Transforming Trauma

Former NFL player and speaker Gaelin Elmore believes that childhood trauma changes the rules of the game for youth, making interaction with well-intentioned adults difficult. While teachers, therapists, and caregivers are poised to provide the most enduring assistance, the prospect of building sincere, purposeful relationships with children and teens can challenge even the most dedicated professionals.  In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily learns what adults can do to foster an atmosphere of belonging and positively influence the lives of young people. Using his own life as a case study, Gaelin shares his personal history with complex childhood trauma and honors the adults who changed the trajectory of his life for good. The pair also explore parallels between Gaelin's work and the heart-centered approach NARM employs to reignite one's capacity for self-love and strengthen interpersonal connections.  About Gaelin Elmore: Gaelin Elmore experienced complex trauma for most, if not all, of his childhood. Despite extreme childhood adversity, Gaelin played college football, graduated early, with honors, and signed an NFL contract. Now, as a national keynote speaker, trainer, and advocate, Gaelin works with adults and professionals who want to help children overcome trauma and unleash their potential through belonging. Learn More: Website 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

While many spiritual teachers are held in high regard for their wisdom, leadership positions are still overwhelmed by those who’ve failed to address complex trauma in their personal histories.  In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily speaks with Jac O'Keeffe, President and founding member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), an organization committed to bringing higher levels of integrity to the culture of spiritual leadership. The pair discuss Jac’s educational and spiritual evolution, the role of empathy and accountability within ASI’s anti-authoritarian model, and the link between agency, trauma healing, and personal divinity.  About Jac O’Keeffe:  Jac O’Keeffe is a theology graduate from the Pontificate University of Ireland with postgraduate studies in adult education. Working as an independent spiritual teacher for more than 15 years, she guides people in the unfoldment of their own spiritual journey. In her books, teachings, talks and retreats, she supports the empowerment of individuals who are done with bypassing, done with hiding, done with outsourcing their spiritual awakening to gurus. Her books include Born to Be Free and How to Be a Spiritual Rebel.  Jac is the President and founding member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), an organization with a mission to bring high levels of integrity to the culture of spiritual leadership. Learn More: Association For Spiritual Integrity Website 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

Donna Jackson Nakazawa, an award-winning journalist, discusses the impact of today's cultural landscape on the mental health of children and young adults. She emphasizes the importance of human connection and storytelling in drawing meaning from our experiences and helping others with complex trauma. Donna also explores the effects of trauma on girls, the power of shifting inner dialogue, and translating emerging science to help those with chronic conditions. She shares her personal origin story and concludes with gratitude for her work in the field.

In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily is joined by Salman Alawadi, a NARM practitioner and Ph.D. candidate in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation at the University of Miami, for a fascinating discussion about the challenges of developing an evidence-based standard for NARM and distilling that research into accessible data.  In medical terminology, “evidenced-based” is a gold star endorsement awarded to recurrent standards of proof that arise from comparison studies of a specific treatment protocol or prevention. Is it possible to validate NARM’s efficacy using those same evidence-based standards? Should we? Salman calls out psychology’s fixation with the medical model and advocates for creating more rigorous criteria to understand a psychological intervention.  About Salman Alawadi:  Salman Alawadi is a psychotherapist from Kuwait. He holds a Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Psychometrics from Boston College and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Research, Measurement, and Evaluation at the University of Miami. Salman worked with Dr. Mary Zanarini in the Laboratory for the Study of Adult Development at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. In addition to being a NARM therapist, Salman is also trained in Somatic Experiencing, Integrative Somatic Psychology, Hakomi, Neuroaffective Touch, Mentalization-Based Therapy, and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy. Learn More: LinkedIn 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

Can the art of horse whispering, a perceptive communication technique, work to heal complex trauma in humans? Isabelle Shook, the founder of Equine Guidance in Sedona, AZ, believes that horses possess an empathetic energy––telegraphed via non-verbal cues––that can resolve symptoms of stress, shock, and trauma in those seeking support.  In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily discovers how Belle fosters this unique therapeutic experience and the approaches she and her herd of four-legged collaborators utilize to encourage client transformation. The case studies referenced by Belle demonstrate NARM’s compatibility with other trauma-informed modalities and its ability to transform the therapeutic process. About Isabelle Shook: Isabelle Shook MC, NBCC, LPC, SEP, NARM, BCC is the founder of Equine Guidance. She is an intuitive therapist, board-certified coach, and licensed counselor focusing on personal growth, leadership development, and trauma-informed care. As a pioneer in Equine Therapy, Belle and her three horses have been working together since 2004 to assist people in developing their potential through healing and fine-tuning their neurobiology.  Learn More: Website 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

Forgiveness can transform lives. In this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily explores the holistic practice of restorative justice with Dr. Elaine Leeder, a professor and prolific writer who's worked in mental hospitals, gerontology, foster care, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol counseling as a social worker and psychotherapist.  Elaine's current pro bono work with incarcerated individuals and those they've harmed is remarkable for its progressive approach to redemption. In her 28 years working with prisoners, Elaine has witnessed the devastating effects of early childhood trauma compounded by the consequences of institutionalized mistreatment. She has also experienced the power of collective healing. "People are not the worst things they've done," Elaine insists. Her empathetic statement complements the NARM principle that humans can repair persistent, outdated survival strategies through connection, attunement, trust, and autonomy. About Elaine Leeder:  Elaine (Sneierson) Leeder MSW, MPH, PhD is Dean Emerita and Professor Emerita at Sonoma State University. For the last twenty-eight years, she has worked in prisons in NY and California as a professor and doing restorative justice victim/offender dialogues with people who have been harmed and those who have done the harm. She has seen forgiveness, remorse and transformation that has healed those traumatized by serious crimes. Learn More: Website 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

Susan Raffo is a cranial therapist, esteemed writer, and cultural worker, sharing her heart’s wisdom with the NARM community and the motivation behind her latest book, Liberated To The Bone. Susan’s professional approach combines NARM’s trauma-informed framework with the nuances of her ancestral lineage as both colonizer and the colonized. In her conversation with NARM Senior Trainer Brad Kammer, Susan explores the “intersections between healing our physical bodies and healing our social relations” and working towards the end of white supremacy and settler colonialism while preserving the memory of her grandfather’s native line.  About Susan Raffo:  Susan Raffo is a writer, cultural worker, and bodyworker. She is part of the Healing Histories Project, which focuses on transforming the medical-industrial complex and confronting eugenic legacies. She works with REP: Relationship Evolving Possibilities, a Black-led community-based crisis response model grounded in the belief that we have the ability to love and protect one another without giving our agency to systems built to destroy, consume, or commodify us. Author of Queerly Classed (South End Press, 1997) and Restricted Access (Seal Press, 1999), she is published in a range of anthologies and websites. She is based in Minneapolis, MN. Learn More: Website – Susan Raffo Medium Facebook 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

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Stephen Gilligan, a renowned psychologist and creator of Generative Psychotherapy, explores the healing power of creativity and self-discovery. He delves into the differences between single and complex trauma, explaining how dissociation acts as an adaptive response. Gilligan introduces the COACH framework for trauma recovery, emphasizing the importance of therapist presence and nonverbal attunement. His approach invites clients to embrace both their trauma and potential, paving the way for transformation and a fulfilled life.

Dr. Sara Rapaport is a Naturopathic Doctor, Massage Therapist, Certified Biofeedback Provider, and NARM Practitioner. Sara deeply appreciates nature and the earth and believes that some of the best medicine in the world is the kindness and compassion we can offer one another. Whenever a client steps into their practitioner’s office, be it a doctor or a psychologist, the practitioner is viewed as the expert. Aligned with the core principles of NARM, Sara works from a perspective that places clients as experts on their own bodies. This leads to a greater sense of personal agency for clients and helps to equalize the client-practitioner relational balance. About Dr. Sara Rapaport: Dr. Sara Rapaport is a Naturopathic doctor, biofeedback practitioner, and massage therapist based in Portland, OR. She specializes in mind-body medicine and the treatment of eating disorders. She combines counseling, nutrition, and physical medicine to support whole-person healing and transformation for her patients. Learn More: Website - Dr. Sara Rapaport Instagram - LinkedIn 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  

A licensed psychologist in the Portland area and adjunct faculty member at several universities, Dr. Daniel Schiff is considered an expert in somatic psychology. He is known for his work with Contemporary Orgone (Reichian) Therapy. This relational and emotionally focused, character-based somatic psychotherapy addresses the psychological and physiological underpinnings of emotional distress. Dr. Schiff and NARM Senior Trainer Brad Kammer reflect on the tragic story of Dr. Wilhelm Reich and his impact on somatic psychotherapy and their own clinical work. They touch on how Reich’s original work directly influenced somatic modalities such as Gestalt Therapy, Hakomi Psychotherapy, and Somatic Experiencing and indirectly affected several other models, including EMDR.  About Dr. Daniel Schiff: Dr. Daniel Schiff is a licensed psychologist in private practice with 45 years of clinical experience in somatic psychotherapy from a Reichian and Gestalt perspective. He has lectured widely on topics related to emotions, psychotherapy, and Reichian and Gestalt therapy to both public and professional audiences, and provides clinical seminars, training, and supervision to mental health professionals. Dr. Schiff also offers a 4-year Contemporary Orgone (Reichian) Therapy training program.  In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Schiff has been an adjunct faculty member in psychology at Seattle Central Community College, Antioch University, and the Washington School of Professional Psychology (Argosy University - Seattle), and currently offers a course in somatic psychology at Lewis and Clark college. Learn More: Website - Daniel Schiff, PHD 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