Transforming Trauma

"Sometimes children have to disconnect from their hearts just to survive." - Kelly Cook On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes school social worker Kelly Cook for an open-hearted exploration of healing and connection with children, teens, and families facing adversity. Kelly shares how her lifelong sensitivity to those on the margins, shaped by early experiences of compassion and agency in her own childhood, led her into the field of social work and ultimately to trauma-informed practice within schools. Kelly reflects on the profound vulnerability of young people, describing their need for supportive adults who honor their experiences and individuality. She delves into the challenges and hopes of working with children and adolescents navigating adverse childhood experiences, and highlights the critical role school-based interventions play. The conversation centers on the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®), with Kelly offering examples of how even a single, agency-focused inquiry—such as "What is it you most want for yourself?"—can spark transformation for students who rarely have that invitation. Emily Ruth and Kelly discuss the necessity of collaborative care with families, the importance of honoring parents' struggles and needs, and the healing that emerges when communities move toward shared growth. Kelly speaks candidly about advocating for resources, building a social work team from the ground up, and the privilege of being welcomed into students' lives as they rediscover connection to themselves. Through personal stories and reflections, this episode illustrates the transformative power of seeing, hearing, and honoring each member of a community on the path to healing. We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. *** **SPACE:** SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. *** **The Complex Trauma Training Center:** https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com **View upcoming trainings:** https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. *** We want to connect with you! **Facebook ** https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/ **Instagram ** https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/ **LinkedIn** https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/ **YouTube** https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter **X** https://x.com/CTTC_Training

"Trauma can be a gateway for transformation, and it's one of the things that I am passionate about." – Abi Blakeslee On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth sits down with Dr. Abi Blakeslee, a leader in the field of trauma recovery and somatic psychology recognized for her clinical research and teaching. Dr. Blakeslee shares her deep exploration of implicit memory—the non-conscious processes shaping movement, emotion, and survival patterns—and explains how harnessing implicit memory offers new and practical pathways to healing trauma. Drawing from Somatic Experiencing, neuroscience, and her own research, Dr. Blakeslee breaks down the branches of implicit memory—procedural, priming, associative, and more—and clarifies their relevance in trauma and recovery. The conversation explores how clinicians can support present-moment, embodied "new learning" that rewires automatic responses and fosters positive transformation. Listeners will hear practical strategies to increase clients' interoceptive awareness, cultivate self-compassion, and repair ruptures through embodied, relational experiences. Dr. Blakeslee emphasizes the importance of helping clients reconnect with their essential self, shifting the focus from merely resolving the past to building new implicit memories of agency, connection, and vitality. Together they discuss the flexibility of integrating these neurobiological insights into diverse modalities—including Somatic Experiencing, Attachment Theory, Psychodynamic Therapy, and beyond—to deepen agency and nurture post-traumatic growth, especially in cases of developmental and complex trauma. Throughout, Dr. Blakeslee underscores the healing power of gentle attention, relational attunement, and compassion—offering a hopeful framework for practitioners and clients alike. We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. *** **SPACE:** SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. *** **The Complex Trauma Training Center:** https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com **View upcoming trainings:** https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. *** We want to connect with you! **Facebook ** https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/ **Instagram ** https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/ **LinkedIn** https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/ **YouTube** https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter **X** https://x.com/CTTC_Training

In this engaging conversation, Brad Kammer, Training Director at the Complex Trauma Training Center and co-author of influential NARM texts, discusses the newly released workbook for healing developmental trauma. He explains its dual-purpose design, catering to both clinicians and individuals seeking self-healing. Brad emphasizes the importance of therapist self-care and discusses the challenges of making complex topics accessible. The episode also highlights how personal transformation can lead to broader societal benefits, enhancing connection and healing.

Dr. David Puder, a seasoned psychiatrist and psychotherapist, shares insights on the intricate process of healing from complex trauma. He discusses the nuances of dissociation, emphasizing how early attachments shape these responses. Puder introduces innovative tools like his Connection Index for enhancing clinical empathy. He highlights the importance of narrative, using writing and dreams to access suppressed emotions. Additionally, he stresses the value of personal therapy for clinicians and the impact of reflective function on treatment outcomes.

Trauma isn't just an event—it's a complex, living pattern woven through our bodies, minds, and relationships. What if the path to healing isn't about breaking down defenses or pushing past resistance, but about honoring those very protections as parts of our whole self? Shai Lavie's journey illuminates this radical shift. As a Hakomi and Somatic Experiencing therapist, Shai learned that trauma work flourishes when we stop battling our clients' "barriers" and instead bring curiosity and compassion to every part of their experience—even the parts that resist change. Imagine your nervous system not as a malfunctioning engine to be fixed, but as a profound intelligence signaling what it needs to survive and adapt. In practice, this means holding space for a client's "resistance", listening deeply to these "barriers" with genuine inquiry: "What wisdom might be present here? What story is this body telling me?" Such an approach transforms therapy from a power struggle into a collaborative voyage, where client and therapist become co-captains rowing in harmony, not opposition. This relational, respectful method aligns beautifully with the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) principles—where healing happens in connection, at the client's pace, and through mindful presence. It invites us all, as therapists and healers, to recalibrate our role: to cultivate safety not by conquering defenses, but by embracing them, fostering agency within the authentic self. If you're a mental health professional eager to deepen your understanding of complex trauma and transform your therapeutic practice, we invite you to explore the upcoming NARM Therapist Trainings at the Complex Trauma Training Center. Join a community committed to growing both professionally and personally—where we learn that healing is not about fighting against our adaptive Self, but reconnecting with the resilient, compassionate, authentic Self.

Chances are, you may be familiar with Dr. Judith Lewis Herman, the legendary psychiatrist, researcher, teacher, and author. Five decades into her esteemed career, Dr. Herman continues to produce innovative work in sexual trauma and Complex PTSD. But you might not know Judith Herman, the daughter, mother, grandmother, and activist. On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth is honored to welcome back Dr. Judith Lewis Herman for an illuminating conversation on the life experiences and enduring connections that have shaped her public and private life. The pair also explores the positive impact that activism and affiliation with others can have on those who've experienced trauma, and why adopting an active coping strategy is one of the best predictors of recovery. About Judith Lewis Herman, M.D.: Judith Lewis Herman, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry (part time) at Harvard Medical School. For thirty years, until she retired, she was Director of Training at the Victims of Violence Program at The Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, MA. Dr. Herman is the author of the award-winning books: Father-Daughter Incest (Harvard University Press, 1981) and Trauma and Recovery (Basic Books, 1992). To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter Instagram @cttc_training LinkedIn YouTube

At the core of Jungian psychology lies the concept of individuation, a lifelong journey of growing into one's whole self. It's a process of self-discovery that can feel both inspiring and challenging as each layer of inauthenticity or protective strategy surfaces, then sloughs away. One therapist combines her Jungian background with NARM's spirit of inquiry to help her clients embrace the nature of individuation and reconnect to their unique selves. On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Megan Holm (LMFT), NARM® Master Therapist, and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner to discuss the beautiful and unsettling unfolding that can occur when we commit to exploring depth within ourselves. The pair also explores where NARM and Jungian psychology overlap––developing the capacity to hold tension that arises with deeper self-exploration and creating space for noticing rather than judging. About Megan Holm: Megan Holm is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), NARM® Master Therapist, and Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner in private practice. She has served as a training assistant in NARM Therapist and Master Therapist Trainings. Megan is currently a training candidate at the International School of Analytical Psychology (ISAP) in Zurich, Switzerland. She continues to see clients in the US, working on themes of relationship patterns, belonging, grief and loss, and self-discovery. Megan is most interested in what Carl Jung calls Individuation: the lifelong process of becoming one's own unique and whole self. It is a process of self-realization and discovery, seeing ourselves as we are rather than as we wish to be. Our symptoms are a door for this work – they invite us to look inwards, to listen to what has gone untended or under-nourished. Fantasy, imagination, and dreams offer further guidance, helping us to see more clearly who we are and what we uniquely bring to the world. Knowing oneself is an undertaking – a humbling journey that Megan feels honored to take together. Learn More: https://meganholm.com/ *** SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter Instagram @cttc_training LinkedIn YouTube

In a thought-provoking discussion, Alexander Vesely, an award-winning documentary filmmaker and psychotherapist, shares insights about his grandfather, Viktor Frankl. They delve into Frankl's harrowing experiences in a concentration camp that inspired Logotherapy, emphasizing the human quest for meaning. Vesely highlights the stunning impact of storytelling and film on mental health, reflecting on how self-transcendence fosters resilience. His film 'Viktor & I' is a heartfelt homage that celebrates the legacy of purpose-driven living.

This discussion reveals the transformative power of personal narratives in therapy. It emphasizes the role of vulnerability and storytelling in connecting therapists and clients. Listeners learn about the journey from trauma to holistic healing, highlighting the significance of community and mentorship. Public speaking fears are explored, shedding light on personal growth in supportive environments. The evolution of somatic training and the collaborative efforts present in trauma healing offer valuable insights into the therapeutic process.

Marcia Black, a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Complex Trauma Training Center, shares her inspiring journey of over 40 years in therapy. She highlights the profound impact of early life experiences and mentorship on her career. Curiosity emerges as a key theme for building connections with clients and colleagues. Marcia deeply reflects on play therapy's role in healing, emphasizing the importance of nonverbal communication. The conversation also touches on the significance of community and self-awareness in therapist development.