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In this episode of Running Anthropologist, we sit down with Natae Feenstra, PhD, LPC, NCC—school counselor, counselor educator, and Certified Run Walk Talk® therapist—to explore running as a therapeutic treatment for trauma, and her involvement in the International Association of Running Therapists. We start with movement origins and how her counseling journey began, leading her to the forefront of this field. Drawing on her original research, Natae explains how regular running can significantly reduce trauma symptoms, potentially rivaling outcomes from established therapies, and why the simple act of moving—at any pace or distance—matters more than mileage goals. We discuss the science of bilateral stimulation (wider than you would think), the legacy of Dr. Thaddeus Kostrubala’s “Joy of Running,” and how movement shifts consciousness in ways that support healing. Natae also shares how she integrates running into counseling, the importance of trauma‑informed pacing and consent, and practical ideas for beginning a run‑walk practice after trauma. Learn more about her work at http://therapy-steps.com and about the emerging field of running therapy through the International Association of Running Therapists (IART) at https://sites.google.com/view/iartusa/ and our podcast home page for pictures, full research paper summary and more info at https://www.runninganthropologist.com.
By Running Anthropologist4.7
1313 ratings
In this episode of Running Anthropologist, we sit down with Natae Feenstra, PhD, LPC, NCC—school counselor, counselor educator, and Certified Run Walk Talk® therapist—to explore running as a therapeutic treatment for trauma, and her involvement in the International Association of Running Therapists. We start with movement origins and how her counseling journey began, leading her to the forefront of this field. Drawing on her original research, Natae explains how regular running can significantly reduce trauma symptoms, potentially rivaling outcomes from established therapies, and why the simple act of moving—at any pace or distance—matters more than mileage goals. We discuss the science of bilateral stimulation (wider than you would think), the legacy of Dr. Thaddeus Kostrubala’s “Joy of Running,” and how movement shifts consciousness in ways that support healing. Natae also shares how she integrates running into counseling, the importance of trauma‑informed pacing and consent, and practical ideas for beginning a run‑walk practice after trauma. Learn more about her work at http://therapy-steps.com and about the emerging field of running therapy through the International Association of Running Therapists (IART) at https://sites.google.com/view/iartusa/ and our podcast home page for pictures, full research paper summary and more info at https://www.runninganthropologist.com.