

Therapy Chat
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, Psychotherapist, Burnout Prevention Consultant and Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator interviews guests to discuss holistic and alternative approaches used in psychotherapy, counseling, coaching and healing sessions. Be a fly on the wall as therapists discuss the practice of psychotherapy and how they implement self care into their own lives to prevent therapist burnout. Conversations about mindfulness, self compassion, The Daring Way™, EMDR, art therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, other somatic methods, trauma, parenting, attachment will get you thinking deeply about therapy and the universal experience of being human, with all the joy and pain that entails.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 21, 2022 • 47min
353: Bioenergetic Analysis + Intergenerational Trauma with Dr. Vincentia Schroeter
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, continuing the themes of embodiment and intergenerational trauma, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C interviews Dr. Vincentia Schroeter about Bioenergetic Analysis. Vincentia gives an overview of what Bioenergetic Analysis is, explains how it can be used to connect the presenting issue in therapy to the client's history and their family history of trauma, even related to unspoken experiences. She explains how the body is used to heal trauma in Bioenergetic Analysis and shares about an upcoming training in this method. Dr. Vincentia Schroeter is a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in Bioenergetic Analysis. She was the coordinating trainer of the Southern California Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis (SCIBA) for many years and past editor (2008-2018) of the clinical journal of Bioenergetics. As a member of the international faculty, she has taught in Europe, South America, Canada, and Asia. She has written three books: Bend Into Shape, Techniques for Bioenergetic Therapists (co-author: Barbara Thomson) (2011); Communication Breakthrough, How Using Brain Science and Listening to Body Cues Can Transform Your Relationships (2018) and Tilt: Seeking Balance in Troubled Times (2021). Resources Academy of Therapy Wisdom training on Bioenergetics Register for a free webinar with Vincentia Schroeter, Bob Coffman and Laurie Ure to learn more about the Bioenergetics course offered through Academy of Therapy Wisdom that Vin mentioned in this week's episode. Learn more about the full four-year training program through the International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis here: http://bioenergetic-therapy.com/index.php/en/practice/how-can-you-become-a-bioenergetic-therapist Visit Dr. Vin Schroeter's website and purchase her books here: www.vincentiaschroeterphd.com Listen to Therapy Chat episode 327 with Laurie Ure on Bioenergetics here. Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Register for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive a free month when you sign up. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists, registration opens very soon for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled community of trauma therapists for 4 weekly calls per month led by Therapy Chat host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C that are focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to get early access and a special offer when registration opens very soon! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 14, 2022 • 52min
352: Trauma + Advocacy After Breast Cancer With Dr. Christina Hibbert
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C speaks with Dr. Christina Hibbert, a clinical psychologist who was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer with the BRCA-1 mutation and is now cancer-free, 3 years and 13 surgeries later. She shares her experience of having past trauma come to the surface while she was dealing with incredibly challenging physical and emotional health issues. She talks openly about the missing pieces in breast cancer treatment and recovery, and the difficulty which many people with chronic illness will recognize, of having to be your own advocate as doctor after doctor dismisses your symptoms. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this is a very timely conversation that will benefit any patient who is struggling to be heard by their treatment team, as well as any healthcare provider. Dr. Christina's message is raw and honest, compassionate, hopeful and constructive. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook to learn how she is doing now! Dr. Christina Hibbert is the #1 bestselling author of the award-winning memoir, This Is How We Grow, & of 8 Keys to Mental Health Through Exercise, Who Am I Without You, and the forthcoming Mastery Of Motherhood. Dr. Hibbert is a clinical psychologist, speaker, social media influencer, and thought leader in the areas of maternal & women’s mental health, grief/loss/trauma, self-worth, personal growth, & breast cancer. She is the host of both Mastery of Motherhood (M.O.M.) podcast and Like a Watered Garden podcast and creator of her award-winning website and blog “DrChristinaHibbert.com.” Christina is also a “Breast Cancer Warrior,” overcoming triple negative breast cancer and the BRCA1 genetic mutation through chemotherapy, cold-capping & 13 surgeries. She was named Most Inspirational Women’s Health Professional 2018 & 2019 and won Best in Show: Blog 2020 for her work as a patient leader in the WEGO Health awards. A wife and mother of six, Christina was deeply honored to be named Mother of The Year, AZ 2018. Resources Follow Dr. Christina Hibbert on Instagram here and on Facebook here. Find Dr. Christina Hibbert's book, This Is How We Grow, on Amazon here. Visit Dr. Christina Hibbert's website here. Follow Therapy Chat on Instagram here. Sign up for Therapy Chat's e-mail list here. Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Register for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive your first month free when you sign up. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists, registration opens in late October 2022 Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training led by Therapy Chat host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Oct 8, 2022 • 43min
351: Family Secrets + Intergenerational Trauma with Dr. Galit Atlas
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C shares an interview from Spring of 2022 with Dr. Galit Atlas, author of Emotional Inheritance: A therapist, her patients, and the legacy of trauma. Dr. Atlas shared how family secrets affect families for generations. Listen in for a warm and engaging discussion with this fascinating teacher about intergenerational trauma. Dr. Galit Atlas is a psychoanalyst and clinical supervisor in private practice in New York City. She is on the faculty of the New York University Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Dr. Atlas has published three books for clinicians and numerous articles and book chapters. Her New York Times publication “A Tale of Two Twins” was the winner of a 2016 Gradiva Award. A leader in the field of relational psychoanalysis, Dr. Atlas is a recipient of the André François Award and the NADTA Research Award. She teaches and lectures throughout the United States and internationally. Her new book Emotional Inheritance was published in January 2022 and is being translated into 17 languages. Learn more about Dr. Galit Atlas via her website: https://www.galitatlas.com/ Buy Dr. Atlas's newest book, Emotional Inheritance, on Amazon here. Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you also to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Start a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you'll also get your first month free when you sign up. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists, registration opens soon for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

10 snips
Sep 29, 2022 • 44min
350: Burnout As A Trauma Response - With Kelly Higdon + Miranda Palmer
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C welcomes back guests Kelly Higdon and Miranda Palmer, therapists and coaches who help therapists in private practice build businesses they don't need to recover from. Today's conversation was focused on burnout. Kelly and Miranda explained how burnout mirrors a trauma response. They talked about burnout as a systemic issue rather than a personal failure. Host Laura shared about her decision to stop working with clients in this episode, which was recorded in June, 2022. Listen in to this conversation which includes: How burnout might not be obvious to you, but people around you probably realize it; How we live within a system that is oppressive to the individual, and those who suffer with burnout are simply trying hard to do a good job; Self advocacy as a therapist; Using your body as a guide; Discerning intuition from fear and more! SPECIAL OFFER FOR THERAPY CHAT LISTENERS! Kelly + Miranda's Business School For Therapists is open for enrollment now! Save $125 off the registration fee using Therapy Chat's affiliate link! Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you also to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Start a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you'll also get your first month free when you sign up! This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists, registration opens in October for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join Therapy Chat host Laura Reagan and a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

24 snips
Sep 23, 2022 • 45min
349: Borderline Personality Disorder + Developmental Trauma with Dr. Janina Fisher
Dr. Janina Fisher explores the link between complex trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder, highlighting trauma treatment strategies like TIST. She advocates for a compassionate approach towards trauma, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance and integration for healing. The podcast also discusses the impact of COVID-19 on children and online training collaboration, offering resources for accessing Dr. Fisher's books and trainings.

Sep 16, 2022 • 50min
348: What Is Embodiment + How Do We Do It? With Dr. Raja Selvam
Dr. Raja Selvam is a licensed clinical psychologist and the developer of Integral Somatic Psychology, with years of experience teaching across the globe. In this conversation, he dives into the concept of embodiment, explaining its vital role in emotional and mental health. He discusses innovative techniques for harnessing body awareness during trauma recovery. Raja also shares compelling real-life examples, like his work with tsunami survivors, highlighting how understanding emotions can deepen healing. His insights on managing grief and complex emotions are truly transformative.

Sep 9, 2022 • 49min
347: Healing Sexual Trauma With Yoga - With Zabie Yamaski
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! In today's episode, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C interviews Zahabiya "Zabie" Yamasaki, who is a survivor, an advocate and a teacher who is deeply passionate about helping survivors find healing after experiencing sexual violence. She offers courses, trainings and her newest offerings, her book with companion card deck. Zabie's kind and compassionate nature comes through in this interview, which we hope you will find valuable. Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT is the Founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum for survivors is now being implemented at over 25 colleges campuses and agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University. Zabie received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Social Behavior and Education at the UC Irvine and completed her graduate degree in Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs at The George Washington University. Her work has been highlighted on CNN, NBC, KTLA 5, and The Huffington Post. Her book: Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault published by W. W. Norton & Company was released on 1/11/2022. And more fabulous interviews are coming throughout the next few months...stay tuned for a wonderful surprise that we can reveal soon! If you're not already a subscriber, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you won't miss a thing! Resources Find Zabie's book, Trauma Sensitive Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault, Practices for Healing & Teaching with Compassion on Amazon here. For more information on what Zabie offers, including her trauma-informed yoga courses, and speaking offerings, visit her website: http://www.zabieyamasaki.com/ Follow Zabie on Instagram here. Go here to find the episodes of Therapy Chat with Nityda Gessel, RYT, LCSW, that were mentioned today. Bringing Yoga Therapy Into A Talk Therapy Practice and Trauma-Informed Practice and Scope. Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you also to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive a twenty five dollar Amazon gift card. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists - get on the waiting list for TTN membership here! Listen to episode 305 with Erika Shershun, LMFT here. Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Sep 2, 2022 • 54min
346: Holistic Ways To Improve Self-Care With Chris Mcdonald
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This month we resume new episodes after a summer that seemed to fly by! In today's episode, host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C interviews a returning guest who was last on the show in 2019. Today's guest is Chris McDonald, LMHCS! Chris generously agreed to join the Trauma Therapist Network community to share some experiential holistic self-care practices last month, and our members loved what she shared with us. Today you'll hear Chris speak about incorporating holistic self-care practices into your life, and how these methods can help us get back into our bodies when we are feeling disconnected from ourselves. Chris McDonald is a Holistic Licensed Therapist, 200 hour registered yoga teacher and holistic provider in Garner, NC. She is also host to the Holistic Counseling Podcast. She specializes in treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma and grief in young adults experiencing life transitions. She integrates yoga, mindfulness, meditation and Brainspotting into treatment. Chris also offers Therapy for Therapists and published the book “Holistic Self-Care for Counselors.” She launched The Holistic Counseling Podcast in April 2021 to help Mental Health Therapists learn how to integrate holistic strategies into treatment and how to build a Holistic Counseling Practice. Her favorite holistic daily routines include yoga and meditation. We hope you'll enjoy listening to this week's episode! Looking ahead, we are very excited about what's coming up this month! Next week's episode features Zabie Yamasaki, whose book "Trauma Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault," was released earlier this year. This was another beautiful conversation of a subject that both Zabie and Laura care deeply about - sexual trauma. Be sure to look for that episode next week! And more fabulous interviews are coming throughout the next few months...stay tuned for a wonderful surprise that we can reveal soon! If you're not already a subscriber, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you won't miss a thing! Resources Find Chris McDonald's book, Self Care for the Counselor - A Holistic Guide for Helping Professionals on Amazon here Listen to Chris's first interview on Therapy Chat here. Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you also to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive a twenty five dollar Amazon gift card. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists - get on the waiting list for TTN membership here! Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Aug 26, 2022 • 46min
345: Coming Back From Secondary Traumatic Stress + Burnout with Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This month we have been talking about self care and secondary traumatic stress/burnout. Today host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C revisits an interview from 2016 with Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, who is the author of the classic bestseller, "Trauma Stewardship: An everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others," and a newer book, "The Age of Overwhelm: Strategies for the long haul." She also has a fabulous TED Talk entitled "Beyond the Cliff." See below for links to these resources. In this episode you'll hear the two Lauras discussing trauma exposure, an occupational hazard for those in the helping professions and something that has affected many of us who are caregivers, even if that is not what we do for work. You'll hear about how to come back from secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma and burnout. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky shares what helped her when she reached the point of knowing she needed a break from trauma work. Whether you are there, or wanting to prevent getting to that point, you will find hope and resources for healing in this episode. Resources for this episode: Trauma Stewardship: An everyday guide to caring for self while caring for others The Age of Overwhelm: Strategies for the long haul TED Talk: Beyond the Cliff Trauma Stewardship Institute Check out Laura van Dernoot Lipsky's new podcast, Future Tripping! Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive a twenty five dollar Amazon gift card. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Therapists, registration opens in July for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Also, my coach and friend (and prior Therapy Chat guest) Keri Nola has opened the doors to her Abundance Activator community for a limited time. Sign up here and enter the code Therapychat to receive a special offer only for Therapy Chat listeners! Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Aug 19, 2022 • 29min
344: Vicarious Trauma And Helping Professionals
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Continuing the theme of tending to our own needs, today’s topic is one that’s important to therapy professionals and to first responders, too. To anyone who works with people who are suffering, Vicarious Trauma is important. Host Laura Reagan, LCSW-C revisits a past episode in which she speaks about Secondary Traumatic Stress and Vicarious Trauma after attending a workshop on this topic by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky, the author of Trauma Stewardship. This week is Part 1 and next week, in part 2, we will hear from Laura van Dernoot Lipsky herself! Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: The terms Vicarious Trauma and Secondary Traumatic Stress are interchangeable. Therapists bear witness to the traumatic stories of clients and are affected by them. The nature of therapy work requires empathy; it’s honorable, brave, and important work intended to make the world a better place. There are small ways to lessen the impact of trauma, by mindfully checking in with yourself and using positive coping methods. As a therapist, how much are you “numbing?” We discuss examples. Laura recommends spending 12-60 minutes each day, for six days a week, working out to the degree of breaking a sweat. We owe it to the people we help to take care of our Vicarious Trauma, and regular exercise is one way to do that. Isolation is common in trauma work, because we feel like “nobody understands.” The American Counseling Association lists several signs of Vicarious Trauma, including: Having difficulty talking about feelings Feeling diminished joy Feeling trapped by work Limited range of emotions Exaggerated startle reflex Hopelessness Trouble sleeping Exhaustion Conflict with other staff Trouble with intimacy Feeling withdrawn and isolated Impatience, apathy A change in worldview What can you do to make a difference? Practice mindfulness Exercise (12-60 min. several days each week) Cultivate connection with yourself and others Enrich your life by doing things you love, apart from work Make meaning Resources: ACA Fact Sheet on Vicarious Trauma Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky Trauma Stewardship Institute Laura van Dernoot Lipsky's newest book, The Age of Overwhelm Thank you to TherapyNotes for sponsoring this week's episode! TherapyNotes makes billing, scheduling, notetaking, and telehealth incredibly easy. And now, for all you prescribers out there, TherapyNotes is proudly introducing E-prescribe! Find out what more than 100,000 mental health professionals already know, and try TherapyNotes for 2 months, absolutely free. Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching to TherapyNotes. Now featuring E-prescribe. Use promo code "chat" at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes! Thank you to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this week’s episode. It’s the highest-rated digital check-in software for therapy offices and behavioral health clinics, used by thousands of practitioners across the country. Sign up for a 14-day free trial of The Receptionist for iPad by going to www.thereceptionist.com/therapychat and when you do, you’ll also receive a twenty five dollar Amazon gift card. This episode is also sponsored by Trauma Therapist Network. Learn about trauma, connect with resources and find a trauma therapist near you at www.traumatherapistnetwork.com. We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available. Registration opens in October for Trauma Therapist Network membership. Join a compassionate and skilled group of trauma therapists for weekly calls focused on Self Care, Case Consultation, Q&A and Training. Get on the waiting list now to be the first to know when registration opens! Sign up here https://go.traumatherapistnetwork.com/join Also, my coach and friend (and prior Therapy Chat guest) Keri Nola has opened the doors to her Abundance Activator community for a limited time. Sign up here and enter the code Therapychat to receive a special offer only for Therapy Chat listeners! Podcast produced by Pete Bailey - https://petebailey.net/audio Our Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands