Therapy Chat | Psychotherapy | Mindfulness | Trauma | Attachment | Worthiness | Self Care | Parenting

Welcome back to `Therapy Chat! This week's guest, Eugene Ellis, is a UK-based therapist with a background in systems theory, play therapy and adoption work who identifies as a Buddhist and is helping people talk about race through his recent book, "Transforming Race Conversations - A Healing Guide for Us All," which was previously released in 2021 as "The Race Conversation". Eugene's book delves into the story of race, exploring its historical and social construction, the language of race, the impact of race trauma on the body, and how intergenerational race trauma continues to impact us today. For the past 22 years, he has been the director and founder of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network, the UK's largest independent organisation to specialise in working therapeutically with Black, African, Caribbean and Asian people. We talked about the importance of supportive communities in helping us stay connected in mind, body and spirit through the tumultuous times we're liv

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week's guest is Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye, a wise and deep clinician, author, teacher, speaker and leader. We had a heartfelt conversation about showing up authentically as a therapist. Not "trying to show up authentically," but living and working as our authentic selves. Sabrina speaks about how spirituality fits in with the process of reclaiming your authenticity. This was a beautiful and inspiring conversation which I hope you will enjoy.Dr. Sabrina N'Diaye is a thought leader in integrating spirituality with psychotherapy. As an integrative therapist, author, and peacebuilder, she blends ancient spiritual practices with the latest scientific research and wisdom to guide others on their healing journeys. She is affectionately referred to as, “Sister Sabrina” in the communities that she serves.Dr. Sabrina holds a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where her research focused on the use of guided imagery as a healing tool for African-American w

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm talking with Pam Conboy and Dr. Leah Linder, co-founders of Setas Seminary. Pam, whose background is in biology, was trained as a clinical laboratorian and is currently a doctoral student in naturopathic medicine. She is an IIN certified health coach, trained psychedelic facilitator, medical marketing|business development entrepreneur, and ordained minister.With a background in biochemistry and emergency medicine, Leah is a naturopathic physician trained in psychedelic assisted therapy with deep expertise in natural supplement formulation and manufacture and an ordained minister. We spoke about micro- and macro-dosing psilocybin mushrooms - why people do it, how it may help, and the importance of ceremony when using these medicines. Many people are micro- and macro-dosing psilocybin, so this information is valuable for clinicians and those considering using psilocybin therapeutically. Learn more about Setas Seminary via their website.Therapists, visit the new Fo

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we are talking about a newly coined term, "high functioning codependency," which was defined by our guest, Terri Cole. Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist and global relationship and empowerment expert who authored two books, Boundary Boss and her newest, book, Too Much, which we discuss in this week's episode. For over 20 years, Terri has worked with a diverse group of clients that includes everyone from stay-at-home moms to celebrities and Fortune 500 CEOs. She has a gift for making complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable so that clients and students achieve sustainable change - and she's hilarious, in my opinion.She inspires over a million people weekly through her blog, social media platform, signature courses, and her popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. You'll hear us discuss how HSP's and narcissists go together like peanut butter and jelly, why, and what can be done about it. I couldn't put her book down - it op

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, continuing the discussion of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), we have a new interview with my colleague, teacher and friend Paula Scatoloni, LCSW. Paula Scatoloni is a Licensed Social Worker and a Healing Arts Practitioner in NC blending transpersonal psychology, somatics, and sound with the principles of traditional wisdom and earth-based spirituality. Paula created Transformative Harmonics as a bridge to help individuals shift their frequency into safety, connection, and empowerment so they can begin live a more purpose-driven life. We talked about the importance of embodiment for practitioners who are delivering the SSP. Paula spoke about how we can work with our nervous systems for co-regulation and much more. Find Paula's website with all of her offerings at: www.paulascatoloni.comFind the Polyvagal Institute website here.Purchase Safe and Sound: A polyvagal approach for connection, change and healing here.Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we have another new episode, which I've been super excited to share with you! I had a powerful experience with the SSP myself, over the last couple of years, and prior to that I had been interested in its potential since first hearing about it around 2017. The challenge I found was in understanding - and then explaining - how it can benefit those who participate in the protocol! My guests today understand all the ins and outs of the protocol. In fact, they literally wrote the book! The new book, Safe and Sound: A polyvagal approach for connection, change and healing, is out now! It covers the research on SSP, gives many case examples, and covers some important factors in the delivery of the method.Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is author of The Polyvagal Theory and creator of SSP. He is professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Cons

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm sharing a new interview with Dr. Hillary McBride, a clinician, teacher, author, speaker, trainer, and host of "Other People's Problems" podcast on CBC. One of the things I wanted to discuss with her is how they ensure ethics and consent from the clients featured in the therapy sessions shared on the show. I loved her answer!We also discussed spiritual abuse, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, the research on the COVID pandemic as a transformative experience and more! Hillary writes about embodiment, trauma, eating disorders, mental health and spirituality; her bestselling book The Wisdom Of Your Body was released in 2021, Practices for Embodied Living was released in 2024, and her most recent book "Holy Hurt: understanding spiritual trauma and the process of healing" was released April 2025. Her award-winning CBC podcast Other People's Problems was mentioned in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times as essential listening, and she is

This week's episode of Therapy Chat features the creator of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), David Emerson. In this replay episode which originally aired in 2017, you'll hear David explaining how trauma-sensitive yoga can be brought into psychotherapy. He discusses some of the benefits of trauma-sensitive yoga on mental health and talks about his book, Trauma Sensitive Yoga in Therapy: Bringing the Body Into Treatment. I also highly recommend his other book, Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body. I really appreciate how the authors explain why yoga is beneficial in healing trauma. Visit the Trauma Sensitive Yoga website, where you can find trainings as well as David Emerson's books and more.Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more. On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma RecoveryToolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you w

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! I recently returned from Austin, Texas, where I completed level 1 of the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, founded by this week's guest, Nityda Gessel.This week's episode is a part two replay of my interview with Nityda about the differences between psychotherapeutic yoga, used in clinical practice, and yoga therapy, which can be offered by yoga instructors with specialised training. Whether you're a therapist considering training in yoga to add to your clinical practice, a yoga instructor or yoga therapist, or anyone who is considering adding yoga to their healing toolkit, this is an informative episode!Nityda Gessel Onlinehttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comhttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comTherapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings, featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychatThank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week’s episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth i

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! I recently returned from Austin, Texas, where I completed level 1 of the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, founded by this week's guest, Nityda Gessel. This week's episode is a replay of my interview with Nityda about the differences between psychotherapeutic yoga, used in clinical practice, and yoga therapy, which can be offered by yoga instructors with specialised training. Whether you're a therapist considering training in yoga to add to your clinical practice, a yoga instructor or yoga therapist, or anyone who is considering adding yoga to their healing toolkit, this is an informative episode!Nityda Gessel Onlinehttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comhttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comTherapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings, featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychatThank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week’s episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibl

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! In this week's episode, I'm replaying an interview I did with Amy Weintraub, founder of LifeForce Yoga, before I was trained in the method. She explained how she developed LifeForce Yoga and how it can be helpful for depression and anxiety. I completed Level 1 training in 2018, and I highly recommend this method to therapists who would like to bring yoga into their clinical practices. Side note - Amy Weintraub is still associated with LifeForce Yoga, but it is now owned by Rose Kress. Resources:Learn more about Amy Weintraub and LifeForce Yoga here: https://yogafordepression.comTherapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings, featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychatThank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week’s episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe!

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we're bringing back an interview with Dr. David Treleaven, PhD., author of "Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness".David Treleaven, PhD, is a writer, educator, and trauma professional whose work focuses on the intersection of mindfulness, trauma, and social justice. He received his master’s in counseling psychology at the University of British Columbia and a doctorate in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.We discussed how mindfulness, which most people think will help them feel better, can sometimes stir up trauma reactions that people aren't expecting and don't know how to handle. In this conversation and in his book, he explains why this happens and what can be done when it does. This is an important conversation for anyone who practices mindfulness and any therapist!Resources:Find Dr. David Treleaven's website here: https://www.davidtreleaven.comRead Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness - found here.Therapists can get the lo

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I’m replaying my interview with yoga and meditation teacher and coach Lynn Fraser about mindfulness & somatic work in healing trauma. Lynn Fraser is a senior meditation and yoga teacher in the Himalayan Yoga Meditation tradition; and a Senior Facilitator of the Living Inquiries and Natural Rest. She brings the depth and richness of twenty years experience teaching meditation and yoga philosophy to her work. She specializes in holding a safe and trusted space for healing trauma in her private Living Inquiries online sessions with individuals. Lynn lives near family, the ocean and forest in Nova Scotia Canada where she also plays flute in a jazz band.Lynn is a student and teaches within the Himalayan Tradition of Swami Rama as taught by Swami Veda Bharati. She is certified through the Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies (AHYMSIN) and the Yoga Center of Calgary. She was a founding member of the organizing committee for the AHYMSIN teacher training progra

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week's episode is part two of the conversation where I'm reflecting on where I'm at in my life right now. My guest is Amber Trejo, LMFT an integrative trauma therapist in Indiana.Like myself, Amber is also a trauma survivor and speaks openly about living and parenting with complex trauma (also known as developmental trauma or CPTSD) on her Instagram channel, @integrativetraumatherapist. Amber and I talked about our shared experience of losing one of our parents in the last year or so, and discussed our personal experiences of navigating the grieving process, with all of the opportunities for healing that it brings.Learn more about Amber Trejo via her Instagram channel: https://instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist and her website, https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/ Are you going to Psychotherapy Networker? Come say hi to me! I'm hosting an exhibit booth for Trauma Therapist Network and Therapy Chat. By the way, therapists can get the lowest pri

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week's episode is a new one, reflecting where I'm at in my life right now. My guest is Amber Trejo, an integrative trauma therapist in Indiana. Like myself, Amber is also a trauma survivor and speaks openly about living and parenting with complex trauma (also known as developmental trauma or CPTSD) on her Instagram channel, @integrativetraumatherapist. Amber and I talked about our shared experience of losing one of our parents in the last year or so, and discussed our personal experiences of navigating the grieving process, with all of the opportunities for healing that it brings.Learn more about Amber Trejo via her Instagram channel: https://instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist and her website, https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/ Are you going to Psychotherapy Networker? Come say hi to me! I'm hosting an exhibit booth for Trauma Therapist Network and Therapy Chat. By the way, therapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings featurin

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, with all the hate and violence in the world, we are revisiting an episode which was originally recorded in 2020. My guest, Sarah Peyton, is a neuroscience educator and author of the wonderful book, "Your Resonant Self," and the accompanying workbook.I'm replaying this episode this week because Sarah shared such interesting and surprising information about how it makes us feel good to unite against a common enemy. Though the newest war that is happening now is what many are focused on, I hope this week's discussion will remind listeners that we can always extend kindness, love, hope and healing outward, and the ripple effects can make a difference. We can also choose to spread hate and fear, but that is not good for our physical or mental health, nor for humanity overall. I hope this episode will help you find glimmers of hope for peace and healing.Sarah Peyton Onlinehttps://sarahpeyton.comThank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week’s episode! The

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Today I'm bringing you a replay episode with Dr. Stephen PorgesStephen W. Porges, PhD is a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. He has published more than 400 peer‐reviewed scientific papers that have been cited in more than 50,000 peer-review publications. He is the creator of the Polyvagal Theory and a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™, currently used by approximately 3,000 therapists to reduce hearing sensitivities, improve language processing, and increase spontaneous social engagement. He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Today I'm bringing you a replay episode with Dr. Thomas Hübl. We talked about his work over more than 2 decades working with groups of survivors of war, oppression, genocide and other collective traumas about how healing happens. This episode is particularly timely at this point in history - with violence, including war and political violence; oppression and the impact of a worldwide pandemic affecting millions of people, so many of us feel powerless and hopeless about the future. This episode is meant to inspire hope that healing is possible, even after the unthinkable occurs in communities.Thomas Hübl, PhD, is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator who works within the complexity of systems and cultural change, integrating the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since the early 2000s, he has led large-scale events and courses on the healing of collective trauma. He is the author of Attuned: Practicin

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Today I'm bringing you a replay episode with Dr. Peter Levine.Dr. Peter Levine is the developer of Somatic Experiencing, who speaks about his journey as a wounded healer. He shares that by being open about our experiences healing, our authenticity allows others to know they're not alone. None of us in the helping professions have been immune to suffering, it's a part of the universal experience of being human; and there's no shame in having experienced trauma, no matter who you are. In our conversation, Dr. Levine shares about how he developed Somatic Experiencing, and the surprising muse he found during that process. He discusses his violent childhood growing up in a family which was under threat by the mafia, and how Somatic Experiencing approaches healing from trauma "stuck" in the body.ResourcesLearn more about Somatic Experiencing here. The Ergos Institute is here.Find Peter Levine's new book, Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey on Amazon h

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Today I'm bringing you a replay episode with Dr. Richard Schwartz. Richard Schwartz earned his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University, after which he began a long association with the Institute for Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and more recently at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, attaining the status of Associate Professor at both institutions. He is coauthor, with Michael Nichols, of Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, the most widely used family therapy text in the United States.Dr. Schwartz developed Internal Family Systems in response to clients' descriptions of experiencing various parts–many extreme–within themselves. He noticed that when these parts felt safe and had their concerns addressed, they were less disruptive and would accede to the wise leadership of what Dr. Schwartz came to call the "Self." In developing IFS, he recognized that, as in systemic family theory, parts take on char