The Healing Trauma Podcast

Trigger Warning: Contains sensitive content & language related to childhood sexual abuse.

In this episode of the Healing Trauma Podcast, Guest Host Dr. Mark McNear talks with Dr. Dan Allender to discuss the profound impact of trauma and the healing power of story work. They explore the complexities of personal narratives, the importance of kindness in therapy, and the long-term journey of healing from trauma. The conversation emphasizes the need for a compassionate approach to understanding one's story and the role of kindness in facilitating healing. Listeners are encouraged to engage with their own stories and recognize the ongoing nature of healing.

takeaways

• Story work can lead to profound healing and joy.
• Engaging with personal trauma stories is essential for healing.
• Kindness is crucial in the therapeutic process.
• Betrayal and powerlessness are common themes in trauma.
• Shame can complicate the experience of pleasure in trauma.
• Touch and arousal can evoke complex feelings in trauma survivors.
• Healing is a lifelong journey, not a quick fix.
• Understanding the past is essential for present healing.
• Kindness differs from niceness; it involves deeper engagement.
• The process of remembering trauma is vital for recovery.

About the Guest: Dr. Dan Allender, co-founder of The Allender Center and founding president of The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology, has pioneered a unique and innovative approach to trauma and abuse therapy over the past 30 years.

*This episode is a re release from an earlier season of the HTP. It is a wonderful conversation about understanding Developmental Trauma.

In this conversation, Monique is chatting with trauma therapist Mily Gomez. Mily discusses the concept of developmental trauma, its impact on emotional regulation, attachment styles, and relationships. She explains how early experiences shape our ability to connect with others and manage our emotions. The discussion also covers the importance of validation, support, and the healing process through reparenting and somatic work. Mily emphasizes the need for individuals to develop tools for self-regulation and the significance of building healthy attachments in adulthood.

takeaways

• Developmental trauma occurs from conception to age two or three.
• Implicit memory affects how we feel without conscious awareness.
• Early experiences set the foundation for emotional regulation.
• Insecure attachment can lead to trust issues in relationships.
• Validation and support are crucial for healing.
• Reparenting oneself is a key part of the healing process.
• Somatic experiencing helps in processing trauma stored in the body.
• Clients can learn to self-regulate their emotions.
• Healthy attachments can be built even after trauma.
• Therapy provides a safe space for exploring difficult emotions.

Find Milly Gomez on IG

In this conversation, author and trauma therapist Monica DiCristina shares her insights on the importance of naming pain and understanding one's emotional triggers. She discusses her book, 'Your Pain Has A Name,' and emphasizes the significance of accurate diagnosis in therapy. The discussion also touches on the impact of dismissal in therapeutic settings, the dangers of oversimplified healing approaches, and the importance of finding the right therapeutic relationship. Monica encourages listeners to keep seeking understanding and healing, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles.

takeaways

• Monica wrote her book to help others name their pain.
• Naming pain is essential for separating identity from trauma.
• Many people walk around feeling something is wrong with them.
• Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective healing.
• Understanding one's wiring can help in managing mental health.
• Dismissal in therapy can lead to feelings of isolation.
• Oversimplified healing approaches can be harmful.
• The therapeutic relationship is key to successful outcomes.
• It's important to find a therapist who feels right for you.
• Everyone's journey to understanding and healing is unique.

Monica's new book: Your Pain Has a Name: A Therapist’s Invitation to Understanding Your Story and Sorting Out Who You Are from What Hurts https://amzn.to/4i3qmxF

Where to Find Monica:

In this episode of the Healing Trauma Podcast, Monique Koven speaks with trauma therapist Gina Birkemeier about her book 'Generations Deep,' which explores the impact of generational trauma and the importance of healing. They discuss how family patterns shape our beliefs and behaviors, the significance of corrective experiences in healing, and the role of curiosity in breaking cycles of dysfunction. Gina shares her personal journey of recognizing and addressing inherited trauma, emphasizing the need for supportive relationships and the importance of not navigating this journey alone.

takeaways

• The title of the book is 'Generations Deep, Unmasking Inherited Trauma and Dysfunction to Rewrite Our Stories.'
• Family patterns can carry significant weight and influence our lives.
• Healing is a non-linear process that involves ups and downs.
• Curiosity can help combat shame and rigidity in our lives.
• Corrective experiences are essential for emotional healing.
• Breaking cycles of trauma starts with individual healing.
• It's important to recognize and address inherited beliefs and behaviors.
• Supportive relationships can provide a foundation for healing.
• Self-reflection is crucial in understanding our childhood needs.
• Do not navigate the healing journey alone; seek support.

In this conversation, Monique and Dr. Maureen Gallagher explore the integration of Somatic Experiencing and Inner Relationship Focusing as powerful tools for healing trauma and understanding the inner critic. They discuss how these methods can help individuals build a compassionate relationship with their experiences, update old emotional learnings, and transform the inner critic into a supportive part of the self. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-compassion, the role of attachment in personal growth, and the potential for learning these techniques to enhance emotional well-being.

takeaways

• Somatic experiencing connects deeply with the nervous system.
• Inner relationship focusing builds a relationship with somatic experiences.
• The inner critic often stems from old emotional learnings.
• Transforming the inner critic involves understanding its protective role.
• Updating emotional learnings can alleviate unnecessary fears.
• Self-compassion is crucial for personal growth and healing.
• Integrating somatic experiencing with focusing enhances transformation.
• Learning these techniques can be done individually or with guidance.
• Building a secure attachment to self fosters emotional safety.
• Recognizing the inner critic as a part of oneself can change relationships.

About Our Guest: Dr. Maureen Gallagher is a Licensed Psychologist (NY, NJ), Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Faculty Member, Inner Relationship Focusing Trainer, Emotionally Focused Therapist and Supervisor and a Relational Psychoanalyst. Her work and teaching are dedicated to the embodiment of psychotherapy and related healing disciplines, in which she integrates somatic awareness and the use of somatic intervention along with adult attachment work and a relational focus. She brings a broad range of experience and training to this endeavor, including Certifications in Somatic Experiencing, Inner Relationship Focusing, Relational Psychoanalysis, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Integral Somatic Psychology, SE Touch skills training and Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy. Her clinical work integrates focusing, somatic experiencing, relational psychoanalysis and experiential and process oriented models of attachment theory. She has maintained a private practice for over 20 years. She is the founder of Embodying Psychotherapy.

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