Episode Summary

Kaytlyn Gilner, a social work graduate student and aspiring therapist, explores the potential harms of therapy—especially for individuals with CPTSD. She breaks down why trauma-informed care is essential, how to choose the right therapist, and where therapy can fall short.

Through both personal experience and professional insight, Kaytlyn shares practical guidance for navigating mental health care, validating your experiences, and finding healing strategies that actually work—including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

therapy, CPTSD, trauma-informed care, therapist selection, DBT, mental health, healing, validation, complex trauma, therapy pitfalls

When therapy can be harmful without trauma-informed care
The importance of therapist alignment and shared values
Personal experiences with therapy and trauma
Risks of couples therapy in toxic or unsafe relationships
The role of diagnosis and self-validation in healing
Benefits and limitations of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

Kaytlyn Gilner

The Hidden Dangers of Therapy for CPTSD
How to Choose a Trauma-Informed Therapist

“Therapy can be harmful sometimes.”
“Get a second opinion for your diagnosis.”
“Support and trust are key in therapy.”

00:00 — The Complexities of Therapy
08:33 — Navigating Couples Therapy
12:30 — Understanding Diagnoses and Their Impact
16:41 — The Power of Trauma-Informed Care
20:03 — Finding the Right Therapist
21:26 — Closing

DBT Workbook: https://linktr.ee/yourlink
NASW Code of Ethics: https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
SAMHSA: https://www.samhsa.gov/

KeywordsKey TopicsGuestEpisode Title OptionsSound BitesChaptersResources
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Workbook - https://linktr.ee/kaytlynnm
National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics - https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - https://www.samhsa.gov/