The Trauma Therapist

Estefana Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and experienced trauma therapist with over two decades of experience in mental health.  As the Director of Clinical Training for ARISE Alliance Institute, Estefana oversees the professional development and training of clinicians on Critical Memory Integration (CMI™). Her role involves designing and implementing comprehensive training curricula for mental health professionals to enhance clinical skills, particularly in trauma-focused care, PTSD treatment, and therapeutic interventions. Estefana also develops and delivers trauma-informed programming tailored to the needs of at-risk populations, bringing these services directly into community-based settings to ensure accessible, responsive care where it’s needed most.She is currently a practicing clinician and Dosing Session Monitor at Lighthouse Psychiatry and TMS in Gilbert, Arizona, contributing both to clinical care and research trials exploring the therapeutic use of psychedelics. In This EpisodeEstefana’s websitehttps://www.instagram.com/ariseallianceinstitute/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5MyzV9KBg0eJ0uY88N-zCwhttps://www.facebook.com/AriseAllianceInstitute/https://www.linkedin.com/in/estefanajohnsonlcsw/A giant thank you to our sponsors:Jane App: A free data import? Now that’s what we’re talking about! 👏Jane is a clinic management software and EMR that guarantees no surprises. When you sign up, you won’t have to pay for your data import or onboarding support, and there won’t be any set-up fees or contracts that tie you in.See why Jane is the EMR that isn’t too good to be true at Jane App - Practice Management Software for Health & Wellness Practitioners and use code GUY1MO at check out.Journey Clinical: At Journey Clinical, we partner with licensed mental health professionals across the U.S. to safely bring KAP into practice. Our collaborative care model provides prescribing, monitoring, and medical oversight, so you can stay fully focused on guiding your clients.Visit join.journeyclinical.com/trauma to learn more and receive a month off your membership.Academy of Therapy Wisdom:Ready to revolutionize trauma therapy with Academy of Therapy Wisdom?!In the Trauma Wisdom Circle: Monthly deep dives into trauma issues by world-renowned professionals. Regular self-care sessions tailored for you, including yoga, breath work, and meditation. Stay informed with the latest research and treatment techniques. Connect with fellow professionals and share insights.The Trauma Therapist Podcast listeners can join for just $1.00! http://therapywisdom.com/circleBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Dr. Robert C. Smith, MD, a leader in evidence-based mental health care and author of *Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?*, discusses the critical failures in today's mental health system. He reveals how primary care, often responsible for mental health treatment, lacks proper training. Through patient-centered communication techniques, he emphasizes the importance of empathy and emotional connection in medicine. Dr. Smith also shares practical steps for reform and advocates for integrating psychology into healthcare to improve outcomes.

Jessica McGuire, a trauma-informed physiotherapist and author of The Nervous System Reset, shares her journey from clinical frustration to nervous system education. She dives into the significance of the vagus nerve and its role in trauma healing. Jessica emphasizes the need for a state-based clinical framework to assess dysregulation effectively. She also discusses her 12-week certification program for clinicians, focusing on integrated tools and research on vagus nerve stimulation. Her insights are reshaping how we understand trauma and recovery.

Christina Kantzavelos is a neurodivergent, and first-generation (third culture) Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), life coach, writer and chronic illness warrior.  She received both her BA and MSW from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and her MLIS from San Jose State University (SJSU). Destiny Winters believes that while chronic illnesses may be incurable, it is absolutely possible to live a life full of meaning and purpose despite persistent pain. Healing relationships is at the cornerstone of her work, as she recognizes that without people to rely on and experience joy with, life can become messy quickly.In This EpisodeChristina’s websiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Michael Shaw, founder of the Mastery Mindset Library, is a psychology-trained coach with over 30 years of experience helping high-achieving professionals overcome anxiety and depression without relying on medication or years of traditional therapy. Drawing from his background as a personal trainer, mental performance coach, and father, Michael developed a unique, belief-based approach to mental wellness that empowers clients to create lasting change from the inside out. He’s trained top business professionals, Hollywood celebrities, and even competed in U.S. Muay Thai in his 50s. Today, he’s recognized as a leading voice in transforming mental health through mindset, resilience, and purpose.In This EpisodeFree session with Michael20% off full year’s access to Mindset LibraryDM Michael the work Master at IGBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Shideh Lennon is a dedicated psychologist with over two decades of experience who specializes in training fellow professionals in Somatic Experiencing. Her mission is to empower practitioners to work effectively with clients who have experienced complex trauma.Shideh was born and raised in Iran. At the age of 13, she and her family, spanning three generations of women and girls, left Iran after the revolution, and settled in the UK. Later, they immigrated to the US, where Shideh completed her education.This significant chapter in Shideh’s life has instilled in her a profound understanding and compassion for those who yearn to belong but struggle due to the weight of trauma.  In This EpisodeShideh’s websiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Dr. Cristi Bundukamara — known to her patients as Dr. B — is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and the founder of Mentally Strong, a behavioral health clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo.Combining decades of clinical expertise with her deeply personal experience, Dr. B helps people navigate grief, trauma, and loss through her innovative Mentally Strong Method, a practical framework for building resilience and reclaiming purpose after life’s hardest moments.Dr. B’s professional work is rooted in unimaginable personal loss. Over several years, she lost a child to an accidental drowning, two more children to a rare genetic disorder, and in 2024, her husband — who also had the disorder. Instead of allowing grief to define her, Dr. B turned her pain into purpose, creating both her clinic and a new approach to processing loss and trauma, where she blends her clinical knowledge with the raw reality of lived experience. In This EpisodeCristi’s websiteThank you to our sponsor Jane App - Practice Management Software for Health & Wellness Practitioners. Use code GUY1MO at check out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Dr. Rachel Aarons has over 40 years of experience as a psychotherapist. Initially trained as a philosopher, she served as an Associate professor at the University of Toronto before transitioning to therapy and earning her Masters in Social Work. Dr. Aarons initially specialized in hypnotherapy and became a Certified EMDR therapist in 2004. Her current focus in the Early Trauma Protocol, a ground-breaking approach to addressing early attachment injuries that shape emotional and relational patterns throughout life. Her mission is to train therapists, heal clients and educate the public on how early childhood experiences impact lifelong challenges.Therapists guide to healing trauma from the roots up. In This EpisodeRachel’s websiteThank you to our sponsor Jane App - Practice Management Software for Health & Wellness Practitioners.Use code GUY1MO at check out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Diana Feldman is a Creative Arts Therapist and board certified Drama Therapist with over 30 years experience working with children and teens. Her evidence-based drama therapy has been utilized in schools and hospitals reaching thousands of youth and she has just finished her book titled Stuck in a Role; Releasing Trauma in Teens Through the Enact Method of Drama Therapy, published May 1, 2025.Diana Feldman is a board-certified drama therapist, licensed creativearts therapist, and author of the soon-to-be-released book, “Stuck in a Role, Releasing Trauma in Teens through the ENACT Drama TherapyMethod.’’ She founded ENACT Inc., a nationally acclaimed drama therapyorganization, which served over 250,000 of New York City’s mostvulnerable youth, and President of Dramasol, an educational trainingcompany. With her 30-plus years of experience working with youth,Diana runs institutes on the ENACT method for teachers, parents, andother providers.Feldman has been published in over nine books, including the peer-reviewed Drama Therapy Journal. She won a five-year Ford Foundationgrant to study her method, which demonstrates strong, effectivepractices for teaching social-emotional skills through trauma-informedpractices. In addition, Diana has a private practice in New York City.In This EpisodeDiana’s websiteYou can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.———Thank you to our sponsor Jane App - Practice Management Software for Health & Wellness Practitioners.Use code GUY1MO at check out.Use code GUY1MO at check out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.

Nate Lewis is the Founder of The Innocent, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the innocence of children inside the United States, with a focus on child sex trafficking, exploitation, and sexual assault. With a robust background as an Executive at a leading global anti-trafficking organization, Nate has honed his expertise in both international and domestic anti-trafficking operations, working with law enforcement agencies worldwide.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.Thank you to our sponsor Jane App - Practice Management Software for Health & Wellness Practitioners. Use code GUY1MO at check out.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.You can learn more about what I do here:The Trauma Therapist Newsletter: celebrates the people and voices in the mental health profession. And it's free! Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4jGBeSa———If you’d like to support The Trauma Therapist Podcast and the work I do you can do that here with a monthly donation of $5, $7, or $10: Donate to The Trauma Therapist Podcast.Click here to join my email list and receive podcast updates and other news.