The Trauma Therapist

Mica Gonzalez, PhD. Managing in The Midst of COVID-19Today we continue with our series on Managing during the current outbreak with my guest, Dr. Mica Gonzalez.Mica is the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Family First Psychotherapy in Oakland, California and he specializes in helping anxious, aggressive, and hyper kids and their stressed out parents. When I queried people about who they wanted to hear from for this series, Mica’s name came up. And when you listen to this interview, you’ll understand why. Mica has an amazing way of articulating concepts about early child development and therapy while at that same time conveying a sense of groundedness and calm. Perfect for this series!Note: Mica is hosting a free webinar April 8th at 10:30 am PST on Developing resilience in uncertain times.Register for it here. Developing resilience in uncertain times.---First off, a giant thank-you to my sponsor:Talkspace Talkspace online therapy is the most convenient and affordable way to make lasting change in your life with the support of a licensed therapist.Send your licensed therapist text, audio, picture or video messages from your phone or computer whenever you need to. Even if it’s on the way to work! You don’t have to make appointments or deal with extra commutes. Everything happens within Talkspace’s secure platform, all on your schedule.As a listener of the The Trauma Therapist | Podcast, you can get $100 off your first month on Talkspace by going to Talkspace.com and using the code TRAUMATHERAPIST.---Mica received his doctoral degree from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and trained in a variety of settings, including a middle school, an adult day treatment facility, and home-visiting early intervention programs. He is trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy, a trauma-informed approach to early intervention, and has an endorsement as an Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist from the California Center for Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health.Mica also provides online early parenting education through his blog and website, The Good Enough Parents.  In This Episode Family First PsychotherapyThe Good Enough ParentsArticle by Aisha AhmadMica is hosting a free webinar April 8th at 10:30 am PST on Developing resilience in uncertain times.Register for it here. Developing resilience in uncertain times.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today, we continue with the series Managing in The Midst of The Outbreak, with Sharon Salzberg, New York Times Best selling author and teacher of Buddhist meditation practices in the West. In 1974, Sharon co-founded the Insight Meditation Society at Barre, Massachusetts with Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein. First a giant thank-you to my sponsors: Sensorimotor Psychotherapy InstituteDo you struggle to help numb, disconnected clients who can’t feel emotion or explore inner experience?/ Learn a comprehensive approach to conceptualize your clients’ concerns. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy uniquely includes the body in therapy as both a source of information and target for intervention…because words are not enough./ Go beyond theories and gain practical ways to open a new dimension for effective therapy. Visit Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute online today at:  http://sensorimotor.org  CPTSD Foundation  CPTSD Foundation provides live, daily, peer-led, interactive group calls, in a safe atmosphere for survivors of complex trauma, equipping them with skills and information they can use every single day in their healing journey.Receive 50% off the first month when you join at: https://cptsdfoundation.org/traumatherapistpodcast/ Sharon’s emphasis is on vipassanā (insight) and mettā (loving-kindness) methods, and she’s been leading meditation retreats around the world for over three decades.  Her books includeLovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, andReal Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program.In This EpisodeSharon's Website Sharon’s booksSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today we continue with the series, Managing in The Midst of COVID-19. My guest today, Fran Waters is one of those therapists you wish you had: She’s funny, warm, creative and super smart.In this interview we talk about the global impacts of trauma and how to manage during this unprecedented time, as well as explore how the trauma of this experience is impacting individuals and therapists alike.Fran S. Waters, DCSW, LMSW, LMFT, is an internationally recognized trainer and consultant in the field of childhood trauma, abuse, and dissociation. As an invited presenter, she has conducted extensive training programs nationally and internationally ranging from a day to 5 days in Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, and North America. She is the author of  Healing the Fractured Child: Diagnosis and Treatment of Youth With Dissociation, and past president of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSTD). She is a Fellow of the ISSTD, and received ISSTD's Presidential Award and Cornelia Wilbert Award, the Media Award from American Professional Society on Abuse of Children for her 3 Part DVD on Trauma and Dissociation of Children, and the William Friedrich Memorial Child Sexual Abuse Research, Assessment and/or Treatment Award from Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma. She maintains a private practice in Marquette, MI.Fran is an internationally recognized trainer and consultant in the field of childhood trauma, abuse, and dissociation and has conducted extensive training programs nationally and internationally ranging from a day to 5 days in Europe, Africa, Australia, South America, and North America. ---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.

I hope you're continuing to stay healthy during these times.Today my guest is the incomparable Janina Fisher, PhD.This is the third in the series, Managing in The Midst of COVID-19, (listen to Bruce Perry here and Peter Levine here).When I reached out to the Trauma Therapist | 2.0 community to ask them who they’d like to hear from for this series, Janina’s name (not surprisingly) came up quickly.I’ve been fortunate to have been trained by Janina during my Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Level 1 and Level 2 trainings, and be a member of one of her consultation groups. Her knowledge of trauma is inspiring and her humor is non-stop. She’s incredible.---The Trauma Therapist Newsletter is a monthly resource dedicated to trauma therapists.Get it each month: http://thetraumatherapistnewsletter.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today in this second of the series, Managing in The Midst of COVID-19, (listen to Bruce Perry’s interview here) my guest is Dr. Peter A. Levine.Peter received his PhD in medical biophysics from the University of California in Berkeley and also holds a doctorate in psychology from International University. He has worked in the field of stress and trauma for over 40 years and is the developer of the Somatic Experiencing® method. Peter’s original contribution to the field of Body-Psychotherapy was honored in 2010 when he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP). That same year he also received the honorary Reis Davis Chair in Child Psychiatry for his innovative contribution to therapy for children and adolescents. In This EpisodeSomatic Experiencing InstituteBooks by Peter LevineBrother Richard Hendrick (read his poem, Lockdown, here)Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today on the podcast, I bring on two senior members of Gould Farm team. This episode truly inspired me because it really validated the fact that there are incredible people, and in this case--teams of people--doing amazing work to help those who've been impacted by mental health issues and trauma.I turned off the mic and walked away from my desk after the interview and I was like, "These two women are amazing and their team must be incredible to do the work they do."Gould Farm. A Model of Compassionate and Holistic Healing. Gould Farm is a unique and pioneering refuge for people with mental disorders…a place where respect and relationship, work and friends, are central to the healing process. We need many more such places in the world.”  — Dr. Oliver Sacks---First, a huge-thank you to my sponsors for making this podcast happen:CPTSD FoundationCPTSD Foundation provides live, daily, peer-led, interactive group calls, in a safe atmosphere for survivors of complex trauma, equipping them with skills and information they can use every single day in their healing journey.Receive 50% off the first month when you join at: http://bit.ly/2MEbBqcGould Farm Gould Farm is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery, health and greater independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care.In a supportive community environment made up of residents, staff and their families, we help adults begin to rebuild and regain their lives. Gould Farm offers a full continuum of care, with programs in both Boston and Western Massachusetts for those ready for new challenges and structured transition.To learn more visit: https://www.gouldfarm.org---Founded in 1913, Gould Farm is the first residential community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health challenges move toward recovery, health, and greater independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical support. Within this safe, family-like community made up of guests, staff, families and volunteers, all members are accepted, respected and celebrated as individuals.We work with adults who are living with mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar and schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia. Gould Farm provides a safe environment in which everyone feels accepted and trusted while also being held to high expectations as a productive, working member of the community. Guests are empowered to share their many talents with the community and are also given the opportunity to learn and practice new skills in a supported environment.---My guests for this episode are Lisanne Finston, Executive Director and Jane Linsley, Clinical Director.Lisanne came to Gould Farm after 20 years serving as Executive Director of an innovative anti-hunger organization serving people with mental health and addiction challenges in N.J. She received her MSW from Rutgers University and her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.Lisanne values the pioneering model practiced at Gould Farm that blends old fashioned, life-enhancing work, with the best in clinical practices to support healing and recovery. From the Farm to Fellside, she loves being a part of this community and seeing people regain a sense of purpose and widen their circle of support for the journey. Jane Linsley, Clinical DirectorJane has been working in the field of mental health and addictions for over 30 years, and on the Gould Farm Clinical Team since 2004. She has been Clinical Director of the team since 2006.A graduate of Smith School for Social Work, Jane is licensed in social work and addictions, with additional certifications in both Trauma and Women’s Relational Theory of Mental Health. Jane has as an on-going passion for beneficial new therapies and work in the area of mental health care, as well as an on-going, and long-standing, passion for how people relate to issues of inclusion and the shame resulting from stigma – both for the individual and as a culture.Listen to the episode here: http://bit.ly/33AfuB9---Trauma Therapist | 2.0If you’re a new trauma therapist and you’re looking to learn from seasoned professionals and be inspired by other therapists from around the globe, this online community might be for you.Check it out here: Trauma Therapist | 2.0: https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/community/trauma2/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Dr. Bruce Perry is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is senior fellow at the ChildTrauma Academy and an adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. In addition to having written more than two hundred scientific articles, Dr. Perry has coauthored with Maia Szalavitz two books for general audiences: The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist’s Notebook and Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential — and Endangered. In This EpisodeBruce's website Trauma Therapist | 2.0. a community for new trauma therapists.If you're a new trauma therapist and you're looking to learn from seasoned professionals and be inspired by other therapists from around the globe, this online community might be for you. Check it out here: Trauma Therapist | 2.0Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today on the podcast a Trauma Therapist | 2.0 member spotlight with Diana Lea Baranovich. Trauma Therapist | 2.0 is my online membership community that helps support, educate and inspire new trauma therapists.Diana is an American who has lived in Malaysia for the past 12 years. Along with being a full-time professor and research supervisor at the University of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, she also runs a very busy private psychotherapy practice where she specializes in traumatized children, at-risk youth and families in transition.---First, a huge-thank you to my sponsors for making this podcast happen:Gould FarmGould Farm is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental health and related challenges move toward recovery, health and greater independence through community living, meaningful work, and clinical care.In a supportive community environment made up of residents, staff and their families, we help adults begin to rebuild and regain their lives. Gould Farm offers a full continuum of care, with programs in both Boston and Western Massachusetts for those ready for new challenges and structured transition.To learn more visit: https://www.gouldfarm.orgSomatic ExperiencingSomatic Experiencing Trauma may be a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Somatic Experiencing is a psychobiological method of addressing clients’ physical and emotional trauma conditions, and helps to give voice to their experiences without a need for them to retell the story.SE focuses on regulation of the nervous system and offers the opportunity to engage, complete, and resolve the body’s instinctual responses to traumatic experiences.For more information regarding Somatic Experiencing and the SE professional training program, please visit: traumahealing.org/TTP---Diana is also an adoption and family reunification specialist. Many forms of therapy are incorporated into her work such as play, dance, art and sand tray. Diana has published many articles and presented journal papers and experiential workshops at international conventions throughout Asia and the Middle East. Her first book, Understanding and Caring for the Hurt Child was published by Pearson in 2013. Her second book, Understanding and Mentoring the Hurt Teenager was published by Partridge Publishers was published in 2017. Her third book – Bonding Through Play was published by Pearson in 2019. In This EpisodeConnect with Diana on Facebook---Trauma Therapist | 2.0 is my online membership community for new trauma therapists.If you're a new trauma therapist and you're looking to learn from seasoned professionals and be inspired by other therapists from around the globe, this online community might be for you.Check it out here: Trauma Therapist | 2.0: https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/community/trauma2/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

Today on the podcast, an incredibly tragic subject, the loss of a child, though ultimately one that is profoundly inspiring. My guest, Megan Hillukka encourages and supports grieving mothers to recognize that despite having gone through an unimaginable experience, that life is not over for them. Megan, herself, is a grieving mother, with 6 children, 5 of whom are still alive. ---First, a huge-thank you to my sponsors for this episode:CPTSD FoundationCPTSD Foundation provides live, daily, peer-led, interactive group calls, in a safe atmosphere for survivors of complex trauma, equipping them with skills and information they can use every single day in their healing journey.Receive 50% off the first month when you join at: http://bit.ly/2MEbBqcSomatic ExperiencingSomatic Experiencing Trauma may be a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Somatic Experiencing is a psychobiological method of addressing clients’ physical and emotional trauma conditions, and helps to give voice to their experiences without a need for them to retell the story.SE focuses on regulation of the nervous system and offers the opportunity to engage, complete, and resolve the body’s instinctual responses to traumatic experiences.For more information regarding Somatic Experiencing and the SE professional training program, please visit: traumahealing.org/TTP---Megan experienced PTSD after finding her daughter, Aria, when she died, and since that experience, she’s done the work to find healing in her brain and in her life. Because of this, Megan wants everyone to know that PTSD is not a life sentence, and that healing is possible.In This EpisodeMegan's WebsiteThe Body Keeps The ScoreThe Gifts of Imperfection---Trauma Therapist | 2.0. a community for new trauma therapists.If you're a new trauma therapist and you're looking to learn from seasoned professionals and be inspired by other therapists from around the globe, this online community might be for you. Check it out here: Trauma Therapist | 2.0 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.

At the age of 12 my guest today, Jeannette Dijkstra was raped at a campsite. A life ruled by this trauma lay ahead. Jeannette managed to grow up and had a good job in the OR in an academic hospital. At the age of 40 she started her training as a therapist, with a transpersonal specialization. More and more her own traumatic experience became important, but no therapist could ever help her---First, a huge thank you to my sponsors for making this podcast happen:TalkspaceTalkspace online therapy is the most convenient and affordable way to make lasting change in your life with the support of a licensed therapist.Send your licensed therapist text, audio, picture or video messages from your phone or computer whenever you need to.Even if it’s on the way to work! You don’t have to make appointments or deal with extra commutes. Everything happens within Talkspace’s secure platform, all on your schedule.As a listener of the The Trauma Therapist | Podcast, you can get $100 off your first month on Talkspace by going to Talkspace.com and using the code TRAUMATHERAPIST Somatic ExperiencingSomatic Experiencing Trauma may be a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Somatic Experiencing is a psychobiological method of addressing clients’ physical and emotional trauma conditions, and helps to give voice to their experiences without a need for them to retell the story.SE was founded by Dr. Peter Levine, author of the bestseller Waking the Tiger, who developed Somatic Experiencing based on explorations of how animals deal with threat, nervous system overwhelm, and traumatic experiences on a daily basis.SE focuses on regulation of the nervous system and offers the opportunity to engage, complete, and resolve the body’s instinctual responses to traumatic experiences.For more information regarding Somatic Experiencing and the SE professional training program, please visit: traumahealing.org/TTP---Now, most often, Jeannette's clients are victims of sexual abuse and she continues to search for good trauma training. Jeannette was very lucky to find a good teacher and recently she finished her study as a trauma-sexologist.  In This EpisodeConnect with Jeannette on LinkedinTraumasexuality: Men abused as boys, men between victim and perpetrator, Peter John Schouten   Jeannet’s websiteSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/exclusive-contentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-trauma-therapist--5739761/support.