What does it really take to heal from Complex PTSD (CPTSD)? How can yoga therapy, self-inquiry, and awareness complement psychotherapy to create lasting change?In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Rachel Bilski—Yoga Therapist, Faculty Lecturer at The Minded Institute, and Operations & Business Development Manager at PTSD UK.Rachel opens up about her own lived experience with misdiagnosed mental health struggles, her discovery of meditation and yoga, and the transformative path that led her into the field of trauma-informed yoga therapy. Together, we explore: • The difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD • Why yoga therapy goes beyond yoga teaching and talk therapy • How the nervous system, breath, and body play a crucial role in trauma recovery • Practical insights from polyvagal theory and Internal Family Systems (IFS) • The importance of awareness, self-energy, and the practice of becoming the witness • How PTSD UK is raising awareness and supporting trauma survivorsThis is more than a conversation about trauma—it’s an exploration of self, healing, and the resilience of the human spirit.👉 Learn more: • The Minded Institute: https://themindedinstitute.com • PTSD UK: https://www.ptsduk.org⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Introduction & yoga therapy background01:13 – Working with PTSD and Complex PTSD clients04:02 – Rachel’s misdiagnosis and discovering Complex PTSD05:05 – Losing hope and the turning point10:42 – Life as a yoga teacher before therapy15:00 – Complex PTSD not well understood at the time16:24 – History of PTSD and recognition of CPTSD19:14 – PTSD UK and raising awareness20:21 – What is Complex PTSD? Ongoing trauma explained22:23 – Symptoms of Complex PTSD25:35 – Disturbances in self and identity difficulties32:00 – Triggers and nervous system responses36:00 – Polyvagal Theory & IFS in trauma work50:45 – Self as an unchanging essence in healing59:18 – Awareness vs regulation in recovery01:06:15 – Living in recovery, not ‘fully recovered’01:11:35 – Capital-S Self and parts work01:16:30 – Closing reflections & future conversations

Welcome to the Transcendent Psychology Podcast, where we explore the dynamic world of psychotherapy through the unique lens of content generated and analyzed by Notebook LLM. This episode dives deep into key concepts like relational psychoanalysis, rupture-repair, and the insights of trauma expert, Dr. Jacob Ham, designed to help listeners, particularly Transcendent Psychology students, navigate complex therapeutic ideas.

We focus on the relational tradition, which sees relationships as primary in shaping psychological life and therapy. It moves beyond traditional "one-person psychology" to a "two-person psychology," where the mind is structured by how the environment responds [implied by relational matrix 51]. Healing isn't just about knowing, but about experiencing life differently with another person. This requires the therapist to be present, bringing their own subjectivity and engaging with countertransference. It's a stance of passion and engagement, where the therapist must be far more near to the encounter and bravely bring themselves into the process [implied by 59].

A vital concept is the rupture-repair process, seen not as a failure, but as a critical change mechanism [implied by its importance]. We explore how moments of disconnection or misunderstanding—the inevitable messiness—are actually crucial opportunities for growth and new relational experiences [implied by 68, 69]. Navigating these ruptures relationally is essential for strengthening the therapeutic connection [implied by 68, 69].

Drawing from the work of Dr. Jacob Ham, we understand complex trauma as a relational injury that must be fixed relationally. His approach emphasizes listening to how someone talks, valuing the body's wisdom over the mind's, and guiding individuals towards a new state rather than a fixed endpoint [implied by 11, 12, 26, 27, 60]. This work demands authenticity and the courage to sit with difficult feelings, often described as having to shut up and sit and suffer. It's about bearing witness in a safe context and engaging in a "communion of two human beings" [implied by witness, connection 15, 31, 58].

Leveraging Notebook LLM, this episode offers a unique way to grasp these profound and often challenging aspects of healing. Tune in to explore the "adventure in the discovery of aliveness and vibrancy" [implied by beauty, wonder 64, 65, and purpose of therapy 58] that emerges from the relational encounter, fostering tolerance for complexity and ambiguity.