling Breathe Like a Bear. Her books have been translated into 18 languages and sold more than 260,000 copies around the world.
As a kids' yoga and mindfulness expert with nearly two decades of teaching experience, Kira has spoken on the TEDx stage, trained thousands of kids' yoga teachers, and is the creator of Rockin' Yoga training and school programs, as well as her Rockin' Yoga membership, a thriving community of educators bringing mindful practices to children.
As a children's music artist, Kira has released six albums of yoga & mindfulness songs for kids, which have won Parents' Choice Gold and numerous other industry awards. Her songs have been streamed more than 35 million times, and her hits include "Colors," which was featured in a worldwide Dell ad campaign.
Kira is also the creator and host of two kids' TV programs, "Breathe With Me" and "Fireflies Yoga," which air on PBS affiliates nationwide.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:34] From sports to yoga
● [06:24] Kira Willey – on working in music, earning less, and still loving it
● [11:30]There's nothing better than creating with others
● [15:13] How did music, yoga, and teaching kids come about for Kira?
● [21:03] Songs for channeling scattered energy
● [26:09] Mindfulness doesn't have to be sitting on a cushion with a candlelit
● [31:40] Do you have time for mindfulness? You should!
● [35:52] Kira Willey – on working with parents
● [46:26] You can do almost anything that you're already doing—mindfully
● [48:47] What gives Kira Willey hope?
Resources:
Website: https://kirawilley.com/home
Kira is offering How We Can Heal listeners free children's mindfulness and music resources! Head here to grab all the goods:
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk talks with Guy Macpherson about his most golden takeaways after talking with 600 trauma therapists. "Being with someone in their healing is healing in and of itself." In Guy's experience, that's something he has proven to be totally true. Here, Guy shares what made him go back to studying in his mid-30s, why vulnerability in therapy must come first from the therapist, and what Guy loves about being a therapist in podcasting.
Don't Hide Behind the AssessmentReading psychoses is a normal thing to do in Guy's field of work. In this episode, Guy cites one instance where he handled a little kid with a 40-page psychosis and severe symptoms. Because communicating results is one part of working with clients, especially clients with guardians and parents, like little kids, as a therapist, Guy ensures that he does so without having to be robotic when simplifying readings with anyone that is of concern.
During therapy with this kid, Guy experienced a challenge—the talk wasn't going anywhere. With explaining an assessment to anyone outside the field being a challenge itself already, Guy faced a stiffer challenge when trying to tackle trauma with a child. That was until he decided to put down the assessment. When Guy resorted to just talking to the child, he observed a major shift. Not hiding behind the assessment helped the child see that he was just talking with another person. After that experience, Guy realized that he only needed to be there as a person first.
About Guy Macpherson:Guy Macpherson, Ph.D., is a husband, a father of two, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. He has spent the last several years studying the impact and treatment of trauma and early psychosis.
In 2014, while working at a clinic in Northern California, assessing and treating young individuals with early psychosis, Guy founded The Trauma Therapist Project with the goals of raising the awareness of trauma and creating an educational and supportive community for new trauma therapists.
The Trauma Therapist Project has now grown to include The Trauma Therapist | Podcast, now being listened to in more than 160 countries around the world, Trauma Therapist | 2.0, an online membership community specifically dedicated to educating and inspiring new trauma therapists, and The Trauma Therapist Newsletter, a monthly subscription resource filled with information and inspiration for trauma therapists everywhere.
Guy's focus is on honoring and cultivating the authenticity, vulnerability, and courage of trauma therapists.
Outline of the episode:
● [01:54] What drew Guy into trauma therapy?
● [05:00] Guy Macpherson – on starting 'The Trauma Therapist Podcast'
● [10:26]Anything can be traumatizing for someone
● [15:27] A therapist's vulnerability is critical to setting a tone of safety
● [20:08] The quality of interpersonal relationships that you have is important
● [25:36] Your healing is your journey
● [31:51] The client's assessment is not as critical as connecting with them on a human level
● [39:00] I like how I can share how I screwed it up
● [46:26] It's not about if you're going to get triggered as a therapist; it's when you're going to get triggered
● [50:03] Human Being vs. Human Doing
Resources:
Website: https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guymacphersonphd
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk talks with Suzanne O'Brien about the part in life that we all shouldn't rush nor fear. In this episode, if there's one ultimate takeaway from Suzanne, it'd be that 'love goes hand in hand with grief.' As a "Worldwide Leader in Healthcare," Suzanne shares how she trains people to care for departing loved ones from start to finish and the type of approach that proves how it's possible to face death with grace.
Doulas in the Pandemic
Physical contact has become standard in the type of work that doulas do. As guides and support, doulas spend time with the clients they work with to provide assistance and care in many different ways. So when the pandemic hit, it was very easy to worry about how a doula could fulfill her role effectively. But, with End of Life, the halt of physical contact was not the end of it all.
Because telemedicine was proven effective at the many fronts of healthcare, End of Life came up with teledoula to address the demand for their services in a 'no-physical-contact' world. To supply the demand, online memorials were held for home wakes. When everyone's emotions heightened, this side of teledoula-ing proved to be an extraordinary way of harnessing the beauty and absurdity of using technology to connect.
About Suzanne O'Brien:
Suzanne B. O'Brien RN is a former Hospice and Oncology Nurse, International Speaker, and bestselling author. She is the Founder and Creator of The International Doulagivers Institute and the award-winning Doulagivers End of Life Doula Trainings. In 2015, Suzanne was Awarded "Worldwide Leader in Healthcare" by the International Nurses Association and named Oprah Magazine Humanitarian Brand Ambassador in 2019.
Suzanne B. O'Brien RN, the creator of Doulagivers, has been at the forefront of the End-of-Life Doula Movement in the United States since it began building momentum nearly a decade ago. She has developed free training designed for everyone based on her years of experience working with over one thousand end-of-life patients as a hospice nurse and palliative care professional to help make the end of life a more positive experience for us all.
The Level 1 End of Life Doula and Family Caregiver Training is a free course designed so that anyone and everyone can understand the basic end-of-life processes and how to suggest and offer comfort to families and patients throughout these processes.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:55] Your calling won't always make sense
● [06:03] When everyone thinks they're right—there's chaos
● [11:49] The Perfect Storm
● [18:12] Suzanne O'Brien – on the three-day home wake
● [24:30] The three (3) phases of caring for a loved one who is at the end of their life
● [29:40] Your body knows what to do
● [36:05] How to support people who can't be there for a departing loved one
● [42:03] Three (3) reasons why people hang on during their last moments
● [48:55] The Deathbed Test
● [54:30] You don't have to fear nor rush death
Resources:
Website: www.doulagivers.com
Creating Positive Passings: End of Life Doula, Level 1, Caregiver Training:
https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Positive-Passings-Caregiver-Training-ebook/dp/B00YWTUSUM
DOULAGIVERS® LIFE CLASS:
www.doulagivers.com
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk sits down with Kris Carr to talk about one memorable valentines day that changed her life forever. Nineteen years ago, Kris found out she has a rare and incurable type of cancer. From a point in her life where she knew close to nothing about wellness and her body, now, Kris shares how cancer led her to a richer life, her practice of grounding, and her views on what healing is and what healing is not.
Your Golden Years are Now
Not everyone can take life-changing events lightly. It's not the typical response, and it's hard. That becomes more true if we're talking about life-threatening diseases. But Kris is an exemption to that. With a disease that has been with her for 19 years now, Kris learned how to make use of her unique situation. When talking about how to stay present at the moment, Kris described how, if anything, 'her disease has become a mindset growth above everything else.'
Of course, getting to that point of thinking is no slice of cake. It takes so much practice. If there's anything that helped Kris become the thriver that she is today, it would have to be her late father's influence on her. From her dad, Kris learned that one's golden years don't have to be at a later point in their life. Your years can be golden now. And for that to happen, Kris had to put in the work to not get too far ahead of herself and be grounded. Despite being ill, Kris is always mindful about not catastrophizing things.
About Kris Carr:
Kris Carr is a multiple New York Times best-selling author, wellness activist, and cancer thriver. She's been called a "force of nature" by O Magazine and was named a "new role model" by The New York Times. Kris is a member of Oprah's SuperSoul 100, recognizing the most influential thought-leaders today, and was named a "new role model" by The New York Times.
Kris lectures at hospitals, conferences, and corporations. Media appearances include Glamour, Prevention, Scientific American, Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Evening News, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Success, Super Soul Sunday, OWN, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
She is the subject and director of the documentary Crazy Sexy Cancer, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and aired on TLC and The Oprah Winfrey Network.
As an irreverent foot soldier in the fight against disease, Kris teaches people how to take back their health and their power. Her work will change the way you live, love, and eat! Find her at Kriscarr.com, where she publishes an award-winning blog focusing on holistic wellness.
Outline of the episode:
● [02:06] A life-changing valentine's day
● [05:02] What the challenge gave Kris in terms of how she lives life
● [09:55] Kris Carr – on staying present and keeping grounded
● [15:18] The five (5) pillars of wellness
● [20:05] You have to make your golden years now
● [24:47] Kris Carr – on not judging herself and others
● [31:39] Give yourself permission to go through the process of grief
● [35:04] A story of how three roses made Kris choose to feel love
● [40:22] How is Kris' upcoming book different from her previous ones?
● [47:02] Be gentle to yourself and be where you are
Resources:
Website: https://kriscarr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazysexykris/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrisCarr
If you want support creating healthy habits
Today on How We Can Heal Podcast, Lisa Danylchuk is joined by Gabby Bernstein to discuss her healing recipes in the new book, Happy Days: The Guided Path from Trauma to Profound Freedom and Inner Peace. Everything in the book is like a recipe for Gabby. And just like any recipe, you can either follow it or tweak it here and there in any way. In this episode, Gabby explains how she channels meditation with journaling plus bilateral music, the experience of losing a child and allowing dissociation to take over, and the primary goal she aims to achieve in the book Happy Days.
The Author's First Page
"I write my books for myself first," says Gabby when asked about her newly released Happy Days. Like the book's reviews from readers, some of who are figures in the industry themselves, Gabby poured nothing but honesty and openness in this recent episode of the podcast. These characteristics of Gabby help readers mirror the different phases she learned in her journey to sitting down and shaking hands with trauma.
But now that the book is out is it all 'done and over with' for Gabby? The answer—no. 'Going through the depths and having to retrieve the inner child' does not mean recess for the work Gabby puts in. Gabby still goes to therapy every week, and she continues to practice what she preaches in her books. With that, we learn that healing is never a destination. Like learning how to heal, the healing process itself is a continuous daily thing. That, Gabby knows all too well.
About Gabby Bernstein:For more than 16 years, Gabby Bernstein has been transforming lives—including her own. The #1 New York Times bestselling author has penned nine books, including The Universe Has Your Back, Super Attractor and Happy Days. Gabby was featured on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday as a "next-generation thought leader." The New York Times identified Gabby as "a new role model." In her weekly podcast, Dear Gabby, she offers up real-time coaching, straight talk, and conversations about personal growth and spirituality. From her start hosting intimate conversations with 20 people in her New York City apartment, Gabby has grown to speak to tens of thousands in sold-out venues throughout the world.
The Oprah Winfrey Network chose Gabby to be part of the Super Soul 100, a dynamic group of trailblazers whose vision and life's work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world. She co-hosted the Guinness World Records' largest guided meditation with Deepak Chopra and appears regularly as an expert on Today, Good Morning America, and other programs and publications. She connects with her community through her books, her Miracle Membership, and her podcast, Dear Gabby. To learn more about Gabby, visit gabbybernstein.com.
Outline of the episode:
● [01:58] Overcoming addiction and picking up new ones
● [03:53] This is what I've been running from…
● [08:47] What are protector parts?
● [11:31] Gabby's recipes for healing
● [15:05] Rage on the Page
● [21:01] We still use so many deficit languages around mental health
● [23:44] The goal of the book is to normalize trauma
● [28:23] Gabby Bernstein – the book is decades of practice
● [32:02] How Gabby's meditation changed throughout her healing
● [45:22] Are we attracting our circumstances?
Resources:Website: https://gabbybernstein.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbybernstein/
Happy Days:&
A podcast to share deep conversations about How We Can Heal from life’s toughest circumstances. Each week, host and Licensed Psychotherapist Lisa Danylchuk interviews specialists in healing, wellness, trauma recovery beyond. Guests like Gabby Bernstein, Kris Carr, Suzanne O'Brien, and Guy MacPherson share their personal histories and what helped them through the biggest challenges they've faced in their own lives, as well as how they support other people going through hard times.
A lot of people have been dealing with trauma and grief at a new level in recent years – this is something Lisa has been through herself and she's helped a lot of other people work through her role as a psychotherapist. While she has degrees from both UCLA and Harvard, she knows that knowledge alone is not enough. We need to feel connected in our healing. She truly hopes this show helps listeners move through whatever difficulties life is throwing their way right now,
This podcast isn't offering prescriptions. It’s not advice or any kind of diagnosis. This is meant to be an opportunity for listeners to learn from other human beings, to connect with their hearts and hear what has helped them move through some of their own experiences, and continue on to thrive. We encourage you to consult with relevant healthcare professionals who can support you through your healing journey.
Let’s get talking about How We Can Heal.