Critical Memory Integration: Unlocking the Body’s Wisdom for Healing Trauma with Estefana Johnson

Oct 4, 2025

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker and trauma therapist Estefana Johnson shares what makes CMI unique, how it differs from other trauma modalities like EMDR, why our nervous system often overrides logic, and how tuning into ‘signals’ — rather than symptoms — can transform healing.

(00:00) Introduction to CMI — what Critical Memory Integration is and how it reframes “symptoms” as “signals.”
(03:45) Difference Between CMI and EMDR — how CMI diverges from EMDR in theory, process, and focus on organic experience processing.
(08:20) The Roots and Creation of CMI — how the model emerged from integrating multiple trauma modalities into one cohesive approach.
(11:10) Present-Day Focus — why CMI starts with current discomfort rather than diving directly into past memories.
(14:25) The Mind vs. the Nervous System — why mindset alone isn’t enough and how the nervous system shapes perception and healing.
(18:40) Understanding “Critical Memories” — what makes some memories so influential and how they form lifelong behavioral patterns.
(22:15) Beyond “Big T” and “Small T” Trauma — why trauma categories are subjective and how CMI honors each person’s lived experience.
(26:00) The CMI Process — how clinicians assess tolerance for discomfort and guide clients through following body-based signals.
(33:10) A Self-Guided CMI Practice — a simple exercise for tuning into sensations and emotions with curiosity and compassion.
(40:00) Integration, Compassion, and Regulation — the role of self-compassion, co-regulation, and practical tools like breathwork in healing.
(45:30) Closing Reflections — trusting your body’s wisdom and learning more about CMI training through Arise Alliance.

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