Podcasts

Alex Harkola is the Co-Owner of Novni, which is an anonymous writing platform built to help people cope with various levels of emotional distress from mental health issues, trauma, stress, and everything in-between.  If you’ve been traumatized by someone during your life, Alex’s story is proof that forgiveness is possible for anyone.  Alex has triumphed over multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences while growing up and is determined to inspire others that they can too.  When not glued to his desk, Alex enjoys spending time outdoors in nature, reading, playing disc golf, shooting pool, and going to church.

COURTNEY ARMSTRONG, MEd. LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and Nationally Board Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy who specializes in grief and trauma recovery. With a career spanning more than two decades, she is the founder of the Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnotherapy and developed her Trauma Informed Hypnotherapy (TM) approach after studying with numerous trauma experts and helping thousands of clients overcome trauma and grief. Courtney Armstrong is the author of The Therapeutic “Aha!” (2015) and Transforming Traumatic Grief (2011). In her 20 years of practice she has helped thousands of clients recover from trauma, and experience deep personal transformation. Courtney also offers training to mental health professionals, showing them how to use creativity, care, and humor to elicit transformation for their clients and make trauma recovery less painful. She is a regular contributor to magazines like the Psychotherapy Networker and The Neuropsychotherapist and has appeared on CBS Radio News, NPR affiliates, and networks in Europe, Asia and Australia. Courtney also was my guest on episode 107 of The Trauma Therapist | Podcast.

Rachel Aidan is a successful entrepreneur, Transformative Leadership Coach, and Conscious Social Change Practitioner working with clients and projects across the U.S. and East Africa. She is a mother of three, a public speaker, a wife, a storyteller, a student, an artist, a trauma-activist, and a serial entrepreneur who is passionate about teaching and coaching for pro-social change in service to sustainable, conscious, high-impact leadership. She holds her BA in Transformative Studies, an MA in Conscious Social Change with an emphasis in Trauma-Informed Leadership, and she is continuing studies to become a Doctor of Psychology.

Lisa Schwarz, M.Ed. is a licensed psychologist, consultant, and international educator working in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is the developer of The Comprehensive Resource Model (CRM), a trauma therapy model that employs brain-based physiological safety as the foundation for healing and is the author of The Comprehensive Resource Model: Effective therapeutic techniques for the healing of complex trauma. Lisa has, for the past 28 years, been dedicated to creating innovative methods for working with severe dissociative disorders (Complex PTSD, DID, DDNOS), attachment disorders, and gestational trauma. She has also developed cutting edge conceptualizations for working with sports performance (The Sports Dissociation Model, 2008) and Military PTSD. Her work bridges neuroscience and spirituality in trauma healing through a combination of traditional psychotherapy, somatic therapy, and indigenous healing methods. Her work combines neuroscience with spirituality in healing those with any and all diagnoses. She is a certified practitioner of Colin Ross’s Trauma Model and Robert Schrei’s Source Point therapy. She is trained in Usui Reiki, transpersonal psychology and has studied the breathwork and somatic concepts of Richard Brown, MD, Jeremy Youst, and Barbara Barnett.

My first online course is now live! Inner-Work For The New Trauma Worker. A process for cultivating authenticity, compassion, presence, and vulnerability for those working with individual impacted by trauma. I’m psyched! In this episode, I share a little bit of behind the scenes of how this course began, what it is, and who it’s for--and not for. I also talk about the bonuses going on for this week only! Interested in checking out the course, click here: Inner-Work For The New Trauma Worker

Angelica Singh is the founder and creator of a holistic approach to healing called The Embodiment Process™.  She works with individuals and groups utilizing biodynamic craniosacral therapy, trauma resolution, medical intuition and depth consciousness work, and trains other healers. Angelica’s life-changing healing crisis began at the age of 28, which led her to a deep understanding of energy systems and trauma. This event awakened Angelica’s healing abilities to new levels and through her intuitive abilities is able to help her clients find their own connection to themselves — their gifts, true purpos, and passion — with the courage to follow their unique path. Her work was detailed as a feature article in "O, The Oprah Magazine;" she has been a frequent guest on the "Dare to Dream" Radio Talk Show, as well as "Mission Unstoppable" with Frankie Picasso, the "James Van Praagh" show and "The Autoimmune Hour" with Sharon Saylor, as well as "The Nancy Gaines Show," "Inspire Possibility" with Mark Susnow, and "Leaders in Transformation" with Nicole Jansen podcasts. She was a featured speaker and panelist at the 2018 Conscious Life Expo. As a facilitator of healing and awakening, Angelica’s mission is to empower each person as she affects a shift in consciousness through workshops, large presentations, one-on-one in-person sessions, or globally via Skype. Angelica is soon to release an online course to share her work with individuals seeking to be healed.

I’m excited to have Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute sponsoring the podcast this month. As part of that, I invited Sara Moser on the podcast, to talk about her experience both as a clinician, as the Admissions and Community Engagement Manager for the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. Sara is currently training with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute in their Trauma Center - Trauma Sensitive Yoga program. She is in practicum for her Master of Arts in Counselling where she provides individual counseling at the University’s clinic and she co-facilitates group therapy for adolescents in kinship placement and those in the foster system.

Analie Shepherd, the award-winning author of Mending the Shattered Mirror, has been happily married for 38 years, is the loving mother of four wonderful children and has recently welcomed five precious grandchildren into her heart. She recently retired form directing the children's performing-arts program she founded 30 years ago, and is currently the director of her church choir and a community choir, and recently established her own community theater. Analie owns, and plays, 18 different musical instruments, and spends hours creating paintings and drawings in her at-home art studio. Although family has always been Analie's greatest joy--music, art, theater. and dance have been her delight and life's work. Fulfilling a life-long dream, Analie recently wrote and published an award-winning memoir; she is currently working on the publications of two illustrated children's books.

Kat Love is the founder and lead designer of Empathysites a website solution for therapists. Inspired by the way therapists helped them heal from childhood sexual abuse, they chose to specialize in creating therapist websites. Kat's focus is on creating websites that are easy-to-use, professional, and truly reflect who a therapist is so that they can attract their best-fit clients.

William Pullen is a psychotherapist registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is the author of Running with Mindfulness: Dynamic Running Therapy (DRT) to Improve Low-mood, Anxiety, Stress, and Depression. William offers short and long-term psychotherapy to adults and young people on an individual basis and works with people suffering from difficulties including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, negative childhood experiences, and has a special interest in depression, internet addiction, and “Boarding School Syndrome”. William explains, The decision to seek therapy is often not a simple one but once taken it marks a commitment to care for yourself that may then be fostered in our work together until you are able to meet your dilemmas or troubles with more understanding, gentleness, and a greater ease. My experience includes positions at a neighborhood “drop-in” center in Hackney, a central London university, and the Munro Centre at Guy’s Hospital. Throughout this period I have also had a private practice. I have a special interest in depression, internet addiction, and “Boarding School Syndrome. William gained an MA from a post-graduate program in Counselling and Psychotherapy at The School of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology at Regent’s College, including training in psychodynamics, humanistic and existential psychotherapy.

Guy Macpherson, PhD, 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, 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 workers. 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, as well as Trauma Therapist | 2.0, an online membership community specifically dedicated to educating and inspiring trauma workers just starting out on their trauma-informed journey. Guy’s focus currently is on creating a vibrant, global community to support, educate and inspire new trauma workers, as well as to upend the present way that trauma is taught at the graduate level.

Several weeks ago I received an email from Anne Lauren. In her message she thanked me for the work I was doing to help individuals who’ve been impacted by trauma, and she also explained that she’d been so inspired by the #metoo movement that she wanted to share her story, as well. Anne is a word weaver, a woman warrior, and a wisdom wayfinder. She authors the blog, Blue&Lavender, in which speaks of her experience recovering from sexual abuse and seeks to educate and inspire others to do the same.

First Lady Tonette Walker was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She spent more than 20 years employed in the insurance industry before working for the American Diabetes Association. Currently, the First Lady works in the development department for the American Lung Association in Wisconsin. As First Lady, Mrs. Walker most enjoys using her role to help improve the lives of the people of Wisconsin. She is currently working in partnership with various foundations and nonprofit organizations to better recognize, understand, and address the effects of trauma on the lives of children and families in Wisconsin through her Fostering Futures Initiative. Through this partnership, she hopes to establish the state of Wisconsin as a national leader in the Trauma-Informed Care movement. Mrs. Walker also works regularly with Teen Challenge of Wisconsin, a faith-based organization dedicated to the healing and rehabilitation of those with substance abuse addictions. The First Lady works to raise awareness for the group throughout the state and also assists Teen Challenge in their fundraising and expansion efforts. In an effort to promote health and fitness and to showcase some of the beautiful but lesser-known sites across the state, Mrs. Walker invites the people of Wisconsin to "Walk with Walker." At each walk, the First Lady is joined by local residents, visitors, and friends and family to walk a short trail and explore Wisconsin's most picturesque scenery. Additionally, Mrs. Walker hosts women from all over the state for an annual Wellness Weekend to promote healthy lifestyles. Wisconsin is home to some of the friendliest and most giving people in the nation. To recognize the generosity of many Wisconsin residents, the First Lady presents a Wisconsin Heroes Award. The award goes out quarterly to a resident who voluntarily devotes his or her time and energy to a nonprofit organization or cause. The First Lady understands the value of this devoted volunteerism and honors these "heroes" who ultimately make Wisconsin a better place. The First Lady and Governor live full time in Madison at the Wisconsin Executive Residence. Oldest son Matt graduated from Marquette University and is currently working for Associated Bank in Milwaukee. Younger son Alex graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is working in politics.

Julia Rose is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of the West, and is Founder and President of Trauma Camp, a professional development and consultation company that trains educators about trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches in the classroom. For over a decade, Julia Rose has been studying specifically the impacts of early childhood trauma on adult mental health and behavior, some of this research culminating into her master’s thesis entitled: The Effects of Spanking On Mental Health, and Why Clinicians Need to Know (2016). In her work with clients over the years, she has consistently found that at the root of depression, anxiety, addiction, compulsion, and a range of other mental health issues is a childhood which involved one or more traumatic incidents that have yet to be acknowledged, expressed or resolved. Tremendous shifts occur when this is done, as it allows these wounds to begin to heal. She is also certified by the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a Youth Trauma Treatment Professional, and has begun training from the ChildTrauma Academy’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. Importantly, Julia Rose has also spent half her life addressing, treating, reducing and resolving the impact of her own early childhood trauma--experience which serves as her foundational knowledge on this topic.

Suzanne Scurlock-Durana is the author of Reclaiming Your Body and Full Body Presence. She is one of the world’s leading authorities on conscious awareness and its transformational impact on the healing process. Her Healing from the Core curriculum combined with CranioSacral therapy and other bodywork modalities creates a complete, body-centered guide to awareness, healing, and joy. Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and True Refuge, has this to say about Suzanne’s book: “A master teacher and healer, Suzanne Scurlock-Durana draws on her decades of work facilitating profound transformation in people suffering from a range of physical and emotional dis-ease. The result is a brilliant and compelling guide to the deepest freedom — living from awake, vibrant, loving presence.” Reclaiming Your Body empowers readers to reconnect with their body’s inherent guidance system. The book explains how unresolved trauma becomes lodged in our bodies, blocking the ability of its communication system to share its wisdom and strategies. This can cause us to flounder when making decisions, remain in less-than-ideal or unsafe situations, and/or end up living a life that truly isn’t ours — while the whole time our body is madly signaling us with the answers and solutions we seek. Suzanne, who has spent thirty years studying the gifts of the body and teaching thousands how to reclaim them, sets the stage for experiencing full body presence by offering ways to experience direct sensation, since developing this skill is necessary to be able to hear the body’s messages.

Laurie Kahn MA, LCPC, MFA is a pioneer in the field of trauma treatment. For more than thirty years, she has specialized in the treatment of survivors of childhood abuse. In 1980, she founded Womencare Counseling and Training Center. Since then, her ideas and expertise have served people who have experienced childhood abuse, as well as hundreds of clinicians who have graduated from her Trauma Consultation Training Program. Psych Central, reviewing her recent book Baffled by Love: Stories of the Lasting Impact of Childhood Trauma by Loved Ones, says it is "filled with touching stories, poignant moments, and brilliant therapeutic insights; Baffled by Love should be required reading for any clinician – new or seasoned." Bessel van der Kolk called her book, “A sensitive and wise book. Baffeled by love is about the healing power of sharing, exploring and finding words for oneself… a deeply comforting book.”

Mica is a clinical psychologist specializing in early childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area. His work involves helping young children and their families recover from trauma and loss primarily through the medium of the child-parent relationship. Mica received his doctoral degree from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and trained in a variety of settings, including a middle school, an adult day treatment facility, and a home-visiting early intervention program. Mica is trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a trauma-informed approach to early intervention, and has an endorsement as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist from the California Center for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health. He has also presented on temperament, assessment, and social-emotional development in the early years as well provided consultation to trainees learning to work with young children. Currently, Mica is dedicated to three endeavors: working with young children and latino immigrant families at the Early Childhood Mental Health Program; seeing children, teens, adults, and couples in his private practice in Oakland, California, and providing online early parenting education through his blog and website, The Good Enough Parents.

Chris Molaro reached out to me about two months ago. He talked about some of his experiences (see below), the work he’s doing now and what inspired him to do this work. As I was listening to him share his story, I knew pretty much immediately that I wanted to have him on the podcast, and do what I could to support his work. So, we met for breakfast, talked some, and here we are. Chris is an accomplished military veteran, Army Officer and Bronze Star recipient – serving five years as a Field Artillery Army Officer – a serial entrepreneur and speaker. He channeled his passion for service and energy into founding NeuroFlow - a mental health software platform leveraging objective data to track, assess and engage patients throughout the mental health therapy process. Chris received his MBA at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his BS in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Erica.

Stephanie Covington Armstrong is the author of, Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat, her memoir in which she vividly describes her struggle as a black woman with bulimia. Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat, is the first book by and about black women and eating disorders, and in it, Stephanie answers many questions about why black women often do not seek traditional therapy for emotional problems. Stephanie is a playwright and screenwriter living in Los Angeles. Her commentary on black women and eating disorders, "Digesting the Truth," was featured on NPR (click HERE for the full commentary), and she has written for Essence, Sassy, Mademoiselle, and Venice magazines, among other publications. She authored the plays “Three Stories Down,” “The Outside Sisters,” and “The Long Journey Home” which all have been performed in theaters in Los Angeles and New York. Moving coast to coast, she tried to escape her self-hatred and obsession by never slowing down, thus being unaware that she was caught in downward spiral emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Her essay on bulimia, "Fear and Loathing," is included in the forthcoming anthology The Black Body by Meri Danquah. In her memoir, “Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat,” (August, 2009, Independent Publishers Group) author Stephanie Covington-Armstrong vividly describes her struggle as a black woman with bulimia. Her battle with an eating disorder takes a unique perspective as this disease is consistently portrayed as a white woman's problem. This insightful and moving narrative traces the background and factors that contributed to Stephanie’s eating disorder. Moving coast to coast, she tried to escape her self-hatred and obsession by never slowing down, thus being unaware that she was caught in downward spiral emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

This week I’m so excited to have back on the podcast, Trauma Therapist | 2.0 member, Jessica Culp. Jessica first joined me on episode 237. I thought it would be a great idea to invite her back to talk about her experiences as a student, a young therapist, and as a member of Trauma Therapist | 2.0, progressing along her trauma-informed journey. Jessica is a graduate student at Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Illinois. As part of the University’s Seminary program, she hopes to achieve her Masters in Arts Counseling Degree in 2018. This will be Jessica’s second career, after receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2003 and working in the marketing and resource development field for three local nonprofit organizations that included a foodbank, a children’s home and a crisis nursery. Jessica has been listening to the Trauma Therapist Podcast since she began her studies in counseling in September of 2015, and joined Trauma Therapist 2.0 in December 2016.