The Trauma Therapist

Silvia M. Dutchevici, MA, LCSW is the Critical Therapy Institute (CTI) founder and president.With more than 20 years of experience in social services and a passion for psychotherapy, Dutchevici (pronounced “doot-KAY-vitch”) created CTI when she perceived the need to expand psychoanalytic praxis to reflect how race, class, gender, and religion intersect with psychological conflicts. Silvia has an intensive background in psychoanalytic theory and trauma, with a particular focus on torture.However, after seeing that traditional psychoanalysis was not able to adequately transform and heal her patients, she embarked on an extended period of research and training. Drawing on liberation psychology and critical pedagogy scholarship and combining them with her real-life experience as a practicing psychotherapist, she founded CTI in 2012; it focuses on teaching, research, and the application of critical therapy in advisory, consulting, and educational services.Unlike traditional therapists, critical therapists work from the premise that the personal is political. To be more effective, psychotherapy must therefore interrogate the patient’s as well as the therapist’s worldview. Engaging in power analysis, critical therapists explore deeply how power affects the patient’s and therapist’s identities as well as their relationship with one another. CTI offers a four-year training program for psychotherapists, as well as workshops on various clinical issues.In This EpisodeCritical Therapy InstituteSilvia’s book: Critical Therapy: Power And Liberation in Psychotherapy.---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Ali Capurro, a licensed counselor and host of the Sneaky Powerful Podcast, discusses the impact of stress and trauma through Somatic Experiencing. She shares personal stories about overcoming panic attacks and anxiety, emphasizing resilience and the healing power of supportive relationships. Ali highlights the significance of deep human connections in therapy, advocating for empathy as a crucial element in helping clients navigate their trauma. She also teases updates on her podcast and invites listeners to engage on social media.

Annie Brooke, a seasoned somatic author and therapist with over 35 years of experience, shares her insights on trauma resolution. She discusses the critical distinctions between shock and trauma, revealing her unique integration of Sufi meditation and neuroscience in therapy. Annie recounts her journey of healing and emphasizes the importance of emotional boundaries in fostering resilience, particularly in children. She also highlights the power of body-centered psychotherapy, advocating for its role in transformative healing and personal growth.

Dafna is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 25 years of working with families with attachment in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice.Karen Doyle Buckwalter has worked in many roles in child-serving agencies including outpatient therapy settings, foster care, adoption, residential treatment, and program development in all of these areas. She has co-authored two books, written for magazines, and contributed to scholarly journals. She pioneered the Attachment Theory in Action podcast which has had over 1 million downloads.In This EpisodeDafna’s websiteKaren's websiteKaren's upcoming workshops---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

For the past 17 years, Mallorie Buoy has studied psychology, education (specialized Waldorf education), yoga, mysticism + philosophy and movement education amongst other subjects. She has spent more than 1000 hours studying in the Himalayas, and many more in study of the Quantum and the direct application of this knowledge within her daily life.Yet it took a journey of single + adoptive parenting alongside much experience of and with trauma that catalyzed her deep desire to put all facets of her knowledge and experience together to offer detailed and INFORMED healing practices. No more roadblocks because of misguided advice and gas-lighty spiritualisms! In This EpisodeMallorie's websiteIG: @homebody.healing---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Anjuli Sherin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in trauma recovery, resilience-building and cultivating joy. Since 2003 her practice has been working primarily with Immigrant, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Muslim & LGBTQI populations. In addition to over 30000 hours of individual and group work, she is the creator of three programs: five-day, 12-week and 10-month-long Cultivating Resilience, including a five-day residential retreat in Hawaii on Embodying Joy.​Anjuli has been widely recognized for her unique achievements in the mental health field. In 2007 she received the Emerging Leader Award from the E-women network, a nationwide business community, where she shared her award-winning essay in front of a live audience of 2500 and to thousands more online. Anjuli has also been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, as a finalist of the O Magazine/White House Leadership Project.In This EpisodeAnjuli's websiteJoyous Resilience: A Path to Individual Healing and Collective Thriving in an Inequitable World, Anjuli SherinMy Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, Resmaa MenakemAnjuli’s Guided Meditations---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Erika Shershun, MA, LMFT, is a somatic psychotherapist who specializes in helping sexual trauma survivors reclaim the life they were meant to live.She’s the author of the Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook, the Healing Sexual Trauma Guided Journal (March 2025 release), and teaches the PESI Sexual Trauma Clinical Training. Her approach is trauma-informed, rooted in somatic principles, drawing on neuroscience and integrative modalities like EMDR, energy psychology, parts work, and mindfulness.Erika values diversity, offers individual online therapy sessions in California, and provides coaching to clients outside of the state.In This EpisodeErika’s websiteErika's practice@erikashershun---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

In a captivating discussion, Janja Lalich, PhD, a renowned expert on cults and complex trauma, unpacks the psychological chains of cult involvement. She shares her personal journey escaping a left-wing political cult, detailing the intense psychological control and the unique challenges of recovery. Lalich also highlights stereotypes about cult members, stressing that anyone can be vulnerable. Furthermore, she addresses the vital insights therapists need to support survivors, focusing on issues like complex PTSD and financial aid.

Katie K. May, LPC, is the owner and executive director of Creative Healing. She is a national speaker and trainer specializing in therapy for teens experiencing depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. As one of only eleven Linehan board-certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) clinicians in Pennsylvania, Katie’s an expert in this gold-standard treatment for life-threatening behaviors. She is committed to helping teens feel accepted for who they are while teaching them skills to build a life they love. In This EpisodeKatie’s website Katie’s book: You’re On Fire It’s Fineyoureonfireitsfine.comFacebookIG: @creative_healingIG: @katiemayLinkedInTikTok---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Gunny Sodhi’s family roots in Ayurvedic medicine stretch across generations, but he didn’t personally understand the power of Ayurveda until tragedy struck. The sudden death of his 16-year-old brother completely changed the course of his life, setting him on an unexpected path of self-discovery.Following his brother’s passing, Gunny was consumed by debilitating panic attacks and bouts of deep depression. Diagnosed with PTSD and desperate for relief, he found no comfort in traditional Western therapy. He was lost.It was at that point that Gunny would rediscover his roots. On the advice of his family, he began supplementing his diet with Ashwagandha and other time-tested Ayurvedic remedies. Meditation and yoga became daily practices. Within six weeks, his anxiety faded and his depression lifted.Gunny had experienced the healing potential of Mother Nature first-hand and, in doing so, found a new purpose. Out of a desire to help change people’s lives the way his life had been changed, YouVeda was born.Its mission is simple: produce the best Ayurvedic products on the planet. By tapping into the intelligence of Mother Nature, Gunny has found a way to honor the memory of his brother while helping others on their own journeys toward healing and happiness.In This Episode:YouVeda WebsiteInstagramLinkedInFacebookThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams, Deepak ChopraAwaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!, Tony Robbins---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.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.