Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J'aime Rothbard

This nuanced conversation begins with a deep dive into healing relational trauma. Rita explains developmental trauma, relational trauma and how both are rooted in ancestral and intergenerational trauma. After deftly highlighting how trauma experienced during critical developmental periods can lead to gaps in our self-awareness, emotional and relational functioning, she goes on to explore:

• - Forgiveness as a natural outcome of personal healing rather than a prerequisite for it. - Embodiment's role in fully experiencing and processing trauma. - Manifestations of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) - How humour, absurdity and laughter can coexist with tears during healing. - The Importance of meaningful connections with others in healing. - Relational approaches to therapy that emphasize embodied interactions.

• Rita shares several stories during this interview . One focuses on her love of dance, her experience in ballet school, how it served her as a necessary escape, and its many challenges, including an out of control eating disorder. She shares how one day a caring friend's well chosen truthful observation positively shifted her trajectory: an approach she now uses in her work with clients. Rita concludes by sharing the deeply personal story of her 2-person play, The Damage Is Done, in which she played several of her family members, opposite Gabor Mate, who appeared as himself.

About Rita Bozi Somatic Relational Psychedelic Therapist, Somatic Transformation Educator, Author

Raised by Hungarian refugees, Rita is a multidisciplinary Somatic Relational trauma- informed Facilitator, a Psychedelic Therapist, a Somatic Transformation Educator, author, podcast co-host, a multidisciplinary creator, playwright, retired professional actor and dancer.

With 30 years' experience in the healing arts, Rita is the director of Brilliant Healing Inc. She works with individuals and groups, leads unique, experiential, creative healing retreats, trains, mentors and supervises international students in her 3 Module program: Somatic Relational Trauma-informed Practices for Medicine-Assisted Facilitation. Rita is teaching Cohorts in Canada, Europe, the US and Australia and is guest faculty at The Synthesis Institute. She has been invited to lecture at the Psychedelic Association of Canada, the Psychedelic-assisted Therapy Graduate Certificate Program at Vancouver Island University and ATMA Journey Centres in the Psychedelic- Assisted Therapy Program.

Mentored by the late visionary Carol-Anne Bickerstaff, Rita spent four years in a practicum with Sharon Stanley PhD, studying her Somatic Transformation Model. She is a Consultant Facilitator of the One Brain System, has a Diploma in Shiatsu Therapy and is a former instructor at Mount Royal College in Calgary and Langara College in Vancouver.

Her podcast PUNK THERAPY: Psychedelic Underground Neural Kindness, which she co-hosts with Dr. T., has over 20,000 downloads. In 2013, Rita wrote, produced and co-starred with Gabor Maté in the multi-disciplinary stage show, The Damage in Done which performed to sold out houses.

Her first novel, When I Was Better [2022] is a Firebird Book Award winner and a finalist for the 2022 Goethe International literary award for Late-Historical Fiction.

Promotional Link:

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Resources

Websites:

Professional Website

Creative Website

Related Links:

Amanda Lindhout

Victor Frankel

Videos: A Human Response to Medicine

The Making of "The Damage Is Done"

How do we help when we're overwhelmed ourselves?

When Wise Interventions are Required in Medicine Spaces (To Intervene or Not?)

Plays:

Playwright Experience

Publications:

Complete List

Books:

When I Was Better

List of Inspiring Books

Podcasts:

Punk Therapy

Exploring The Psychedelic Revolution In Therapy

Song:

Leonard Cohen

Quotes:

"Let's talk about developmental trauma and how well my accommodations and adaptations have prevented my heart from completely imploding on this planet. lol :)" - Rita Bozi

"We're making a home in our consciousness for the consciousness of the other." - Sharon Stanley

"There are no villains and there are no victims. There's just a lot of hurting people." - Gabor Maté