Purchase this course individually using the link below and complete the post-test and evaluation to earn CE credit. As of July 16, 2026, AFFIRM Academy memberships are no longer available. Existing members can continue accessing CE podcast episodes through their member portal until August 31, 2026. Register now: https://shaina-siber-sanderowitz.mykajabi.com/offers/QyQFM5BU

Course Information: https://canva.link/iu035nzvevyhqux

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Episode Summary: How do trauma and attachment shape the way we connect with our closest relationships? In this episode, Shaina speaks with Kathy Gusenkov, LMFT, about how developmental trauma influences adult relationships and explores trauma-informed approaches to fostering safety, co-regulation, and secure functioning in couples therapy.

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About Our Guest:

Kathy Gusenkov, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the founder of Serendipity Psychotherapy LLC in the Phoenix area, where she has been in practice since 2020.

She specializes in working with couples and individuals, with a focus on the psychobiology of relationships — how the nervous system, attachment, and early experience shape the way we connect with the people we love most. Her work draws on body-based and trauma-informed approaches, with particular attention to what happens between partners in real time.

Alongside her clinical work, Kathy contributes to relationship research at the ASU HEART Lab and has taught and guest lectured at the graduate and undergraduate level. She brings the same curiosity that drives her in the research and classroom into the therapy room, staying close to what the science actually says about how people change and heal together.

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Topics Discussed:

Developmental trauma and adult attachment
Disorganized attachment and relationship patterns
Secure attachment vs. secure functioning
The Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT)
Co-regulation and nervous system-informed interventions
Trauma-informed strategies to strengthen connection and communication

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Resources:

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Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. There are no other conflicts of interest to disclose.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional.

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