
Hosted by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C · EN

This week, in a special 500th episode of Therapy Chat, I shared a behind the scenes look at what happened when I got bad news right before a LIVE, in person interview with Janina Fisher on shame.I talked about the profound challenges of asking for help, especially for those of us who have experienced emotional or physical neglect. In a twist from the usual Therapy Chat episode, I talked about my process, sharing what was happening with my Parts and how I understood what was happening through the lens of trauma and attachment. And I shared the beautiful surprise that happened after I fell apart and how it helped me along my healing journey. I hope this episode will help you along your journey and offer you a compassionate perspective on how early childhood experiences can shape our unconscious beliefs about our safety in the world. Key Takeaways from This Episode:Reflect on your own "blueprint" from early childhood experiences regarding asking for help and trusting others.Recognize shame as a potential trauma reaction and practice self-compassion when it arises.Challenge the illusion of control and release the burden of preventing every negative outcome.Seek out and embrace "corrective emotional experiences" where you allow yourself to be vulnerable and receive support.Prioritize genuine connection and community to combat isolation and foster reciprocal relationships.Give yourself permission to "be human" and express your authentic self.What if you try giving connection a chance? It might just change your life.Additional Resources:Are you a helping professional who wants to learn more about the Safe + Sound Protocol (SSP)? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! Bumble is the dating app built with a focus on meaningful and authentic relationships and with the belief that love—in all its forms—is the foundation to a happy, healthy life. Bumble helps you find the real, intentional connections you're looking for. Download the app for free today on the App Store or Google Play and learn more at Bumble.com!Therapists and mental health professionals: I created a FREE video to help you feel more confident in supporting survivors of sexual violence in an embodied and trauma sensitive manner. Check it out here!If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - submit your info on this form. Thanks!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcastTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this week's episode of Therapy Chat, I interviewed the amazing Kim Barthel about the intricate connections between trauma, the sensory system, and healing. We explored the role of the vestibular system, the Vagus Nerve, and the importance of co-regulation in therapy. Kim shares insights from her extensive experience in Occupational Therapy and discusses the impact of developmental trauma on individuals. The conversation highlights the significance of sound healing and the need for a nuanced, layered and holistic approach to understanding our relationships to Self and others, and the role of the vestibular system in our survival and connection.Kim Barthel is a Canadian occupational therapist, multi-disciplinary speaker, mentor and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts globally. She is passionate about understanding complex behavior, neurobiology, trauma-sensitive and neurodiverse-affirming practice, sensory processing, attachment, movement and mental health. In 2025 Kim was honoured to receive an award from ATTACh for innovation in the treatment of children with trauma, and with 41+ years of practice, she is still learning every day. Kim’s overall mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit.Learn more about Kim Barthel and her work here!Additional Resources:Are you a helping professional who wants to learn more about the Safe + Sound Protocol (SSP)? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! Bumble is the dating app built with a focus on meaningful and authentic relationships and with the belief that love—in all its forms—is the foundation to a happy, healthy life. Bumble helps you find the real, intentional connections you're looking for. Download the app for free today on the App Store or Google Play and learn more at Bumble.com!Therapists and mental health professionals: I created a FREE video to help you feel more confident in supporting survivors of sexual violence in an embodied and trauma sensitive manner. Check it out here!If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - submit your info on this form. Thanks!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcastTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week's episode of Therapy Chat is on a topic which we've covered before - religious trauma. This week's guest, SC Nealy (she'they) discusses the impact of religious trauma and offers additional perspective into the harm it can cause for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Our conversation was fascinating to me, and I hope you'll find many valuable insights through listening to our discussion. With over 15 years in the mental health field, SC Nealy is a queer, gender fluid psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and group practice owner in Arlington, VA. SC operates a team of all gay and trans-identifying therapists with the focus of bringing clinicians with lived experiences to the queer community and their families. They also work locally and nationally to advocate for queer rights, accessible mental health care, and bringing more awareness to the needs of the queer community. Their upcoming book published by Bloomsbury Academics, Healing Sacred Wounds, focuses on giving folx a guide map for processing and exploring their experiences in religious or spiritual trauma. Learn more about SC Nealy and their work at: https://lgbtcounselingdmv.com .Therapists and mental health professionals: I created a FREE video to help you feel more confident in supporting survivors of sexual violence in an embodied and trauma sensitive manner. Check it out here!If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - submit your info on this form. Thanks!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcastTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

How can therapists learn to see countertransference as a gift, rather than a problem? This week's guest is Stefanie Klein, LCSW. Stefanie, an SEP and NARM Master Therapist, is the Assistant Training Director for the Complex Trauma Training Center where she is also a consultant and faculty in the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) and the new SPACE program for psychotherapists. Our conversation was about how can feel more effective in their work with clients, while also experiencing more ease and fulfillment in their professional roles through the SPACE program Stefanie co-created with Brad Kammer of NARM (a previous Therapy Chat guest). Stefanie has 30 years of experience practicing psychotherapy with adults in her Los Angeles private practice, where she has specialized in treating trauma and anxiety for the past 20 years. Learn more about the Complex Trauma Training Center and the SPACE Program here.Therapists and mental health professionals: I created a FREE video to help you feel more confident in supporting survivors of sexual violence in an embodied and trauma sensitive manner. Check it out here!If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - submit your info on this form. Thanks!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcastTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Podcast Produced by Vaudeo Productions: https://vaudeoproductions.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week, I’m sharing an incredibly rich and soul-stirring conversation with psychotherapist and author, Francis Weller. Recently retired after 43 years in practice, Francis shares profound insights from his fieldwork—sitting with grieving people for over four decades to understand what the individual and collective psyche are trying to express through symptoms and suffering. We delve into how grief saturates almost every human experience, from addiction to childhood wounds, and how our culture often teaches us to avoid it.This episode explores the concept of "soul work" and how indigenous traditions offer profound wisdom on community, ritual, and the "primary satisfactions" that keep us strong and fluid. Francis illuminates how Western individualism has ripped apart these vital connections and what it has cost us. We also discuss his new book, In the Absence of the Ordinary, Soul Work for Times of Uncertainty, and how it couldn't be more timely for the times we're living in. Learn more about Francis Weller's work on his website and find his newest book here. To view The Eternal Song, the film that Francis Weller described in this episode, go here: https://theeternalsong.org/If you're interested in being notified when I announce the details of the new Therapy Chat membership - open to anyone, not just therapists - which will open in September, 2025, submit your info on this form. Thanks!Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TherapyChatPodcastTherapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on CE trainings, recommended resources and more. Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. TherapyNotes® is the highest-rated EHR, practice management, and billing software for mental health professionals. Its all-in-one platform is designed to streamline all aspects of your practice, from connecting with clients via secure messages, to scheduling, to notes, to billing, and more; you can trust TherapyNotes has you covered. And one of the best parts? 24-7 customer service. It's beyond easy to get help over the phone or by email at any time of day from their knowledgeable and friendly representatives. The best time to give TherapyNotes a try is now! Sign up for your free trial by going to TherapyNotes.com, clicking "Start my free trial", and accessing your first two months free with the promo code CHAT. See why TherapyNotes is the most trusted EHR for behavioral health professionals today.Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! I recently returned from Austin, Texas, where I completed level 1 of the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method, founded by this week's guest, Nityda Gessel. This week's episode is a replay of my interview with Nityda about the differences between psychotherapeutic yoga, used in clinical practice, and yoga therapy, which can be offered by yoga instructors with specialised training. Whether you're a therapist considering training in yoga to add to your clinical practice, a yoga instructor or yoga therapist, or anyone who is considering adding yoga to their healing toolkit, this is an informative episode!Nityda Gessel Onlinehttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comhttps://traumaconsciousyoga.comTherapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings, featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychatThank 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! 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!!Join the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2025 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!Find my most frequently recommended resources for learning about trauma here – includes recommended books and trainings.Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! In this week's episode, I'm replaying an interview I did with Amy Weintraub, founder of LifeForce Yoga, before I was trained in the method. She explained how she developed LifeForce Yoga and how it can be helpful for depression and anxiety. I completed Level 1 training in 2018, and I highly recommend this method to therapists who would like to bring yoga into their clinical practices. Side note - Amy Weintraub is still associated with LifeForce Yoga, but it is now owned by Rose Kress. Resources:Learn more about Amy Weintraub and LifeForce Yoga here: https://yogafordepression.comTherapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings, featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychatThank 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! Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching toTherapyNotes, now featuring E-prescribe! Use promo code “chat” at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes!!Join the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2025 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!Find my most frequently recommended resources for learning about trauma here – includes recommended books and trainings.Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week we're bringing back an interview with Dr. David Treleaven, PhD., author of "Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness".David Treleaven, PhD, is a writer, educator, and trauma professional whose work focuses on the intersection of mindfulness, trauma, and social justice. He received his master’s in counseling psychology at the University of British Columbia and a doctorate in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies.We discussed how mindfulness, which most people think will help them feel better, can sometimes stir up trauma reactions that people aren't expecting and don't know how to handle. In this conversation and in his book, he explains why this happens and what can be done when it does. This is an important conversation for anyone who practices mindfulness and any therapist!Resources:Find Dr. David Treleaven's website here: https://www.davidtreleaven.comRead Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness - found here.Therapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychat 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! Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching toTherapyNotes, now featuring E-prescribe! Use promo code “chat” at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes!!Join the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2025 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!Find my most frequently recommended resources for learning about trauma here – includes recommended books and trainings.Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week I’m replaying my interview with yoga and meditation teacher and coach Lynn Fraser about mindfulness & somatic work in healing trauma. Lynn Fraser is a senior meditation and yoga teacher in the Himalayan Yoga Meditation tradition; and a Senior Facilitator of the Living Inquiries and Natural Rest. She brings the depth and richness of twenty years experience teaching meditation and yoga philosophy to her work. She specializes in holding a safe and trusted space for healing trauma in her private Living Inquiries online sessions with individuals. Lynn lives near family, the ocean and forest in Nova Scotia Canada where she also plays flute in a jazz band.Lynn is a student and teaches within the Himalayan Tradition of Swami Rama as taught by Swami Veda Bharati. She is certified through the Association of Himalayan Yoga Meditation Societies (AHYMSIN) and the Yoga Center of Calgary. She was a founding member of the organizing committee for the AHYMSIN teacher training program and is faculty for the Yoga Studio College in Calgary. Lynn has studied extensively in the United States and India with Swami Veda Bharati, Pandit Dabral and other senior teachers in the Himalayan Tradition.She teaches in Halifax/Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Her classes are suitable for students in various physical conditions as a primary emphasis for asana (yoga poses) is on training the mind through the body. Her teaching features an integrated approach of relaxation, asana, pranayama, meditation and philosophy for every day life. She is a certified Himalayan Institute Ayurveda Yoga Specialist.Lynn supports people healing from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma through meditation, yoga therapy and mindfulness inquiry.Resources:Find everything Lynn is doing on her website: https://lynnfraserstillpoint.com/Thank you for listening to Therapy Chat! Please be sure to go to iTunes and leave a rating and review, subscribe and download episodes.Trauma Therapist Network is a resource for learning about trauma and how it shows up in our lives, and to search for a trauma therapist. Our searchable directory is at www.findtraumatherapy.com or you can go to www.traumatherapistnetwork.com to see everything our site has to offer! Look for discounts on therapy trainings, recommended books, wearable tech, my recommended EHR, and much more!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! Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching toTherapyNotes, now featuring E-prescribe! Use promo code “chat” at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes!!Join the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2025 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!Find my most frequently recommended resources for learning about trauma here – includes recommended books and trainings.Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Welcome back to Therapy Chat! This week's episode is part two of the conversation where I'm reflecting on where I'm at in my life right now. My guest is Amber Trejo, LMFT an integrative trauma therapist in Indiana.Like myself, Amber is also a trauma survivor and speaks openly about living and parenting with complex trauma (also known as developmental trauma or CPTSD) on her Instagram channel, @integrativetraumatherapist. Amber and I talked about our shared experience of losing one of our parents in the last year or so, and discussed our personal experiences of navigating the grieving process, with all of the opportunities for healing that it brings.Learn more about Amber Trejo via her Instagram channel: https://instagram.com/integrativetraumatherapist and her website, https://www.theintegrativetraumatherapist.com/ Are you going to Psychotherapy Networker? Come say hi to me! I'm hosting an exhibit booth for Trauma Therapist Network and Therapy Chat. By the way, therapists can get the lowest prices on selected PESI trainings featuring past and future Therapy Chat guests by going to this link: https://pesi.com/therapychat 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! Try it today with no strings attached, and see why everyone is switching toTherapyNotes, now featuring E-prescribe! Use promo code “chat” at www.therapynotes.com to receive 2 FREE months of TherapyNotes!!Join the TTN e-mail list to learn what's coming up in 2025 with Therapy Chat, Trauma Chat and Trauma Therapist Network and get my free PDF 5 Common Mistakes People Make When Searching For A Trauma Therapist here!Find my most frequently recommended resources for learning about trauma here – includes recommended books and trainings.Find a trauma therapist near you via findtraumatherapy.com! We believe that trauma is real, healing is possible and help is available at Trauma Therapist Network. Love Therapy Chat? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and subscribe where you listen to your podcasts! Thank you!Podcast produced by Vaudeo Productions - https://vaudeoproductions.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code CHAT for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands