Somatic therapist Elizabeth Ferreira joins the show to answer questions from listeners, and discuss complex trauma, dissociation, and working with challenging emotions. Elizabeth and I start by exploring the relationship between Internal Family Systems and somatic therapy, including how we can apply a somatic lens to working with our parts. We then apply that framework to complex PTSD, cognitive bypassing, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and other difficult experiences. Other topics include issues around comparing trauma, windows of tolerance, appreciating individual needs, and Elizabeth’s own journey of becoming a therapist while managing C-PTSD and ADHD.
About our Guest: @elizabeth.ferreira is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working in California. She specializes in somatic approaches to trauma work.
I'm not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.
Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
1:10 What is the crossover between IFS and somatic therapy?
12:35 When self-awareness doesn’t create change.
19:10 Dissociation, and tracking your window of presence
34:55 Emotional numbing, and how to feel your feelings again
41:10 Hypervigilance, and staying present without catastrophizing
49:00 How do I respond to those who minimize trauma?
59:35 What’s helped you get what you want from life while living with trauma and neurodivergence?
1:11:45 Recap
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Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (https://amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (https://apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
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