In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we're sitting down with Christy Gunter, LMSW to unpack the complexities of chronic trauma—what it is, how it impacts the brain and body, and what we can do to help clients heal.

Christy explains chronic trauma as repeated exposure to threat or harm. Over time, the brain and nervous system start to adapt in ways that were meant to protect us but can become unhelpful—or even harmful—in the long run. We talk through how chronic trauma differs from acute trauma, explore the wide range of trauma responses (yes, there’s more than just fight or flight—collapse and submit show up, too), and look at how these patterns shape behavior and show up in the therapy room.

We also dive into the nervous system’s role in trauma, the power of EMDR for processing it, and why breaking down maladaptive responses is such an important part of recovery. Christy and I both emphasize a holistic approach—because healing isn’t just about processing the trauma itself. It’s also about supporting clients in navigating daily life challenges, relationships, and triggers along the way.

Link to Christy's book: https://a.co/d/idgeVVa

NICABM: https://www.nicabm.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction

00:58 Understanding Chronic Trauma

01:21 Defining Chronic Trauma

04:07 Somatic Symptoms and Identifying Triggers

09:06 Chronic Trauma's Impact on the Nervous System

13:01 Therapeutic Approaches to Chronic Trauma

16:20 Case Studies and Practical Applications

19:36 Dual Diagnosis and Integrated Treatment

21:21 Exploring EMDR and Art Therapy

22:41 The Importance of Consent in Therapy

23:22 Working with Different Age Groups

24:51 Understanding Chronic Trauma

27:43 Addressing Abandonment Issues

32:06 Coupling Trauma with Sensory Triggers

37:39 The Role of EMDR in Trauma Processing

42:14 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠ LinkedIn.⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠