

Transforming Trauma
The Complex Trauma Training Center
In-depth conversations about how to help individuals and communities thrive after Complex Trauma. In a modern world beset by trauma and a legacy of suffering, conflict and disconnection, healing trauma can serve as a vehicle for personal and social transformation. Interviews with mental health and other helping professionals who are using the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®), as well as other prominent trauma specialists, will highlight the current efforts to address the legacy of childhood, relational, cultural and intergenerational trauma. These leaders in the Trauma-Informed Care movement will guide listeners through the diverse ways they are supporting individuals, couples, families and communities in order to actualize Post-Traumatic Growth. Whether you are a healthcare professional, an educator, a parent, a public policy maker, a trauma survivor, or someone interested in personal healing and social justice; this podcast will provide you with a map for increased resiliency, greater health outcomes, healthier relationships, personal growth and social change through transforming trauma. Hosted by the Complex Trauma Training Center.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 6, 2024 • 48min
Reclaiming Spiritual Agency through Understanding the Roots of Generational Trauma With Vanessa R. Brooks
Context is crucial to understanding the challenges faced by those in recovery from complex trauma perpetuated by religious leaders and authoritarian systems of spirituality. That’s especially true regarding former members of Black Christian communities where the church represents more than just a home for shared worship. In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth invites Vanessa R. Brooks, MA, a doctoral candidate studying the efficacy of mental health training intervention for African American clergy, to reflect on her experiences in and out of the Black church. The pair also discuss the stigma and disparities that marginalized communities must navigate to access culturally competent mental health resources. About Vanessa Brooks: Vanessa R. Brooks, MA, is a Doctoral Candidate completing a research study on mental health & the Black Church and the lack of evidence-based mental health counseling methods that can be integrated with biblical counseling. Learn More: Website YouTube TikTok Facebook To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma *** 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 YouTube Instagram @cttc_training

Feb 21, 2024 • 53min
Compassion and Consent in Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder With Erin Lewis-Gibson
Here’s a challenge that all mental professionals face: no provider is immune to misdiagnosing a client. This likelihood increases if that client presents with symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Even an accurate, timely diagnosis and treatment of DID isn’t without its complications. On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth welcomes back Erin Lewis-Gibson, MS, LCMHC. Together, they explore the evolution of DID as a diagnosis and its treatment, the effects of social media on fictive personalities within a client’s organizing system, and Erin’s desire to reduce the global stigma attached to DID. Emily and Erin also discuss the positive impact that NARM has on creating a more consensual, relational and effective therapeutic environment, thus providing folks with DID the support they need to ensure their best quality of life. About Erin Lewis-Gibson: Erin Lewis-Gibson, MS, LCMHC, CFO, NARM Master Therapist is a dissociative disorders specialist living and working in North Carolina. She aims to educate therapists on how to diagnose and treat dissociative disorders and to reduce the global stigma of DID. Learn More: Website TRAINING OPPORTUNITY We’re also pleased to announce NARM & Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder, Part 2: Exploring Relationships Between Self, Parts and NARM Therapist, an in-depth webinar featuring Erin Lewis-Gibson and hosted by CTTC Training Director Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC. Register to join us live on Zoom: February 29, 2024 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time If you found this episode AFTER February 29, please click here to learn how you can access the recording. To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma/ *** 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 YouTube Instagram @cttc_training

Feb 7, 2024 • 44min
Trauma-Proofing Corporate Culture and Work Environments with Adriana Leigh
On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth has the pleasure of chatting with Adriana Leigh, founder and principal consultant at Adriana Leigh Group Consulting (ALG). The pair discuss Adriana’s own struggles with generational trauma and institutionalized trauma, trauma in the workplace, and Adriana’s work in gender-based violence prevention. Adriana also shares observations from her roles as a human rights lawyer and facilitator in diversity and inclusion, gender equality, sexual harassment, and working with international organizations such as the United Nations Aid Organizations and private sector entities. About Adriana Leigh: Adriana Leigh is an award-winning global thought leader on organizational gender equity and the prevention of gender-based harassment and discrimination. She brings 19+ years of diverse experience as a human rights lawyer and facilitator in gender equity, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence prevention, diversity, and inclusion. Based in Montreal, Canada, she works internationally with the United Nations, international aid and development organizations, as well as the private sector to build sexual and gender-based harassment-free, trauma-informed, and inclusive environments and relations through training, policy and reporting process development, and thought leadership. Her work has been showcased by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, World Pulse, Charity Village, and Brainz Magazine, among others. Learn More: ALG Consulting LinkedIn To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://www.narmtraining.com/podcast *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com View upcoming trainings: https://narmtraining.com/schedule Join the Inner Circle: https://narmtraining.com/online-learning/inner-circle *** 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 YouTube Instagram @cttc_training

Feb 2, 2024 • 20min
Introducing The Complex Trauma Training Center with Training Director Brad Kammer
Brad Kammer, NARM® Senior Trainer and executive producer of this podcast, introduces the Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC), which provides therapist training and mentorship for professionals working with ACEs and C-PTSD. Topics include the transition of the NARM Training Institute, goals of CTTC, growth of NARM, inner development for therapists, and levels of training and mentorship at CTTC.

Jan 24, 2024 • 41min
Cultivating Hope and Healing Through Community-Focused Somatic Resiliency Training With Elaine Miller-Karas
Elaine Miller-Karas, co-founder of the Trauma Resource Institute, discusses community-focused somatic resiliency training. Topics include trauma care accessibility, groundbreaking initiatives, childhood trauma's impact on the immune system and brain, and the transformative power of somatic experiencing. The podcast also explores the Community Resiliency Model and its six wellness skills, trauma reprocessing, and the role of natural leaders in under-resourced areas. Resources for further information are provided.

Jan 10, 2024 • 54min
A Pathway to Peace in the Fight Against Oppression and Religious Trauma with Yasmine Mohammed
NARM Senior Trainer Brad Kammer invites human rights campaigner Yasmine Mohammed to share her experiences growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic household, including her arranged marriage to a member of Al-Qaeda and her subsequent work as founder and president of Free Hearts Free Minds, an organization providing mental health support to free thinkers and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are unable to live authentically due to religious and societal persecution. Candid conversations about religious trauma can feel uncomfortable, disloyal and even risky. However, human rights campaigner Yasmine Mohammed says now is the time to openly discuss the extremist nature of some religions and the trauma they cause for individuals, families, communities and nations. Cutting through religious and cultural identifications is extremely challenging - and even potentially life-threatening - but Yasmine says that humanistic support can be an antidote to ongoing objectification and oppression. About Yasmine Mohammed: Human rights campaigner Yasmine Mohammed advocates for the rights of women living within Muslim-majority countries, as well as those who struggle under religious fundamentalism in general. She is the founder and President of Free Hearts Free Minds, a nonprofit charity that provides mental health support for members of the LGBTQ+ community and free thinkers living within Muslim-majority countries – where both 'crimes' can be punished by execution. Her book, Unveiled, is a memoir/polemic that recalls her experiences growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic household and her arranged marriage to a member of Al-Qaeda. She is also the host of the podcast Forgotten Feminists- where she has conversations with inspirational women from restrictive religious backgrounds who have fought and who have overcome. Yasmine is a co-Founder and co-Director of the CLARITy Coalition. She is also on the Board of Directors for Humanist Global Charity and for Atheists for Liberty. Learn More: Website Free Hearts Free Minds CLARITy Coalition To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://www.narmtraining.com/podcast *** NARM Training Institute https://www.NARMtraining.com View upcoming trainings: https://narmtraining.com/schedule Join the Inner Circle: https://narmtraining.com/online-learning/inner-circle Sign up for a free preview of The NARM Inner Circle Online Membership Program: https://www.narmtraining.com/freetrial *** The NARM Training Institute provides tools for transforming complex trauma through: in-person and online trainings for mental health care professionals; in-person and online workshops on complex trauma and how it interplays with areas like addiction, parenting, and cultural trauma; an online self-paced learning program, the NARM Inner Circle; and other trauma-informed learning resources. We want to connect with you! Facebook @NARMtraining YouTube Instagram @thenarmtraininginstitute

Jan 1, 2024 • 49min
Reflections for the New Year on Connection and Continued Growth for The NARM Training Institute with Faculty Members Brad Kammer, Stefanie Klein, and Marcia Black
Esteemed NARM faculty members Brad Kammer, Stefanie Klein, and Marcia Black reflect on the growth and challenges of the NARM Training Institute. They discuss the transformative nature of the NARM approach, the importance of connection in trauma healing, and the significance of personal growth and vulnerability in their work. They also touch on creating an inclusive learning environment, the power of connections and personal growth, and the hope for personal and collective transformation through professional training.

Dec 27, 2023 • 40min
2023: The Podcast Year In Review with NARM Training Director Brad Kammer and Host Emily Ruth
Emily and NARM Training Director Brad Kammer reflect on podcast highlights from 2023, a season filled with vital voices and inspiring ideas. It’s the perfect playlist to close out this year or begin the next! Emily and Brad were thrilled to share the mic with influential practitioners, industry luminaries, researchers, thought leaders and more. Conversations traversed a wide range of topics: the microbiome/trauma connection, the use of psychedelics as a supportive therapy, the complex traumas experienced by veterans of the armed services, sexual trauma, equine therapy, connection and humanistic psychology modalities, spirituality, inclusion and belonging, just to name a few. None of these conversations would be possible without you, our Transforming Trauma audience. We’re humbled by your continued support of this podcast and grateful to you for embracing NARM. Thank you, and Happy New Year! To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://www.narmtraining.com/podcast *** NARM Training Institute https://www.NARMtraining.com View upcoming trainings: https://narmtraining.com/schedule Join the Inner Circle: https://narmtraining.com/online-learning/inner-circle *** The NARM Training Institute provides tools for transforming complex trauma through: in-person and online trainings for mental health care professionals; in-person and online workshops on complex trauma and how it interplays with areas like addiction, parenting, and cultural trauma; an online self-paced learning program, the NARM Inner Circle; and other trauma-informed learning resources. We want to connect with you! Facebook @NARMtraining YouTube Instagram @thenarmtraininginstitute

Dec 13, 2023 • 41min
From Pain to Purpose: Navigating the Pressures of Fatherhood, Isolation and Loss with Adam Angel
Adam Angel, founder of Dads With Wisdom, discusses the shortage of mental health resources for fathers, traumas specific to fatherhood, and the role of NARM in strengthening peer groups. Adam shares his personal journey of loss and vulnerability and emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for men to share stories of perinatal loss. The episode explores the value of human connection, relational work, and intentional communal parenting.

Dec 6, 2023 • 37min
BONUS: NARM Online Basics Training - A Guide to Our Accessible Trauma-Informed Training With Stefanie Klein
On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily is joined by Stefanie Klein, LCSW, Faculty and Assistant Training Director at the NARM Training Institute, to preview the Level 1 NARM Online Basics Training (OBT), the live experiential-focused introductory series for helping professionals working in the field of trauma. In addition to sharing subject matter highlights, personal insights, and practical information, Emily and Stefanie also discuss why NARM OBT is the perfect level-one program for anyone engaged in a skilled, supportive role––from teachers, nurses, and spiritual counselors to executive coaches and pediatric dentists. Ready to begin your trauma-informed journey? Join us in the next NARM OBT! NARM Online Basics Training Spring 2024 Training sessions will occur 8:00 am - 2:30 pm Pacific Time each day Module 1: February 9 - 11, 2024 Module 2: March 8 - 10, 2024 Module 3: April 12 - 14, 2024 Module 4: May 3 - 5, 2024 About Stefanie Klein: Stefanie Klein, LCSW, SEP, NMT, NARM Faculty and Assistant Training Director of the NARM Training Institute, has spent 22 years in her Los Angeles private practice specializing in treating adults with trauma and anxiety disorders. For the past decade, she has had the distinct privilege of being mentored by Dr. Laurence Heller. Stefanie has been honored to assist Dr. Heller in all of his US NARM practitioner trainings and has found NARM to be an extremely effective model for working with attachment, relational, and developmental trauma. Learn More: TT092: Transforming Trauma Episode 092: Reflecting on a Growing Training Institute with NARM Faculty Brad Kammer, Stefanie Klein, and Marcia Black TT060: Supporting Connection, Capacity and Growth in the NARM Community with Marcia Black, Stefanie Klein, and Brad Kammer To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://www.narmtraining.com/podcast *** NARM Training Institute https://www.NARMtraining.com View upcoming trainings: https://narmtraining.com/schedule Join the Inner Circle: https://narmtraining.com/online-learning/inner-circle Sign up for a free preview of The NARM Inner Circle Online Membership Program: https://www.narmtraining.com/freetrial *** The NARM Training Institute provides tools for transforming complex trauma through: in-person and online trainings for mental health care professionals; in-person and online workshops on complex trauma and how it interplays with areas like addiction, parenting, and cultural trauma; an online self-paced learning program, the NARM Inner Circle; and other trauma-informed learning resources. We want to connect with you! Facebook @NARMtraining YouTube Instagram @thenarmtraininginstitute