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

In this episode of Therapy Chat, host Laura interviews Dr. Marc Hauser about his book 'Vulnerable Minds: The Harm of Trauma and the Hope of Resilience'. The conversation explores childhood trauma, resilience, and the healing process. Marc Hauser shares his background in cognitive neuroscience and his work with at-risk children, including those with traumatic experiences. The book aims to bring scientific knowledge to practitioners and parents to help children living with trauma. The conversation highlights the importance of trauma-informed care for children and the need to address their specific needs. Pre-Order Vulnerable Minds: The Harm of Trauma and the Hope of Resilience on AmazonMarc's websiteInternational Children's Aid Network (iCAN) Instagram LinkedIn.  FacebookJoin the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2024 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!We are accep

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm thrilled to bring you the last interview Linda Thai, LMSW, RYT-200, CLYL and I did in 2023. The previous three episodes with Linda were focused on my grief journey, and this one is different - though trauma, attachment and grief are woven in, of course. Linda teaches us about Psychodrama Structures, which is a method she has benefited from and uses to bring healing to many people. In our conversation we explore themes of healing when one's Family of Origin was unable to meet our needs. I'm so excited to be heading to San Francisco, CA in February to witness one of Linda's Psychodrama Structures retreats in February 2024. I feel honored to be able to assist my friend and teacher and I'm sure I'll have much to share after experiencing that! Visit Linda's website at the links below to learn how you can participate in one of these experiences, if you're interested.Linda Thai describes herself as a somatic and trauma therapist, a freelance

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm joined by a fellow trauma therapist who is also a colleague and friend, Dr. Jenny Hughes.In our conversation we explore themes of building trust through allowing vulnerability, the power of connection and co-regulation in healing, the process of metabolizing emotions, integration and healing, the transformative power of difficult times, grief, vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience, hope, finding supportive spaces, the beauty and joy of trauma work, what happens in Jenny's Brave Trauma Therapist Collective, and so much more.Dr. Jenny Hughes is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of traumaand PTSD. As a clinician, she practices EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure therapy. Jenny has published a workbook designed for clients to use on their own or with their therapist called the PTSD Recovery Workbook.Jenny's practice website: www.jenniferhughesphd.comLearn about the Brave Providers Community at: www.brav

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we have a returning guest, Brooke Randolph, LPC, LMHC, LPCC-S, an adoptive parent, therapist and advocate for the members of the adoption constellation, who is also the author of several books and a Brainspotting trainer. This conversation explores the complex and often overlooked aspects of adoption, focusing on the experiences of adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents. I talk about my journey of learning about adoption as a therapist, and we talk about the need for a deeper understanding of the subject. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by adoptees and the impact of adoption on identity and mental health. It also highlights the role of colonization, patriarchy, classism, and racism in the Western adoption system. The episode emphasizes the importance for therapists to educate themselves about adoption to better support their clients. Resources and related episodes are provided for further exploration. Here's some of what we covered:Adoption

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! In this first episode of 2024 I'm so happy to bring you this interview recorded this past Fall, with Dr. Mariel Buqué, author of the new book, Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. We discussed intergenerational patterns of trauma, legacy burdens that were carried by our ancestors and are held in our bodies, showing up as patterns of tension, pain and illness. Tune in to our conversation and learn how you can break the cycles of those who came before you and make things better for the generations that follow you through time.Dr. Mariel Buqué is an Afro-Dominican psychologist. She received her doctorate in counseling psychology from Columbia University, where she also trained as a fellow in holistic mental health. She is a world-renowned intergenerational trauma expert and the author of the book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Her clinical framework is holistic and infuses ancient and indigenous healing practices into a mod

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! As 2023 comes to an end I wanted to reflect upon the year and what I learned through my experiences. Life always includes highs and lows, light and darkness. This year in my personal and professional life (so basically my whole life), there was more darkness than light. Yet upon reflection, there were so many glimmers of light within the dark times. In this episode I share my personal journey dealing with grief and loss in my personal life and how it made it difficult to keep going in my businesses. I carried a heavy burden of shame and self-blame - things just kept getting worse and worse, and I wondered how I’d be able to bear it. And things slowly, gradually, turned around, and are getting better day by day. I shared some plans for the coming year, including training in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and EMDR. Thank you to all of you who listen and support Therapy Chat. My hope in sharing more of my personal experience over the last year is to provide encouragement to any

Welcome back to Therapy Chat. This week I interviewed author, EMDR-Certified therapist and Consultant In Training Marcken Volmy, LMHC about how EMDR can help with betrayal trauma and the impact of broken trust. We explored how betrayal by trusted figures and institutions can shatter one's sense of safety and trust in the world. We also discussed recent examples of betrayal within the mental health field, for example, the FTC settlement with BetterHelp, and other situations in our field which have affected both of us. We talked about the impact these experiences can have on therapists' and clients' trust in the systems and processes of our profession. Marcken explains how EMDR can help change implicit beliefs about self and the world, leading to healing and a felt sense of safety. We also touch on the current political climate and its effect on trust and safety. Marcken's book, Trauma Stories, is available now! Listen in to this hopeful conversation. It's never too late to heal. Marcken Vol

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! We all know people who'll do anything for others but never accept help for themselves. In fact, they never admit needing any help, despite being very attuned to how everyone around them is doing. These relationships feel out of balance, and limit both partners' ability to show up authentically. This is true in intimate partner relationships, friendships, work relationships and family relationships. This week host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C interviews Michelle Farris, LMFT about codependent relational dynamics. Michelle describes the dynamics of codependency within relationships, talks about how these patterns develop and how people who lose themselves within relationships can build a stronger sense of self.Michelle Farris is a licensed psychotherapist and anger management specialist. She helps others build healthy relationships without sacrificing themselves while using her own recovery to provide hope for creating a happier life. She has written three e-books and has created s

This week on Therapy Chat we are revisiting a conversation from a few years ago that will feel timely to many of us as we move through the holiday season. Whether you are a parent or an adult child, the holidays - which are supposed to be a time of family togetherness - can often feel very stressful. This week's guest is Tina Gilbertson. She specializes in supporting parents who are estranged from their adult children, and not by choice. Tina Gilbertson is a psychotherapist and author of Reconnecting with Your Estranged Adult Child.Her work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Glamour, Real Simple and Redbook. In 2019,Tina cofounded www.ReconnectionClub.com, offering education, community, and support to help estranged parents repair their relationships with their adult children. Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Canada, she now lives in Denver, CO. Find out more about her work at www.TinaGilbertson.com.We are accepting new clients in my therapy practice (for those located in Maryland). Learn more via

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, in an interview that is timely as we're in the thick of the holiday season, I interviewed Dr. Lindsay Gibson for the second time. This time we're discussing the challenge of disentangling from emotionally immature people. In our conversation, you'll hear Lindsay describe the characteristics of Emotionally Immature People, how it feels to be in a relationship with them, and how to assert ourselves within those relationships. She discusses her newest book, "Disentangling From Emotionally Immature People: Avoid Emotional Traps, stand up for Yourself, and Transform Your Relationships as an adult child of Emotionally Immature Parents".Lindsay C. Gibson is an author and clinical psychologist who has been a psychotherapist for over thirty years, working in both public service and private practice. She has the author of several books, including the bestseller, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents. In the past, Dr. Gibson has served as an adjunct

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we are continuing our exploration of the many ways to use EMDR. This week's guest is Rebecca Kase, a licensed clinical social worker and yoga instructor, living in Gig Harbor, WA. She is an EMDR Consultant & Basic Trainer, and owner of Kase & CO, an EMDR Training and Consulting company. She is the author of Polyvagal informed EMDR: A Neuro-informed Approach to Healing. In our conversation, you'll hear why a Polyvagal perspective is important when learning EMDR, and how she incorporates this into her EMDR sessions, as well as learning about EMDR training with Rebecca.Learn more about Rebecca's work via her website: https://kaseandco.com/Find Rebecca's book here: Polyvagal informed EMDR: A Neuro-informed Approach to HealingWe are accepting new clients in my therapy practice (for those located in Maryland). Learn more via our website: https://bahealing.com Find a trauma therapist near you via https://traumatherapistnetwork.com ! We believe that trau

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm honored to bring you another interview on the subject of religious trauma. My guest today is Dr. Mark G. Karris, a Marriage and Family Therapist in California who is the author of four books, including most recently, "The Diabolical Trinity: Healing Religious Trauma from a Wrathful God, Tormenting Hell, and a Sinful Self." He describes why he wrote this book, and how religious beliefs with these three components can be traumatic. This conversation is not about bashing religion, though. Mark explains how these beliefs are different from the healthy aspects of religion and the ways it can be beneficial. Tune in for this thought provoking conversation!Learn more about Mark's work and find his book at: https://markgregorykarris.com/We are accepting new clients in my therapy practice (for those located in Maryland). Learn more via our website: https://bahealing.com Find a trauma therapist near you via https://traumatherapistnetwork.com ! We believe that t

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, we are talking about a topic we haven't covered before because I didn't know people were doing it! This week's guests are Ann Beckley Forest and Annie Monaco, two EMDR therapists who together make up Playful EMDR! Ann and Annie talk about how they use EMDR in combination with play therapy with children who have experienced disrupted attachment relationships and trauma. As always, I had many questions and they answered them all. If you found Robyn Gobbel's episode interesting a couple months ago, here is another take on working with the same population of children in therapy. I hope this will inspire you to think outside the box about working with traumatized children.ResourcesFind Playful EMDR at: www.playfulemdr.com - their summit is coming up and they have an EMDR training starting in December 2023.Keep up with Annie Monaco via: www.anniemonaco.com, Ann Beckley Forest is found at: www.annbeckleyforest.comWe are accepting new clients in my therapy prac

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I’m bringing you an episode which was recorded a few months ago as the third part of my series of somatic witnessing along my grief journey with Linda Thai. If you missed the first two episodes, they’re linked in the show notes. I had an unexpected loss of a family member early this year. The context is that I’ve been dealing with anticipatory grief related to my own parents’ health issues, which has opened the opportunity to explore deep healing of the attachment wounds I’ve carried throughout my life. Within this, the traumatic grief that arose with the most recent loss allowed another layer to come to light. Linda Thai and I agreed to do a series of episodes in which she guided somatic work and I was the participant. It’s a demonstration of how somatic work can look and feel. In this third episode of that series, we worked with the back body and the “yield” aspect of the developmental/attachment cycle. Listening may provide one level of experience, and watching on vi

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.The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is the brainchild of my friend Dr. Jamie+ Marich, an EMDR Certified

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! We've all heard the term "self regulation," and many of us are familiar with the concept of "co-regulation," but what is it, really? How do we do it? How do we know when we are in a ventral vagal nervous system state? If you heard my conversation with Dr. Stephen Porges a couple of weeks ago you may be curious what this would feel like and look like, for yourself and for therapy. Today's guest, Alyce Wellons, LCSW, has studied mind/body practices and used them in therapy for years. In our conversation you'll hear Alyce speak about the importance of connection and community for nervous system regulation and co-regulation. She will demonstrate (using me as the example) how easily we can bring ourselves into a ventral vagal state using somatic practices and mindfulness, and why she uses these practices in her work with clients who are in recovery and healing from trauma. The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is the brainchild of my friend Dr. Jamie+ Mari

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Have you ever considered trying Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy (PAP)? If you're a therapist, is this something that you've been wondering about adding to your practice? Maybe you're just curious. Whether you're a therapist or someone who is interested in learning about psychedelics and trauma, you'll find something in this conversation that will inspire curiosity! This week I'm grateful to bring you my recent conversation with friend and colleague (and TTN member) Lauren Going, LCSW-C, RYT, a trauma-focused, psychedelic assisted psychotherapist, consultant and speaker who co-founded Baltimore's Inner Path Wellness with Eleanor Bramwell, SEP, BSC. In this conversation you'll hear me asking Lauren every possible question I can think of about what it's really like to do psychedelic assisted psychotherapy for trauma, as a therapist and a client. She describes the various medicines she works with at Inner Path, how and why they help, and how to

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm thrilled to be speaking with Dr. Stephen Porges, who proposed the Polyvagal Theory back in the 90's and has continued to study, write and speak about this important work ever since. In our conversation you'll hear the story of Dr. Porges's work over the past decades; find out how the Polyvagal Theory relates to our felt sense of safety; learn about the Safe & Sound Protocol; learn about the positive impact of our individual and collective healing; and much more. Stephen 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 T

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, in celebration of our 400th episode of Therapy Chat, I'm sharing my recent interview with Robyn Gobbel, a former therapist who now focuses her time on writing and educating about what she calls "big, baffling behaviors," and teaching children and families to understand their Owl, Watchdog and Possum brains. Robyn is demystifying child behavior by making neuroscience relatable. She shares about her work, the communities she hosts, and her new book, Raising Kids With Big, Baffling Behaviors. This is a must listen episode for anyone who wants to gain understanding of why children who have been hurt, abandoned and betrayed behave the way they do, and how parents and teachers can reconnect with them.Visit Robyn's website: https://robyngobbel.com where you can find her book, her podcast and the communities she hosts as well as everything she's offering.The Institute for Creative Mindfulness is the brainchild of my friend Dr. Jamie+ Marich, an EMDR Certifi

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I'm recovering from Covid (again) after being in England the past 2 weeks. I'm sharing an episode that I hope will resonate with you if you've ever wondered why it can be so hard to open up in therapy. There are the things we don't choose to share because we're not ready, and then there are the things we WANT to share, but can't seem to bring ourselves to speak out loud. I've experienced it myself, when I want to talk about something and my throat feels like it is closing up. I've seen clients exhibit this same struggle. As a therapist, patience is key, and letting the client know that there's no agenda for them to share about anything until they're ready. But what can we do about this when we're the client? I hope this interview with Dr. Robert T. Muller about his book, Trauma & The Struggle To Open Up, will be helpful.Visit Robert's website: https://psychotherapytoronto.ca/ where you can find his books and everything