How does trauma-informed care look outside the therapy office? This episode dives into real-world applications of TIC in classrooms, healthcare clinics, workplaces, justice systems, and community programs. We break down what meaningful trauma-informed practice looks like in each environment and offer concrete interventions, scripts, and environmental shifts. Perfect for educators, healthcare workers, administrators, and anyone building safer systems.

Through grounded conversation, we unpack ways to build safety through predictability, co-regulation, pacing, consent-based language, and collaborative decision-making. You’ll learn how to avoid re-traumatization, honor client autonomy, and use your presence as a clinical tool.

You’ll Learn:

• How to create safety and predictability from the very first session
• How to use empowerment-focused, strengths-based language
• Ways to integrate grounding, pacing, and nervous system regulation
• How to incorporate consent and choice in every therapeutic moment
• Strategies to navigate power dynamics and avoid retraumatization

Perfect For:

Counselors who want to embody trauma-informed practice, from interns to seasoned clinicians looking to deepen their craft.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is everywhere, but often misunderstood. In this foundational episode, we unpack what TIC is and what it isn’t. We explore the core principles, why TIC is essential in mental health, education, healthcare, and community settings, and how unintentional harm happens when systems ignore trauma. We explore how trauma impacts the brain, body, and relationships and introduce the six core principles of Trauma-Informed Care: Safety, Trustworthiness & Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration, Empowerment, and Cultural/Historical/Gender Awareness.

You’ll Learn:

• What trauma-informed care is (and what it’s not)
• How trauma shapes nervous system responses
• A deep dive into the 6 SAMHSA principles
• Why TIC is a universal approach, not a specialty
• How these principles create safety and trust for clients
• Language shifts that reduce shame and increase safety
• Mistakes even well-intentioned providers make
• How to start adopting a TIC mindset today

Perfect For:

Counselors and other mental health professionals, educators, students, supervisors, and wellness professionals seeking a strong foundation in trauma-informed practice.

Resources Mentioned in Episode:

Dr. Resmaa Menekem's My Grandmother's Hands

CPTSD can feel overwhelming, but healing is possible. In this episode, we dive into the most effective treatments for Complex PTSD, from trauma-focused therapies like EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and somatic work to community support, attachment repair, and emerging approaches like psychedelic-assisted therapy. We’ll explore why traditional approaches don’t always fit, how the brain and body relearn safety, and what it means to move from survival into healing.

If you’ve ever wondered what recovery from CPTSD can actually look like, this conversation offers both science and hope.

https://maps.org/advancing-research/

What happens when the places that promise love, family, or faith become the very sources of shame and rejection? In this episode, Sacred Wounds: Queer Identity & Spiritual Betrayal, we unpack how Complex PTSD disproportionately impacts LGBTQIA+ folks and survivors of religious trauma. We explore the neuroscience of chronic identity-based trauma, the deep wounds left by spiritual abuse, and why these experiences often fracture self-worth and belonging. Most importantly, we share pathways of healing from chosen family and somatic practices to reclaiming spirituality on your own terms.

This is an episode about survival, reclamation, and remembering that your truth is sacred.

What happens when trauma isn’t just one event, but a lifetime of repeated wounds? In this episode, we explore Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). We discuss what it is, how it differs from PTSD, and why it’s so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We break down the neuroscience of chronic trauma, the impact on identity and relationships, and why LGBTQIA+ folks and survivors of religious trauma are disproportionately affected. Most importantly, we’ll talk about the pathways toward healing — from somatic practices and community care to reclaiming safety, belonging, and sacredness.

If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too broken,” or unseen in your trauma, this episode is for you.

Why do so many women with ADHD feel like they’re falling apart in their 30s, 40s, or during certain weeks of the month? In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked link between hormonal shifts and ADHD symptoms in women. From premenstrual crashes in the luteal phase to the chaos of perimenopause, we dive deep into how fluctuating estrogen levels impact focus, mood, executive function, and burnout.

We also unpack why so many women go undiagnosed until adulthood, how their symptoms have been masked or misunderstood, and what support can actually look like.

Whether you’ve lived with a diagnosis for years or are just beginning to ask the questions, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live in a neurodivergent body across a lifetime.

Topics include:

• ADHD symptom differences in women

• The role of estrogen and dopamine

• Luteal phase crashes and menstrual mood swings

• ADHD during perimenopause and menopause

What happens when the story you’ve been told about your brain is wrong? In this episode, we unpack the common patterns of misdiagnosis among neurodivergent people—especially those who are autistic, have ADHD, or both. We explore how misdiagnosis happens, why it’s so common in women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks, and how finding the right diagnosis can shift a person’s entire understanding of themselves.

Most people think autism is diagnosed in childhood—but for many, it isn’t. This episode focuses on the increasing number of adults being diagnosed as autistic, often after decades of misdiagnosis or confusion. We explore what late diagnosis feels like, why it happens, and how it can bring both grief and healing.

Autism diagnoses are on the rise—and with it, so are questions. Are we overdiagnosing autism, or are we finally catching up to reality? In this episode, we break down the myths and truths behind the data, explain why diagnosis rates are increasing, and address the real reasons people are being identified later in life.

What We Cover:

• Why autism and ADHD are so often misdiagnosed

• The emotional and psychological impact of receiving the wrong label

• Who’s still being left out of the diagnostic process
• How diagnostic criteria and public awareness have changed
• Why autism rates are rising (and why that’s a good thing)
• Why late diagnosis is valid, powerful, and life-changing

Neurodivergent people—those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other forms of brain-based difference—often walk a complicated path through the world of mental health. In this episode, we explore how neurodivergence intersects with mental health, why neurodivergent folks face higher rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout, and how stigma, masking, and systemic barriers contribute to distress.

This episode is a compassionate, clear-eyed look at how we can move from pathologizing to supporting neurodivergent minds.

What We Cover:

• What “neurodivergence” means and how it differs from mental illness

• Why neurodivergent people are more likely to struggle with mental health

• The impact of masking, invalidation, and being misunderstood

• How to build affirming, inclusive mental health support systems

In this eye-opening episode, we take a deep dive with Dr. Adrienne Graham into the most common myths and misconceptions about transgender people—and why they matter. From misunderstandings about gender identity and medical transition to harmful narratives about detransition and violence, we break down the facts and challenge the fear-based rhetoric often seen in media and politics.

We explore how politicizing trans existence contributes to discrimination, mental health struggles, and even violence—and we highlight the resilience and diversity of trans communities in the face of these challenges. Whether you're looking to become a better ally or seeking clarity in a sea of misinformation, this episode will ground you in truth and compassion. Share this episode to counter misinformation and support trans visibility. Let’s replace fear with facts and debates with dignity.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

The Human Rights Campaign https://www.hrc.org/

https://www.hrc.org/magazine/2021-spring/myths-and-facts

Trans Legislation: https://translegislation.com/

The Trevor Project: www.thetrevorproject.org

National Center for Transgender Equality: www.transequality.org

https://www.nsvrc.org/sites/default/files/publications/2019-02/Transgender_infographic_508_0.pdf

World Professional Association for Transgender Health https://wpath.org/

5 Calls https://5calls.org/