The Therapist Thrival Guide 112. Chronic Trauma and EMDR
In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we're sitting down with Christy Gunter, LMSW to unpack the complexities of chronic trauma—what it is, how it impacts the brain and body, and what we can do to help clients heal.
Christy explains chronic trauma as repeated exposure to threat or harm. Over time, the brain and nervous system start to adapt in ways that were meant to protect us but can become unhelpful—or even harmful—in the long run. We talk through how chronic trauma differs from acute trauma, explore the wide range of trauma responses (yes, there’s more than just fight or flight—collapse and submit show up, too), and look at how these patterns shape behavior and show up in the therapy room.
We also dive into the nervous system’s role in trauma, the power of EMDR for processing it, and why breaking down maladaptive responses is such an important part of recovery. Christy and I both emphasize a holistic approach—because healing isn’t just about processing the trauma itself. It’s also about supporting clients in navigating daily life challenges, relationships, and triggers along the way.
Link to Christy's book: https://a.co/d/idgeVVa
NICABM: https://www.nicabm.com/
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
00:58 Understanding Chronic Trauma
01:21 Defining Chronic Trauma
04:07 Somatic Symptoms and Identifying Triggers
09:06 Chronic Trauma's Impact on the Nervous System
13:01 Therapeutic Approaches to Chronic Trauma
16:20 Case Studies and Practical Applications
19:36 Dual Diagnosis and Integrated Treatment
21:21 Exploring EMDR and Art Therapy
22:41 The Importance of Consent in Therapy
23:22 Working with Different Age Groups
24:51 Understanding Chronic Trauma
27:43 Addressing Abandonment Issues
32:06 Coupling Trauma with Sensory Triggers
37:39 The Role of EMDR in Trauma Processing
42:14 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement
OUR HOST:
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on LinkedIn.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021.