Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a trauma recovery expert, discusses reframing trauma as growth, exploring different types of trauma, and strategies for adapting to adversity. Topics include the role of mindfulness, dealing with complex trauma, and embracing the journey of post-traumatic growth.
Trauma recovery can lead to post-traumatic growth and meaning-making.
Recognizing signs of trauma includes disconnection from body and mental freezes.
Creating imaginary containers can help process and heal traumatic experiences.
Deep dives
The Sounds True Foundation's Mission for Transformational Education
The Sounds True Foundation aims to create a wiser and kinder world by providing transformational tools like mindfulness and emotional awareness to all, regardless of financial or social challenges. Their nonprofit dedication focuses on extending these tools to at-risk youth, prisoners, veterans, and communities in need.
Dr. Ariel Schwartz's Trauma Expertise Rooted in Personal History
Dr. Ariel Schwartz, a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma healing, traces her expertise back to her childhood experiences of unrest and fear within her family. Exposed to psychotherapy early on, she mentions having a foot in both realms - one lacking emotional exploration and the other nurturing inner connection, which shaped her journey into trauma healing.
Recognizing Signs of Trauma and Healing
Dr. Ariel highlights the importance of recognizing trauma signs, such as disconnection from the body, mental freezes, and feelings of not belonging, which manifest as anxiety and depression. She emphasizes the role of somatic psychology in healing trauma, guiding individuals to acknowledge and address these somatic experiences to foster integration and peace.
Creating Containers for Trauma Healing
Discussing containment techniques in trauma recovery, Dr. Ariel introduces the concept of creating imaginary containers to temporarily hold distressing emotions and memories. These containers, shaped by personal creativity, provide a safe space to store and revisit traumatic experiences with a commitment to process and heal at the right time and pace.
Understanding Complex Trauma and Post-Traumatic Growth
Differentiating between trauma and complex trauma, Dr. Ariel explains complex trauma as chronic, relational stress overwhelming one's ability to process experiences. She delves into the concept of post-traumatic growth, emphasizing the journey towards self-evolution and purpose after trauma, fostering meaning and resilience amidst adversity.
Dr. Arielle Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, author, teacher, and widely sought-out voice in the healing of trauma and complex trauma. She offers workshops for therapists on EMDR and somatic therapy, and maintains a private practice in Boulder, Colorado. She has written a book called The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, and with Sounds True, has created a new audio teaching series called Trauma Recovery, A Mind-Body Approach to Becoming Whole. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon speaks with Arielle about reframing the narrative of trauma recovery to one of growth and meaning-making, rather than an effort to regain something we’ve lost. Arielle offers a look into different types of trauma, and explores how the body shapes itself around these wounds. She shares strategies for adapting to adversity and attending to trauma in ways that help victims return to a felt sense of safety within themselves. Finally, Tami and Arielle discuss how we can embrace the hero or heroine’s journey in our own lives as we grow from trauma.
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