Podcast Summary

Podcast: Why Not Me? Embracing Autism & Mental Health Worldwide
Host: Tony Mantor
Guest: Dr. Kristen Viola Harrison (Founder, Soul Wise Solutions)
Episode Date: October 15, 2025
Episode Focus: Dr. Harrison’s journey in trauma psychology, her work with severe mental illness, and the founding of Soul Wise Solutions, including her advocacy and her recent book co-authored with Shauna, a woman living with dissociative schizophrenia.

Episode Overview

This episode spotlights Dr. Kristen Viola Harrison, a seasoned trauma psychologist and founder of Soul Wise Solutions, who has over 25 years of experience working with individuals facing severe trauma, dissociative disorders, schizophrenia, and near-death experiences. Dr. Harrison shares personal and professional insights from her journey, discusses changes and challenges in the mental health field, and gives an intimate account of her work and friendship with Shauna, an intersex woman living with dissociative schizophrenia and chronic homelessness. Throughout, the conversation emphasizes breaking stigma, celebrating neurodiversity, and the transformative power of compassionate support.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Harrison’s Background and Motivation

• Dr. Harrison has worked extensively with individuals experiencing complex trauma, severe mental illness, and life transitions. She also supports survivors of near-death experiences as they reintegrate into daily life.

  “Mostly my background has been very severe trauma disorders and also near death experiencers who are trying to kind of integrate the learnings that they've had into...everyday life again.” — Dr. Harrison [02:25]

• Her career trajectory shifted after personal experiences: her high school sweetheart’s trauma, her brother’s tragic death, and her passion for cross-cultural understanding:

  “I got really busy trying to understand psychotherapy, psychoanalysis...anything to do with trauma...I had this deep desire to want to understand what happened.” — Dr. Harrison [03:00]

Navigating Burnout and Personal Challenges

• Balancing her career and a family with special needs led to Dr. Harrison experiencing burnout and strategically stepping back from intensive clinical work for a decade:

  “I did need to take a bit of break...during those years it got very difficult to also balance clients...I was losing my filter...so I did need to take a bit of break.” — Dr. Harrison [04:34]

Evolution of Trauma and Mental Health Fields

• Early on, trauma was rarely addressed in mainstream psychology; now, specialized degrees and growing understanding exist:

  “Back in the day, there wasn't a whole lot being taught, specifically just on trauma…Now it's so wonderful. People are getting degrees in trauma studies.” — Dr. Harrison [05:43]

Stigmas, Isolation, and Building Resilience

• Dr. Harrison reflects on initial lack of openness about trauma, the loneliness of the journey, and the transformation following personal tragedy:

  “It has been a bit of a lonely road sometimes. And I think my brother's death was the thing that sort of catapulted me at a very young age...it made me cocoon a little bit...” — Dr. Harrison [07:10]

• On responding to societal misunderstanding and hate:

  “I've just sort of learned to...laugh and go with it. Ignore the haters.” — Dr. Harrison [07:10]

Shauna’s Story: Living with Dissociative Schizophrenia

• Shauna walks up to half a marathon a day—the “mood walk therapy”—as self-regulation for her symptoms.

  “It's called her mood walk therapy, and it’s how she regulates her symptoms.” — Dr. Harrison [09:04] “If you just say, ‘Hey, Shauna,’ she will snap right out of it…she’s able to completely join the conversation.” — Dr. Harrison [09:27]

• Shauna’s concept of anosognosia: partial lack of insight into her own mental health struggles, complicated by dissociative elements reminiscent of DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder).

  “She has a very rare condition that I recognized early on...dissociative schizophrenia.” — Dr. Harrison [09:53]

• Medication is not part of Shauna’s current coping, partially due to adverse side effects; she relies on movement, routine, and resilience.

  “She is averse to medicines because of the side effects as an athlete....She works it out within herself...coping in an incredibly resilient way.” — Dr. Harrison [12:03]

• Shauna’s background: intersex, formerly homeless, vibrant and unselfconscious, navigating the world with optimism despite layered marginalization.

  “Part of her schizophrenia is that her intersex nature...I feel like it's had an adaptive effect...helped her thrive and survive.” — Dr. Harrison [12:03]

Writing and Promoting Shauna’s Story

• The book is a collaborative, nuanced retelling of Shauna’s life—the line between her self-concept, trauma, and factual history is explored with empathy.

  “I present all of that in the book. Shauna and I wrote it together, so she knows every little last thing…The schizophrenia chapter was a little challenging...” — Dr. Harrison [13:12]

• Memorable Paris moment—Dr. Harrison’s direct empathy pierced Shauna’s delusion, highlighting the underlying humanity:

  “I just looked at her deep in the eyes and I said, Shauna, it must be so difficult...and how you still stay positive is beyond me.” [14:20]
  Shauna replied: “Doc, thanks. Yeah, it's kind of hard sometimes.” [14:37]

Schizophrenia, Violence, and Societal Misconceptions

• The myth of violence and schizophrenia is addressed head-on:

  “That's the hugest misconception...It just feels to me like it’s something that the public should become more aware of...” — Dr. Harrison [15:01]

• Shauna’s spiritual perspective on handling stigma:

  “She just has this very spiritual calm effect. ‘Well, Doc, you know, some people don't understand...’ It's remarkable.” — Dr. Harrison [16:10]

Advocacy, Future Goals, and Community Response

• Dr. Harrison continues to educate, consult, and support Shauna’s self-sufficiency through sponsorships and public speaking, despite challenges with Shauna’s engagement duration and technology apprehension.

  “We are looking at ways to be able to do that [public speaking]...But every day is a new learning, a new challenge, but getting her message out as much as possible.” — Dr. Harrison [19:21]

• Public reception at events (like Pride) has been heartening, though online discourse can be mixed, sparking valuable dialogue about acceptance and understanding.

  “In the moment was amazing...the dialogues were fascinating and heartening…” — Dr. Harrison [20:33]

Rarity and Complexity of Shauna’s Circumstances

• Shauna’s intersecting identities and conditions—intersex, schizophrenia, dissociative symptoms, chronic homelessness—make her story exceptionally rare.

  “This is the reason I call her like a one in a million, because...she's pretty rare.” — Dr. Harrison [21:12]

• Distinction between dissociative and classic schizophrenia in Shauna’s presentation:

  “The dissociative part: little parts never got seen, teased...the schizophrenia part: chorus of voices, constant judgment, more clearly representative of paranoid schizophrenia.” — Dr. Harrison [21:59]

Practical Coping and Grounding Techniques

• Shauna relies on simple, practical coping (engagement, avoidance of triggers, certain routines). Coffee helps; calming supplements do not. Unlike Dr. Harrison’s stepdaughter, Shauna does not display significant sensory processing issues.

  “If you have a cup of coffee, you seem to do a little better. If you take one of those calming gummies, not so good.” — Dr. Harrison [24:24]

How to Connect and Learn More

• Listeners can find Dr. Harrison and information about her book at Soul Wise Solutions

  “It's Soul Wise Solutions...from there it directs you to the Amazon link to buy the book, which we would love. Get to know her whole story of reason, resilience and then our story together...” — Dr. Harrison [25:27]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the transformative power of resilience:

  “She is a walking spirit...she just has this very spiritual calm effect...she just sort of stared straight ahead and just kind of waited for it all to calm down. She is not confrontational in the least.” — Dr. Harrison [16:10]

• On destigmatizing schizophrenia and DID:

  “It's so not as common as the press would make you believe...that people are going to turn violent like that...” — Dr. Harrison [15:01]

• On empowerment and hope:

  “Anything is possible and...you just have to keep going, keep believing...at the end of the day, people were like, okay, if I can get my head around this, maybe I can start to be a little bit more curious and help your cause.” — Dr. Harrison [17:01], [21:05]

• On enduring presence and acceptance:

  “If you just say, ‘Hey, Shauna,’ she will snap right out of it...able to completely join the conversation with unbelievable insight.” — Dr. Harrison [09:27]

• A moment of pure connection:

  “Doc, thanks. Yeah, it’s kind of hard sometimes.” — Shauna [14:37]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dr. Harrison’s introduction and background: [02:19] – [03:00]
• Personal roots and early career influences: [03:00] – [04:07]
• Burnout and family dynamics: [04:25] – [05:36]
• Mental health field evolution: [05:36] – [06:36]
• Shauna’s unique journey and self-regulation strategies: [08:55] – [12:55]
• Co-authoring Shauna’s story, moments of connection: [13:12] – [14:50]
• Addressing stereotypes about violence: [15:01]
• Shauna’s spiritual approach to adversity: [16:10]
• Future goals and advocacy outlook: [17:01] – [19:21]
• Community response and dialogue: [20:33]
• Complexity/rarity of Shauna’s presentation: [21:12]
• Differentiating dissociative & schizophrenia symptoms: [21:59]
• Grounding and coping practices: [24:24]
• How to connect and learn more: [25:27]

Tone & Style

Throughout, Dr. Harrison is candid, warm, and deeply compassionate, sharing both triumphs and struggles with humility and a sense of collective responsibility. The episode encourages empathy, curiosity, and a growing embrace of neurodiversity.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode of "Why Not Me?" offers an inspiring portrait of psychological resilience, survivor advocacy, and human connection through the lived experience of Dr. Kristen Viola Harrison and Shauna. With honesty and heart, Dr. Harrison deconstructs misconceptions about severe mental illness, emphasizes the importance of community, and models the possibility of living joyfully and meaningfully—no matter the challenges. If you’re interested in trauma, neurodiversity, or want to understand the intersections of mental illness and healing, you’ll find real-world hope and wisdom here.