Self Careapist Therapist Podcast

Complex Trauma Approaches That Don't Retraumatize: The Four Blinks Version of Flash Technique

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600

Can Flash technique fully and permanently resolve a trauma memory in a single session, with almost no distress, even in clients with complex PTSD? Thomas Zimmerman has been answering that question for four and a half years, and his answer is yes. In this episode, he walks through the science, the structure, and the live protocol of the Predictive Processing Flash technique (formerly Four Blinks Version of Flash), with me as the client.

Thomas is a mental health therapist, EMDR consultant, author, podcaster, and trainer based in Cleveland, Ohio. He developed his version of the Flash technique, originally called Four Blinks, around a predictive mind model of the brain. He explains why that model changes how we understand trauma, memory, and healing, and why it means every client is capable of change.

We cover the four resourcing tools that make this approach safe for complex presentations, how Flash differs from EMDR in every structural and theoretical way, and what is actually happening in the nervous system during a session. Then we do a live demo. I work through a real memory in real time.

Thomas also offers free Flash trainings every two weeks, free bi-monthly consultation, and a free weekly self-care Flash group for trained clinicians. This is a conversation worth sharing with every trauma-focused colleague in your network.

Resources: https://emdrwithcomplextrauma.com/, https://thomaszimmerman.us/, https://emdrcleveland.com/

1:00 - Thomas's background: 10 careers, trauma work, and finding Flash

3:10 - From CBT to EMDR to Flash, and why each mattered

5:32 - Watching 70 consecutive clients resolve trauma without significant distress

6:29 - Flash is not a resource. How Zimmerman changed his understanding

8:29 - The working mechanism: how Flash actually resolves memory

9:20 - Why Zimmerman moved away from the triune brain model

11:28 - The predictive mind model: predictions, error, and precision weighting

14:07 - Why effective trauma approaches feel culturally non-intuitive

19:00 - Demo setup: orienting to what Flash asks you to do

20:25 - Resource 1: Container

22:09 - Resource 2: Shop Vac

26:17 - Resource 3: Pleasant (Calm) Scene

28:44 - Resource 4: Sensory Grounding

34:06 - Selecting the memory and setting up the live demo

37:34 - The Flash demo begins

44:22 - The memory resolves: checking for distress on all channels

47:06 - The positive cognition that installed on its own

51:41 - Neurobiological debrief: what just happened in the predictive mind

58:18 - Free Flash trainings, consultation, and the weekly therapist self-care group

59:49 - Why Thomas offers all of this at no charge

1:02:43 - Thomas's book and the metaphorical index

1:05:19 - Self-care: what Flash has done for Thomas personally

Episode Highlights

Flash technique fully and permanently resolves trauma memories, not just reduces distress before EMDR. Zimmerman watched 70 consecutive clients complete full adaptive resolution before he changed how he understood the modality.

The Self Careapist Therapist Podcast is a biweekly conversation with Lorain Moorehead, LCSW a therapist in private practice. With guests ranging from expert psychologists, therapists, researchers and authors, each episode offers a deep dive and keeps listeners from intern to advanced supervisor in mind while dropping gems and aha moments for everyone who loves to learn! If you love learning and want to keep track of some future learning opportunities, grab your personal curriculum here!

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

5 Common EMDR Questions Explained

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0600

What if the most common sticking points in EMDR therapy have clear, evidence-informed answers? In this solo episode, Lorain Moorehead, LCSW draws directly from her EMDR consultations with therapists to answer five questions that come up again and again in clinical practice. From understanding adaptive information processing and the eight-stage EMDR protocol to navigating negative cognitions, assessing dual awareness, and knowing when to adjust bilateral stimulation, this episode is a practical resource for therapists at every stage of their EMDR training and practice. Whether you are newly trained or a seasoned EMDR therapist, this episode will sharpen how you approach your next session.

0:00 - Intro

1:15 - How adaptive information processing works

2:29 - How trauma generalizes across situations

4:30 - The eight-stage EMDR protocol

6:16 - Resourcing and dual awareness

8:20 - Signs a client needs more resourcing

10:20 - Building the trauma timeline: first, worst, and most recent

13:00 - Virtual EMDR and eye movements vs. other bilateral stimulation

16:00 - Negative cognitions and linked trauma targets

18:11 - Why negative cognitions are hard to identify

20:16 - Criteria for a strong negative cognition

22:38 - Belief vs. fact: an important distinction

24:32 - The gut punch test for the right NC

26:42 - When a client is stuck in reprocessing

28:29 - Adjusting BLS length and speed

30:44 - Combining bilateral stimulation modalities

Episode Highlights:

Adaptive information processing is the theory underlying EMDR. The brain has a natural capacity to process experience, but trauma disrupts that process, and what begins as one trigger can generalize to many situations over time.

EMDR is an eight-stage protocol, and the reprocessing portion is only one part of it. The work has already begun long before bilateral stimulation starts.

Assessing dual awareness, the ability to hold one foot in the present and one foot in the past, is one of the most important readiness indicators before moving into reprocessing.

Spending multiple sessions on resourcing is not a delay. It builds the capacity for clients to visit difficult material and return to the present moment without destabilizing.

The trauma timeline does not need to be exhaustive. Focusing on the first, worst, and most recent incidents is enough to identify the full scope of a target without unnecessarily retraumatizing clients in the process.

Eye movements tend to be the most effective form of bilateral stimulation for many clients, and virtual EMDR can be just as productive as in-person sessions when set up thoughtfully.

A negative cognition must be about the self, negative rather than neutral, a belief and not a fact, and felt as present-tense relevant in order to carry the weight needed for reprocessing to move.

Negative cognitions are often shaped in childhood and can persist even when the adult brain understands the situation differently on a logical level. The NC connects with the instinctual layer of belief, not the reasoning one.

Continuing Education: Many episodes offer a free C

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Mindfulness, Intuition, and Continued Education with Dr. Nikki Rubin

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

What if mindfulness is not a homework assignment you give clients, but the thread running through every single clinical decision you make? In this episode of Self Careapist Therapist, I sit down with Dr. Nikki Rubin, licensed clinical psychologist, ACT specialist, assistant clinical professor at UCLA, and co-founder and COO of Mind Science Collective, a continuing education platform built by clinicians for clinicians. We trace the full history of cognitive behavioral therapies from first wave behaviorism through second wave cognitive interventions to the third wave approaches that define evidence-based practice today, including ACT, DBT, and CFT. Dr. Rubin breaks down how mindfulness functions as a core behavioral tool in the therapy room, how it connects to clinical intuition, and how to help clients distinguish between what their gut is really telling them versus what anxiety is projecting. We also dig into behavioral case formulation, the entrepreneurial path in private practice, and what it looks like to build a values-driven continuing education business. Stay until the end for a live guided mindfulness exercise, and use code SELFCAREAPIST10 at checkout for 10% off any MindScience Collective course.

0:00 - Intro

1:27 - How Dr. Rubin's passion for teaching and training clinicians began

4:48 - The founding of Mind Science Collective and what it offers

10:33 - How CE courses work and the range of topics available

13:18 - ACT values, creativity, and what drives the entrepreneurial instinct

13:38 - The history of CBT waves from Skinner to the third wave

18:06 - What might come after the third wave

21:09 - Reframing the therapist's relationship to marketing and business

27:22 - How mindfulness functions as the foundation of every clinical intervention

29:55 - A clinical example of moment-to-moment mindfulness with a patient

32:28 - Live guided mindfulness exercise with Dr. Rubin

37:12 - Processing the exercise and debunking myths about mindfulness

41:00 - The link between mindfulness and clinical intuition

43:35 - Distinguishing intuition from anxiety in session and in life

47:45 - Upcoming course: The Science of Intuition

48:27 - Supervision training and its parallels with behavioral case formulation

50:27 - What clinicians most commonly miss in case formulation

54:03 - Mindfulness as a thread across theoretical orientations

56:24 - Dr. Rubin's personal approach to self-care

Episode Highlights:

Mindfulness is a core behavioral practice that threads through every clinical intervention, from conceptualization to treatment planning to in-session responses, and carries far more clinical utility than assigning meditation as homework.

Third wave CBT therapies, including ACT, DBT, and CFT, emerged in the mid-1980s through a formal integration of acceptance-based and mindfulness-based practices alongside second wave cognitive techniques.

ACT values extend beyond the therapy room into professional decisions, entrepre

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Perfectionism Explained: Individual And Group Psychotherapy Interventions

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

What if perfectionism has nothing to do with wanting things done well? Dr. Paul L. Hewitt, Full Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, researcher, and co-author of Perfectionism: A Relational Approach to Conceptualization, Assessment, and Treatment, joins the podcast to reframe perfectionism as a deeply relational personality style born out of unmet attachment needs. This conversation covers the development of perfectionism through early relational asynchrony, how it functions differently from conscientiousness or high standards, what Dynamic-Relational Therapy for Perfectionism looks like in practice, and what clinicians should know about the depth of pain underneath a high-functioning exterior. The episode also covers new research on how perfectionism in therapists affects the therapeutic alliance.

0:00 - Intro and Dr. Hewitt's background

0:54 - How a dentist's waiting room started a research career

2:30 - Personal connection to perfectionism through classical music training

3:17 - Defining perfectionism as a personality style rather than a set of attitudes

4:03 - The unmet relational and esteem needs underneath perfectionism

8:18 - Whether perfectionism concentrates in one area or crosses all life domains

11:55 - Why achievement fails to correct the core wound (case example)

14:06 - Links to attachment theory and early developmental asynchrony

22:51 - Perfectionism in high-achieving professionals and entrepreneurs

27:20 - The wrong tool: an elegant but ultimately childlike solution to deep pain

28:21 - How treatment parallels the challenge of exposure work in OCD

30:56 - Distinguishing clinical perfectionism from conscientiousness and high standards

32:20 - The vulnerability piece: procrastination and never getting started

33:35 - Dr. Hewitt's concerns about symptom-based classification systems

36:14 - What typically brings someone to therapy for perfectionism

38:29 - The tenets of Dynamic-Relational Therapy for Perfectionism

40:54 - How the therapeutic relationship becomes the vehicle for change

42:37 - Treatment length and the 30-session research benchmark

43:46 - The clinician workshop training model explained

54:24 - The perfectionism book and the new paperback edition

57:38 - The depth of pain underneath high-functioning clients

59:44 - Concealment, imposter syndrome, and the hidden self

1:01:00 - Research on perfectionism in therapists and its impact on the alliance

Episode Highlights:

Perfectionism is a layered, complex personality style rooted in unmet needs for love, acceptance, and personal worth, not a drive for high standards.

The core dynamic is a deeply human need to feel acceptable to others and worthy as a self, which perfectionism attempts to solve through a strategy that can never deliver what it promises.

Perfectionism develops through early attachment asynchrony, where the child's needs are not adeq

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) Explained: How It Works, Types, Safety, and EMDR Integration

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0700

What happens when two EMDR practitioners who trained together start comparing notes on ketamine? Amanda Baker, LCSW, a clinical social worker at Mindful Springs Counseling in Colorado Springs, joins the conversation to break down ketamine-assisted psychotherapy from the ground up. We explore the striking overlap in neural mechanisms between ketamine and EMDR, walk through the preparation and integration framework, and discuss the virtual group model Amanda ran to make CAP more accessible. She also addresses safety, contraindications, the prescriber relationship, what the training landscape looks like for therapists who want to get started, and why the answer to helping people is rarely about holding on to every client.

0:00 - Intro and Amanda's background

1:21 - Amanda's varied social work career and path to therapy

3:07 - Arrival at Mindful Springs and first exposure to ketamine

5:06 - EMDR training origins and how both modalities connect

9:28 - Moving past skepticism about psychedelics

12:24 - The neural mechanism behind ketamine and how it mirrors EMDR

14:13 - Types of ketamine delivery methods explained

18:00 - What preparation and integration look like in practice

24:21 - Building partnerships with prescribers

28:10 - The virtual ketamine group model

33:08 - The role of chaperones and reparative attachment

34:04 - Conditions the research supports treating with CAP

35:44 - Safety, contraindications, and the high-profile misuse case

40:37 - The history of psychedelics and ketamine's pharmaceutical origins

46:27 - Training resources and how to get started

49:51 - The social work mindset and connecting clients to the right provider

53:32 - Amanda's self-care and ethics-based consultation practice

Episode Highlights:

Ketamine and EMDR appear to share a neural mechanism, both promoting new neural development and activating overlapping brain regions associated with relaxation and healing.

The types of ketamine treatment range from IV infusion and intramuscular injection to oral lozenges and esketamine nasal spray, with differing levels of psychedelic intensity and varying degrees of therapist involvement.

Preparation and integration are not optional steps surrounding the dosing session. They are the therapeutic architecture that makes the experience meaningful and the outcomes lasting.

A 24 to 48 hour window after a dosing session is the most active period for neural growth and integration, making timely follow-up a clinical priority.

Low-dose psycholytic ketamine keeps clients alert and conversational, making it highly compatible with active therapeutic work during the session itself.

A prescriber who is willing to write a prescription without speaking with the treating therapist first is a significant red flag.

Contraindications include active psychosis or schizoaffective conditions, unregulated hypertension or thyroid disorders, significant cardiac irregularities, and p

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality with Dr. David Jobes

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0700

What would it look like if we actually asked suicidal clients what was making them suicidal and then treated that? Dr. David Jobes, professor of psychology at The Catholic University of America, director of the CUA Suicide Prevention Lab, and developer of the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), joins the podcast to challenge the dominant medical model response to suicidality and make the case for a better way. This conversation covers the history and structure of CAMS, the evidence behind it, how it compares to the safety plan, why the research on hospitalization should change how clinicians think about least-restrictive care, how CAMS works with adolescents, and the full range of training options available today, including the brief intervention model for inpatient and emergency settings.

0:00 - Intro and Dr. Jobes's background

0:57 - How a philosophy background led to 43 years in suicide research

3:09 - What came before modern suicide prevention

4:00 - The medical model problem and why hospitalization often increases risk

7:01 - Autonomy, agency, and why containment tends to backfire

9:38 - How CAMS works: the Suicide Status Form and the collaborative assessment

11:36 - Identifying drivers and building a treatment plan around them

15:50 - The relationship between CAMS and DBT

19:48 - Safety planning vs. the Crisis Response Plan: what the research actually shows

23:04 - The marketing problem and how DBT became world famous while better-evidenced tools stayed obscure

24:03 - Types of drivers: relational, vocational, and self-related

27:23 - Suicidal ideation rates post-COVID and what the data shows

30:12 - CAMS is effective at any level of ideation, not only crisis presentations

33:07 - How to get started: the Guilford Press book, CAMS Care training, and consultation

38:47 - The CAMS Brief Intervention model for inpatient and emergency settings

39:49 - Empath units as a model for humane emergency psychiatric care

41:21 - Training for teams, systems of care, and discounts for training programs

45:07 - Fidelity, training hubs, and the international reach of CAMS

48:12 - What CAMS adds that individual clinicians may not be getting in their training

51:09 - CAMS with adolescents: autonomy, existential drivers, and the Stabilization Support Plan for parents

55:16 - Grant support, funding shifts, and how to reach CAMS Care

56:32 - Dr. Jobes on self-care and consultation as an ethical and clinical requirement

Episode Highlights:

CAMS is a framework, not a new psychotherapy. Clinicians of any theoretical orientation can use it without abandoning their existing approach.

The core of CAMS is a collaborative therapeutic assessment in which the clinician takes a figurative seat next to the client to complete the Suicide Status Form together, with the client as the primary author.

The framework asks the client directly what makes them suicidal,

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Regulate, Relate and Reason: A Deep Dive into Dr. Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0700

What if the key to understanding your mental health and relationships lies in how your brain developed from the very beginning? I'm joined by Michelle Maikoetter, LPC from the Neurosequential Network, to demystify the Neurosequential Model developed by Dr. Bruce Perry. We explore how our earliest experiences, from in utero through childhood, shape our capacity for self-regulation, connection, and reasoning in adulthood. This conversation is a deep dive into the 'regulate, relate, reason' framework, revealing why we often struggle with emotional healing and how we can sequence our support for true mental wellness. We also discuss the vital role of rhythm, relational health, and creating healing environments, even in our workplaces. Listen now to explore how this transformative lens can change your understanding of your own healing journey and your approach to therapy.

0:00 - Intro

1:44 - Michelle’s personal journey discovering the Neurosequential Model

4:18 - Why the model is a transformational lens for all of life

5:15 - The core tenets of brain development and early childhood impact

7:48 - How the Neurosequential assessment differs from a standard diagnosis

9:36 - Understanding bottom-up brain development

10:57 - Why we must sequence interventions, starting with sensory activities

13:57 - Breaking down the ‘Regulate, Relate, Reason’ framework

19:15 - The essential self-exploration and personal transformation in learning the model

21:38 - The key components of regulation and creating a balanced system

29:51 - How to create a relational and supportive workplace culture

33:32 - The profound relevance of rhythm to regulation and connection

46:39 - The role of empathy and shared humanity in this work

49:57 - How to learn more about the Neurosequential Model

Episode Highlights:

The brain develops sequentially, and experiences from in utero to age three have a disproportionate impact on its organization.
Our capacity for regulation, relationship, and reason is built upon foundational neural pathways laid down in our earliest years.
To be effective, interventions must be sequenced developmentally, often starting with sensory and regulatory activities before cognitive work.
The "Regulate, Relate, Reason" framework reflects the biological order in which our brain processes information.
We cannot be relational or access our reasoning cortex when we are in a dysregulated, reactive state.
Self-care is about maintaining a consistent baseline of arousal so we aren't overly reactive to daily stressors.
Rhythm is a powerful and often overlooked regulatory tool, intertwined with our earliest developmental experiences.
When someone is struggling, the goal should be to increase both structure and relational support, not withdraw connection.
True empathy requires us to be in a regulated space to imagine another's experience and acknowledge our shared humanity.
For change to be sustainable in any system, the leadership and environment

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

A Therapist's Toolkit for Working with Anxious teens with Sophia Vale Galano, LCSW

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 22:00:00 -0700

In this episode, I sit down with clinical social worker and author Sophia Vale Galano to discuss her newly released book, Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry (published by Hatherley Press, distributed by Penguin Random House).

Sophia shares practical tools and strategies for parents navigating teenage anxiety, exploring the unique challenges teens face today including academic stress, social media pressures, and delayed developmental stages post-COVID. We discuss how parents can shift from fixing and controlling to coaching and collaborating, and why curiosity and open-ended questions are a parent's best friend.

In this conversation, we explore:

How to distinguish between typical teenage behavior and clinical anxiety
The importance of tracking patterns with curiosity rather than judgment
Why social media isn't all bad (and how to help teens find the positive)
Moving from directive parenting to a coaching approach
The developmental delays we're seeing post-COVID and what that means for families
How well-intentioned parenting can accidentally push teens away
Practical phrases and approaches parents can use today

Key takeaway: Sometimes what looks like typical teenage moodiness requires a closer look. By tracking how often and to what extent a teen is struggling, parents can better understand when it's time for additional support.

Sophia also shares her publishing journey, offering insights for aspiring authors on how to navigate the process without a literary agent and turn your message into a book that helps people.

About Sophia Vale Galano: Sophia is an LCSW who has been working with teens and their families for nearly 11 years in private practice, residential treatment centers, and school settings. Her book provides a compassionate, practical blueprint for parents who want to support their anxious teens.

Resources mentioned:

Calming Teenage Anxiety: A Parent's Guide to Helping Your Teenager Cope with Worry by Sophia Vale Galano
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, and local bookstores
Port Light Books for bulk sales

Continuing Education: Many episodes offer a free CEU for licensure in Arizona through the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Content is relevant for continuing education across LCSW, LMHC, LPC, LMFT, NCC, NBCC, and psychology licensure.

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

The Top 5 Self Care Tips of 2025

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 22:00:00 -0700

Welcome to the final episode of the year! In this solo wrap-up, Lorain revisits the most powerful self-care insights, quotes, and practical strategies shared by the incredible guests who joined The Self Careapist Podcast in 2025. This episode weaves together short audio clips from guests—researchers, clinicians, authors, and innovators—to highlight the patterns, contradictions, and surprising themes that emerged around what real self-care looks like for mental health professionals.

Whether you’re reflecting on the year behind you or preparing intentionally for the one ahead, this episode gives you a grounded, compassionate, evidence-informed way to think about your own self-care plan.

Key Themes Across All Guests

Self-care is individualized, not prescriptive.
Movement often regulates faster than stillness.
Micro-practices matter: two minutes can shift everything.
Physiological rhythm informs emotional capacity.
Creativity is deeply restorative for mental health clinicians.
Self-care is both internal (mindset, skills) and external (hobbies, movement, community).
Leaders set the tone for collective self-care culture.
Passion and purpose are protective against burnout.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Self-Care and the Podcast
00:52 Reflections on Self-Care Trends of the Year
02:30 The Importance of Activity in Self-Care
04:25 Mindset and Internal Processes in Self-Care
06:34 Community and Connection in Self-Care
08:44 Quick Self-Care Techniques
09:57 Visualization and Trauma Management
12:24 Mitigating Secondhand Trauma and Burnout
13:52 Nutrition and Self-Care
15:58 Emotion Regulation Skills
17:54 Distress Tolerance Toolkit
19:06 Motivation and Goal Setting for the New Year
19:50 Creative Expression in Work
21:53 Conclusion and Community Engagement

Resources Mentioned

The Self Careapist Podcast Episode Archive
Each referenced guest’s full episode

Want to Share Your Self-Care Values?

Visit LorainMoorehead.com/podcast to submit:

Self-care strategies that worked for you this year
Skills you want to practice more often
Guests you’d like to hear in 2026

Connect with Lorain

Website: LorainMoorehead.com
Instagram: @lorainmoorehead
Podcast: The Self Careapist Podcast

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Healing Through ACT: A Trauma Journey with Dr. Darrah Westrup and Dr. Robyn Walser

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:00:00 -0700

You Are Not Your Trauma: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Healing

In this episode, I'm joined by two remarkable clinicians who together have over 60 years of combined experience working with trauma: Dr. Darrah Westrup and Dr. Robin Walser. These two have been collaborating for nearly two decades and three books. Their latest book, "You Are Not Your Trauma" published by Guilford Press, offers something different from traditional trauma treatments.

While many approaches focus primarily on symptom reduction, Darrah and Robin take us further—into the territory of meaning, values, and vitality. They're not just asking "How do we make the pain go away?" but rather "How do you want to live your life, even while carrying a difficult history?"

In this conversation, we explore:

What Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is and why it's so effective for trauma work
The three pillars of ACT: Open, Aware, and Engaged
The paradox of avoidance—how our natural instinct to run from pain can actually keep us stuck in it
Why battling trauma is like swatting at a bee—you might survive if you let it pass, but once you engage in battle, things escalate
The distinction between the self that experiences trauma and the experiences themselves
How values don't compete and don't depend on history
Why trauma survivors don't need to wait until symptoms disappear to start living meaningful lives

Powerful stories from this conversation:

A client who spent 30 years stuck in a trauma story, believing they couldn't move forward until the trauma was "resolved"—and the breakthrough that came from accepting that history only goes in one direction
A survivor of childhood sexual trauma who discovered that new memories surfacing no longer frightened her because she realized: "I'm larger than that"
A veteran who learned his values were still available to him, regardless of what he'd seen or done
Darrah's personal experience with a visualization exercise that changed everything for her

About our guests:

Dr. Darrah Westrup began her career at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, where she was director of a 90-day residential treatment program for military women with trauma and severe PTSD. She has been working with ACT since her dissertation work and brought ACT into residential treatment for the first time in 2000.

Dr. Robin Walser worked at the National Center for PTSD and studied under Dr. Steve Hayes, the developer of ACT, at the University of Washington. She was part of Dr. Marsha Linehan's DBT team during graduate school and has been practicing ACT since 1991.

Resources mentioned:

You Are Not Your Trauma by Dr. Darrah Westrup and Dr. Robin Walser (Guilford Press)
Learning ACT, Second Edition by Dr. Robin Walser
Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)
Online mindfulness meditations accompanying the book

Continuing Education: Many episodes offer a free CEU for licensure in Arizona through the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Content is relevant for continuing education across LC

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

A Multi-Faceted Approach to Understanding Motivation

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:00:00 -0700

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Hillary Hurst Bush discusses her collaboration with Dr. Ellen Braaten on the Motivation Mindset Workbook, an extension of the book Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less. The discussion delves into the concepts of aptitude, pleasure, and practice, exploring how these elements interact to influence motivation in children and teens. Dr. Bush shares personal anecdotes and professional insights, emphasizing the importance of understanding individual motivations and the role of family and societal expectations.

Takeaways

Motivation is not a fixed trait; it ebbs and flows.
Aptitude, pleasure, and practice are interconnected.
The Motivation Mindset Workbook aims to make motivation accessible.
Understanding individual motivations is crucial for growth.
Family and societal expectations can impact motivation.
Pleasure should be genuine and not just an escape.
Overscheduling can hinder exploration and motivation.
Mismatch in expectations can be mistaken for lack of motivation.
Values and gratitude can guide motivation and pleasure.
Motivation is fluid and can change over time.

Sound bites

Motivation is not a fixed trait. Aptitude is a muscle, not fixed. Pleasure should be genuine. Mismatch, not lack of motivation. Values guide motivation and pleasure. Motivation is fluid and changeable. Family expectations impact motivation. Understanding motivations is crucial. Overscheduling hinders motivation. Motivation Mindset Workbook insights.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Motivation Mindset*

An overview of the Motivation Mindset Workbook

00:03:00 - Aptitude, Pleasure, and Practice

Exploring the core concepts that drive motivation in children and teens.

00:09:00 - Personal Insights and Experiences

Dr. Bush shares personal stories and professional insights on motivation.

00:15:00 - Family and Societal Expectations

Discussing the impact of family and societal pressures on motivation.

00:21:00 - The Fluidity of Motivation

Understanding how motivation can change and adapt over time.

Resources Mentioned:

Range- David Epstein

Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less- Ellen Braaten

The Motivation Mindset Workbook- Ellen Braaten & Hillary Hurst Bush

Subscribe and leave a review

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

How We Can Help Parents Master Their Emotions with Dr. Alissa Jerud

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:00:00 -0700

Dr. Alissa Jerud, clinical psychologist and author of Emotion Savvy Parenting joins us to discuss methods to assist parents with remaining emotionally aware while parenting. Dr. Jerud specializes in helping parents master their emotions during the most challenging moments of parenting.

Discover why focusing on parental emotion regulation (rather than controlling children's behavior) creates better outcomes for the entire family. Dr. Jerud shares her ART framework (Accept, Regulate, Tolerate), adapted from DBT specifically for parents navigating everyday struggles.

What You'll Learn

Learn practical techniques for helping parents master their emotions in real time. Dr. Jerud demonstrates how to apply DBT principles without requiring formal training, making these tools accessible for any therapist working with parents.

Key Topics:

The ART framework for parents mastering their emotions in heated moments
CARE skills that reduce heart rate by 50% in 30 seconds
Chain analysis adapted for parenting reactions (not children's behavior)
Why forcing apologies backfires and what to do instead
Inhibitory learning approach for anxious parents
Opposite action and radical acceptance in parenting contexts
How to handle public tantrums, sibling conflicts, and teen independence anxiety
Teaching emotion regulation without full DBT certification

Perfect For

Therapists, counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals working with parents, families, or anyone interested in emotion regulation skills. Especially valuable for clinicians seeking practical, evidence based tools to recommend or teach in session.

Featured Resource

Book: Emotion Savvy Parenting: How to Help Your Kids Cope, Regulate, and Thrive by Developing Your Own Emotional Intelligence by Dr. Alissa Jerud (now available in audiobook format)

About the Guest

Dr. Alissa Jerud is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders and emotion regulation. She trained under Dr. Marsha Linehan (creator of DBT) at the University of Washington and now helps parents master their emotions through evidence based approaches rooted in DBT and exposure therapy with inhibitory learning.

Episode Highlights

The Grocery Store Scenario: Dr. Jerud walks through a classic parenting challenge (the checkout line candy bar meltdown) demonstrating how parents mastering their emotions changes the entire dynamic. Learn specific tools like slow exhales, opposite action, and reframing thoughts that work in real time.

The Apology Paradox: Discover why demanding apologies from dysregulated children backfires and how modeling genuine apologies leads to children who naturally give heartfelt, handwritten apologies and repair attempts.

Golden Opportunities: Shift perspective from dreaded meltdowns to practice opportunities. When parents view challenging moments as chances to strengthen their emotional mastery, the entire family benefits.

The Heart Rate Demo: Learn about the CARE skills (adapted from DBT's TIP

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Transforming Crisis Care With Revolutionary Vision and Partnerships

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 22:00:00 -0700

Join therapist Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, as she interviews Kevin Curtis, LCSW from the Huntsman Mental Health Crisis Care Center about revolutionizing mental health access. Learn how innovative crisis intervention models are transforming care delivery and reducing clinician burnout.

What You'll Learn

Kevin Curtis shares groundbreaking approaches to mental health crisis care that eliminate traditional barriers to treatment. Discover how integrated services—including dental care, legal support, and flexible treatment pathways—create better outcomes for clients while supporting clinician wellbeing.

Key Topics:

Removing insurance barriers from mental health crisis care
Implementing the CAMS framework for suicide intervention
Creating partnerships that bridge gaps between systems
Integrating dental and legal services into crisis care
Leveraging peer support specialists effectively
Designing systems that reduce clinician burnout
Building flexible care continuums from hours to weeks

Perfect For

Therapists, social workers, mental health counselors, crisis intervention specialists, and behavioral health administrators seeking innovative approaches to reduce barriers, improve client outcomes, and create more sustainable practice environments.

Featured Resources

About the Guest

Kevin Curtis works in administration at the Huntsman Mental Health Crisis Care Center, where he focuses on creating accessible, barrier-free mental health systems and supporting clinicians to do their best work.

#MentalHealthCrisisCare #TherapistPodcast #CrisisIntervention #SocialWork #ClinicalInnovation #TherapistBurnout #MentalHealthAccess

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Navigate the Nuances of AuDHD: A Deep Dive of Autism and ADHD with Dr. Tony Attwood and Dr. Michelle Garnett

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 23:00:00 -0600

In this insightful episode of The Self-Careapist Podcast, we are joined by world-renowned autism experts Dr. Michelle Garnett and Dr. Tony Attwood of Attwood and Garnett Events to explore the evolving understanding of combined autism and ADHD often referred to as AuDHD. Together, they unpack how the field has shifted from autism as a standalone, to understanding it as “autism plus,” often intertwined with ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, BPD, learning disorders, and other experiences of neurodiversity.

The conversation moves from diagnostic history and gender differences to the lived experience of camouflaging, self-identity, and the importance of emotional awareness in therapy. They introduce practical, affirming tools like energy accounting, the spoken social story, and considerations for alexithymia and burnout.

Whether you’re a seasoned clinician looking to update your approach or a new learner, this episode offers compassion, clarity and humor for understanding how to connect and serve our AuDHD clients.

Resources Mentioned

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: Autism’s evolution
02:56 – Personal Journeys into Autism Research
06:10 – Understanding the Autism Spectrum
08:58 – Autism Plus: The Intersection with ADHD
11:58 – Camouflaging and Masking
15:09 – Gender Differences in Autism
17:49 – Diagnosis and Self-Identity
20:46 – Therapeutic Approaches for Neurodivergent Clients
23:56 – Mindfulness and Emotional Awareness
26:54 – Creative Therapies and Self-Expression
30:01 – Energy Accounting and Burnout Prevention
32:50 – Understanding Neurodiversity
36:11 – Final Reflections

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Identification, Prevention, and Care for Sex Trafficking Survivors with Dr. Dominique Roe Sepowitz

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight. In this episode of The Self Careapist Podcast, Dr. Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, professor at Arizona State University and director of multiple anti-trafficking programs, stops by to speak with Lorain about about identification, prevention, and care for sex trafficking victims and survivors.

Content Warning: This episode discusses human trafficking, sexual violence, and exploitation. Please listen with care.

This conversation explores the full arc of identification, prevention, and trauma-informed care for human trafficking victims. From validating survivor experiences and creating prevention programs with law enforcement, to treatment models designed for healing, Dominique shares both research and real-world strategies for working with this population.

You’ll learn:

How to identify human trafficking victims using accurate, client-driven language
Prevention strategies involving law enforcement, housing programs, and community partners
Treatment approaches for sex trafficking victims, including the STAR Group, a CBT-based model for recovery
Why clinicians should seek expertise beyond client sessions to avoid harm
Strategies for therapist self-care and managing burnout when working with highly traumatized survivors

Why this matters

Supporting human trafficking survivors requires more than compassion—it demands knowledge, collaboration, and trauma-informed care. By focusing on identification, prevention, and treatment, clinicians and advocates can play a critical role in helping victims reclaim safety and dignity.

Resources:

Gale Dines

Ted Talk

Sex Trafficking Training Materials

Listen now for expert insights on human trafficking identification, prevention, and care plus practical tools you can use to support survivors.

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

A Psychologist’s Guide to Recognizing Pathological Demand Avoidance

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 22:00:00 -0600

In this compelling episode of The Self Careapist Podcast, Dr. Maylin Griffiths, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Arizona Pediatric Assessment Center, joins Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, to demystify the misunderstood profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance/ Pervasive Drive for Autonomy (PDA).

Dr. Griffiths explains how PDA often hides behind misdiagnoses like ODD or ADHD and share actionable tips for therapists conducting assessments and collaborating with school systems. She emphasizes the role of curiosity in assessments and valuable resources for clinicians and families.

Notes:

Curiosity drives effective assessment practices.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a unique profile that requires specific strategies.
Social strategies can be misinterpreted as manipulative behavior.
Strengths of PDA kids include creativity and leadership skills.
Collaboration among professionals is vital for comprehensive assessments.
Shift from “manipulation” to “equalizing” when thinking about client behavior

Links:

Arizona Pediatric Assessment Center

Navigating PDA in America

PDA North America

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Assessment in Psychology
02:57 The Role of Assessments in Therapy
06:05 Understanding ODD and ADHD
08:56 Exploring Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
12:00 Key Components of PDA
14:58 Social Strategies and Coping Mechanisms
18:09 The Impact of Autonomy on Behavior
20:43 Role-Playing and Social Strategies
23:43 Fixation and Its Effects
25:46 Understanding PDA and Autism Profiles
28:23 Navigating Social Dynamics and Self-Identification
30:09 Strategies for Effective Communication
36:13 Managing Demands and Autonomy
39:24 The Role of Sensory Sensitivities
44:15 Strengths and Unique Abilities of PDA Kids
45:46 Resources for Clinicians and Families
47:45 The Importance of Collaborative Assessments

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Why Clinical Ethics and Supervision Matter More Than Ever with Patricia Dobratz, JD, LMFT

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 23:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Lorain Moorehead sits down with Patricia Dobratz, JD, LMFT, a former prosecutor turned LMFT clinical supervisor, to explore ethical gray zones, common regulatory mistakes, and the evolving role of supervision in clinical practice. This episode offers insight into how to protect your license, your clients, and your professional growth whether you're a student, therapist, practice owner or in an adjacent profession. And highlights that often ethical missteps come from a lack of answers and supports rather than intention.

Patricia shares guidance on building systems that support ethical decisions, creating separation between administrative and clinical supervision, understanding licensing compacts, and the future of behavioral health.

Episode Highlights:

[10:15] Ethical challenges in modern clinical practice
[20:00] Support systems for clinicians and supervisors
[30:00] The evolving role of clinical supervision
[40:00] Future trends in behavioral health: AI, intensives & compacts
[45:00] Documenting critical incidents to protect your license
[50:00] Supervision as professional development, not just licensure
[52:00] Lifelong learning, consultation, and avoiding stagnation

Resources Mentioned:

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

The Fraud Feeling: EMDR for High Achievers

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:00:00 -0600

In this first solo episode of The Self Careapist Therapist Podcast, I'm diving into the treatment of high achievers and entrepreneurs and some of the common symptoms they may experience, including ADHD, depression, anxiety symptoms and imposter syndrome. I detail how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can be a helpful treatment modality, as well as the course of training to begin using EMDR as a therapist.

You’ll also hear how the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model rewires the brain to replace “I’m not enough” with a grounded sense of capability.

I close with my own self care framework that can be used for you or for your clients, to help get closer to alignment. You can find the link to your copy of the framework to work through on your own here.

For more details on EMDR Certification.

For details on EMDR Consultation.

A great basic training for EMDR.

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Prolonged Grief and Seeking Help with Dr. Sonya Lott, PhD

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 22:00:00 -0600

What is Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy and why does it matter?
In this deeply moving episode of The Self Careapist Podcast, Lorain Moorehead, LCSW, sits down with Dr. Sonya Lott, grief therapy expert and affiliate of the Center for Prolonged Grief, to explore Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD). You’ll learn what PGD is, how it’s diagnosed, and why so many therapists and clients miss the signs.

Whether you’re a therapist, a grieving human, or someone supporting others through loss, this conversation offers transformative clarity, heartfelt compassion, and actionable insight. Dr. Lott breaks down the evolution of grief language, explains why the five stages of grief model is outdated, and shares a roadmap for evidence-based grief therapy.

You’ll learn:

What defines Prolonged Grief Disorder and how it differs from depression or PTSD
How to assess PGD using validated tools like the Inventory of Complicated Grief
The structure of Prolonged Grief Therapy (PGT) and its roots in CBT and attachment theory
Why grief-specific training is essential for today’s therapists
Where to access free and low-cost PGD training and resources

Dr. Lott also shares how therapists can protect their own emotional energy while holding space for sorrow and why this work is sacred.

Listen now to discover how Prolonged Grief Disorder Therapy is helping us conceptualize how to understand loss and how you can integrate these vital tools into your work and life.

Resources mentioned:

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Why OCD is not an Adjective with Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Lorain speaks with Dr. Liz McIngvale; the co-founder of new mental health training app MHNTI, the director of the OCD Institute of Texas, and adjunct faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. A nationally and internationally recognized authority on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Dr. McIngvale has published over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles, multiple textbook chapters and is a sought-after contributor to national expert panels, media, and conferences. This episode packs a punch, describing the importance of proper training when it comes to treating OCD, the importance in not using "OCD" casually to describe preferences, and gives the low down on the evidence based treatment for OCD, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). She details her own OCD journey and how it has allowed her to dedicate her career to the treatment advancement of OCD research.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to OCD and Its Impact
03:00 Personal Journey with OCD Treatment
05:46 Understanding ERP and Training in OCD Treatment
09:05 The Launch of Menti: A New Training Resource
11:35 Defining OCD: Misconceptions and Realities
14:48 Subtypes of OCD: Understanding Variability
17:28 Improving Clinical Practices for OCD Treatment
20:16 Understanding OCD Assessment and Measurement
22:31 Risk Factors in OCD Treatment
23:48 The Importance of Values-Based ERP
27:11 Aligning Treatment with Patient Values
29:47 Resources for Finding Qualified OCD Providers
32:11 Leveraging Technology in Mental Health Care
37:21 Self-Care Strategies for Clinicians and Patients

Links from the Episode:

Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS)
Dr. Bruce Perry

Dr. Jon Abramowitz

MHNTI

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Strengthening Emotional Bonds and Fostering Deep Connections in Couples Therapy with Dr. Marni Feuerman

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0600

In this episode, Lorain sits down with Dr. Marni Feuerman, LCSW, LMFT, clinical psychologist and author of Ghosted and Breadcrumbed to explore different approaches to couples therapy including the two she's highly trained in--Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Gottman. We cover the key tenants of both approaches, how to get started with them, as well as attachment styles and chemistry. Dr. Feuerman is a self-proclaimed therapy nerd and was able to give some key insight into how she has used her endless curiousity to expand and establish her career.

Time stamps:
00:00 Journey Through Couples Therapy Training
02:52 The Evolution of EFT and Its Applications
05:44 Experiential Learning in Therapy
08:35 Initial Sessions and Assessment Strategies
11:38 Integrating Individual and Couples Therapy
14:33 The Role of Writing and Public Speaking in Therapy
17:33 Understanding Relationship Patterns and Solutions
31:03 Reverse Engineering Relationships
32:57 Understanding Attachment Styles
34:24 The Role of Chemistry in Relationships
39:17 Navigating Initial Attraction
43:50 Continuous Learning for Therapists
47:25 Practical Steps for Aspiring Therapists

Key References from episode:

Attachment Theory in Practice

The New Marriage Clinic

Ghosted and Breadcrumbed

Becoming Attached

The Talking Solution- Dr. Feuerman's Psychotherapy Practice

Dr. Marni

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Rewrite the Story of Psychosis with Hope with guest Dr. Aaron Brinen, Psy.D.

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0600

This episode was timed the week of Dr. Aaron Brinen's new book, Living Well with Psychosis. One of the lines I liked in his book is "in order to talk about Living Well, we have to talk about living," and, we do! From developing goals and aspirations to supporting and encouraging the family, and discussing how to incorporate activity, and plenty of it, we cover some key elements of treating psychosis in addition to discussion about how to support some of the specific obstacles that our clients living with psychosis may be facing. We talk about the development of the Recovery-Oriented Cognitive model in collaboration with Aaron T. Beck, the father of cognitive psychology.

If authoring books is in your future, we also get some unexpected gems about the process and considerations of writing!

Dr. Brinen's supportive and optimistic attitude as well as his mention of the need to advocate for our clients dealing with psychosis make this a hopeful informative listen, and I think you'll find some takeaways to consider whether you are new to this treatment population or have been treating psychosis for decades.

To access a copy of Living Well with Psychosis

To access the activity tracker we discussed in the episode

If you're interested in learning more about CT-R

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Attachment Wounds Through the Lens of Complex Trauma with Melissa Lapides

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:00:00 -0600

Melissa Lapides, LMFT (@getsecurelyattached) discusses the profound effects of complex trauma, particularly in early childhood, and how it manifests in adult relationships. She emphasizes the importance of understanding attachment theory and how early experiences shape our emotional responses and relationships. Melissa shares her personal journey of healing from trauma and the significance of trauma-informed care in therapy. The discussion also touches on the role of attachment in relationships with pets and the importance of co-regulation. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for deeper understanding and healing of attachment wounds to foster healthier relationships.

Whether you're a therapist who is hearing more curiosity about the impact of complex trauma from your clients, or a person making their own connections about your early experiences, this is a great episode.

Key takeaways from this episode:

Complex trauma is often misunderstood and widespread.
Trauma is about the impact of events, not the events themselves.
Adaptive mechanisms from childhood can become harmful in adulthood.
Boredom can be a sign of peace, not dysfunction.
Healing from trauma is possible at any age.
Trauma-informed care emphasizes being present with clients' pain.
Clients are the experts of their own experiences.
Attachment styles significantly influence adult relationships.
Co-regulation is essential in relationships with pets.

Resources:

The Attachment Project

Thomas Zimmerman (boat metaphor)

Subscribe and leave a review — it helps other therapists find the show.

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

Being Seen, Being You: DBT Skills for a Life Worth Living with Dr. Kiki Fehling

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0600

For the therapist who might incorporate a DBT skill here or there but has always wondered what else there is to know...

In this conversation, Dr. Kiki Fehling a clinical psychologist and Dialectical Behavior Therapy Certified researcher discusses her journey into Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), its structure, and its application, particularly within the LGBTQIA+ community. She explains the importance of consultation teams, the role of mindfulness, and the dialectical approach of acceptance and change. Dr. Fehling shares insights on key DBT skills, such as distress tolerance and opposite action, and highlights the goal of building a life worth living. The discussion also touches on self-care techniques and resources for clinicians interested in DBT.

We left you on a a cliffhanger, but the show Dr. Kiki enjoyed and recently finished was...drumroll please...Dying for Sex.

Takeaways:

DBT was created to help those struggling with BPD and suicidality.
The therapy consists of individual sessions, skills groups, phone coaching, and consultation teams.
Consultation teams provide essential support for DBT therapists.
DBT is effective for various mental health issues beyond BPD, including anxiety and PTSD.
Mindfulness skills help individuals reconnect with their emotions and identities.
Dialectics emphasizes that acceptance and change can coexist.
The goal of DBT is to help clients build a life worth living.
Distress tolerance kits are practical tools for managing crises.
Opposite action is a powerful skill for changing unhelpful emotional responses.
Self-validation is crucial for personal well-being and self-care.
Using Skillfull Means to become aware of the being mind vs. the doing mind

Keywords:
DBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mental Health, LGBTQIA+, Coping Skills, Mindfulness, Self-Validation, Consultation Teams, Emotion Regulation, Therapy Techniques

For More Information, check out:
https://www.kikifehling.com/
Want to learn more about DBT?
Self Directed DBT Skills Workbook
DBT Skills Training Manual- Dr. Marsha Linehan

And, the book Dr. Fehling is reading is Queer Dharma...
Skillfull Means

00:00
Introduction to DBT and Dr. Kiki Feh

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!

The Traumaplay Path: Child, caregiver, and therapist dyads in play therapy with Paris Goodyear-Brown

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:00:00 -0600

Summary
In this conversation, I have the pleasure of talking with Paris Goodyear Brown about the development and principles of her model Traumaplay, an integrative approach to play therapy that addresses the needs of families and children who have experienced trauma. The discussion covers the evolution of Traumaplay, the importance of attachment relationships, and the integration of various therapeutic models. Paris emphasizes the significance of assessment techniques, how she has integrated these principles at Nurture House, and the role of parents in the therapeutic process, and the necessity of self-care for therapists working with trauma.

Takeaways
Trauma play is an integrative approach to therapy.
Children communicate through play, which is their primary language.
Delight is crucial for healthy child development.
Assessment in trauma play serves as an intervention.
Parents need support and skill-building in their roles.
Understanding a child's grief is essential for effective therapy.
Therapists must embody nurturing roles for parents.
Wish fulfillment in play can help children process trauma.
Self-care practices are vital for therapists' well-being.
Therapeutic relationships are built on trust and understanding.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Trauma Play Model
02:25 The Evolution of Trauma Play
05:12 Integrative Play Therapy Approaches
08:28 Research and Learning in Trauma Play
11:12 Dyadic Assessment Techniques
13:59 Parenting Skills and Psychoeducation
16:58 The Role of the Therapist
20:17 Self-Care Practices for Clinicians

Resources Mentioned in Episode:
Traumaplay Certification Process

Books:

Parents as Partners in Child Therapy

Big Behaviors in Small Containers

Polyvagal Power in the Playroom
Parent Child Interaction Training (PCIT)

Jessica Stone, PhD

Garry Landreth, PhD

If you liked this episode, feel free to subscribe and leave a review! Your support helps us be a top mental health podcast and resource. See you next week!