Today's clinicians have access to more advanced theories, protocols, and clinical models than at any other time in our profession's history. Yet, despite all that learning, something essential is often missing: our own humanity.

Many therapists enter this field wanting to grow and heal alongside others. But most of the training focuses almost entirely on the client. The result? A profession suffering from high rates of burnout and too few opportunities for therapists to embark on journeys of self-discovery — until now.

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth is thrilled to welcome back Brad Kammer, Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) Director, SPACE Inner Development Program creator, NARM® Senior Trainer, author, and executive producer of this podcast. The pair introduces us to the Inside-Out Learning Series: Transforming Clinical Work from the Inside-Out, a virtual workshop series for professionals committed to deep personal and clinical transformation. Brad also shares his motivation for creating the Inside-Out series and what participants can expect from the workshops' immersive, experiential, and supportive environment.

Reserve your spot in upcoming Inside-Out Learning Series workshops.

To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart – and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

We want to connect with you!

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"I'm so concerned about that being a fracturing of our psyche, in which we only allow empowerment... Can we just have someone to stand with us in that space? So that the process, no matter what we choose, is a process of self connection." - Sarah Champie

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Sarah Champie (LCSW), a licensed trauma therapist and NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) practitioner who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating hereditary cancer, genetic testing, and preventative surgery decisions. Sarah is also the creator and host of the podcast Walking the Genetic Line.

Sarah draws on her own experience as a BRCA1 carrier and the childhood loss of her mother to ovarian cancer to illuminate what she calls the "portal moment" of receiving genetic testing results. Together, Emily Ruth and Sarah explore why empowerment-only narratives fall short, how NARM® survival styles shape our responses to medical urgency, and the critical gap in emotional care for those facing life-altering body decisions. Sarah makes a compelling case that healing in this space means holding agency and grief at the same time, honoring the complexity of identity shifts, projective memory, and the deep longing for connection that surfaces when mortality enters the room.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

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"NARM® opened a whole new world to me... it's not just something you put on. NARM is, for me, a way of life. It's not just something you throw at somebody." - Elizabeth Remic Simonian

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Elizabeth Remic Simonian, an integrative and somatic therapist based in Rotterdam, Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and trained jazz vocalist, for a deeply heartful conversation about how the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) transformed not only her clinical work but her entire way of being in relationship with others.

Elizabeth traces her journey from conservatory-trained musician to trauma therapist, sharing the pivotal moments that called her toward depth and healing. She reflects on how encountering NARM for the first time revealed something she had never experienced in years of therapy: being asked what she actually wanted. From there, Elizabeth explores the profound shifts that unfolded as she began tracking her own efforting, reclaiming authenticity, and understanding that leaving yourself out of the equation is its own form of disconnection. She also shares how bringing NARM's relational presence into her music teaching created a palpable shift in her students' openness and creative freedom, and how singing with more embodiment and less shame changed her relationship with her own voice. The conversation closes with a tender example from Elizabeth's clinical practice, illustrating what it looks like to meet a client's vulnerability with genuine humanity rather than professional distance.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

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"Whatever your trauma is, just know that somehow, some way it could be used to help another human being."

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Frank Meeink, former white supremacist turned peer support specialist and recovery advocate, for a candid conversation about how honesty, humility, and service transformed his relationship with himself and others. Frank shares how decades of addiction, loss, and repeated relapse eventually led him to a moment of spiritual surrender, and how that turning point reshaped everything.

From his daily "God walks" and the personal mantra STAY (Stop Thinking About Yourself) to his work as an undercover recovery specialist connecting unhoused individuals with resources in downtown Los Angeles, Frank illustrates what it looks like to convert lived pain into genuine connection. The pair explores why saying "me too" can break through isolation, how letting go of resentments and the need to be the center of attention builds real self-esteem, and why highlighting someone's strengths alongside their struggles creates space for lasting change. Frank also reflects on the power of the "broken vessel" metaphor, the importance of sharing our stories only in service rather than performance, and why recovery is not about willpower but about surrendering to something greater and showing up for others each day.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

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X

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"Healing is not about improvement of daily functionalities or reduction of symptoms. Healing is deeply relational, cultural, and it's a political act." - Yukako Sortino

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Yukako Sortino, Manager of the Refugee Behavioral Wellness Program at Heartland Alliance Health, for a profoundly moving dialogue on trauma, resilience, and relational healing within refugee and immigrant communities. Drawing from her work in Chicago and her lived experience as an immigrant, Yukako invites listeners to reconsider healing as a collective, nonlinear journey that honors dignity, body, identity, and culture.

Yukako illuminates the "triple trauma paradigm"—pre-migration, migration, and post-migration trauma—emphasizing how experiences of displacement and systemic oppression are woven into the fabric of everyday life for many refugees and immigrants. She shares how the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) influences her approach as a relational lens, not a rigid method—prioritizing paced, attuned presence, honoring survival adaptations, and centering co-regulation before self-regulation. Through a vivid case study and reflection, she illustrates how micro-interventions, group-based and somatic supports, and culturally rooted practices restore agency and belonging amid ongoing adversity.

The conversation also highlights the structural barriers and burnout faced by providers, advocating for rest as an ethical imperative and collective care as essential resistance. Listeners are called to see beyond clinical outcomes, to foster authentic community, and to recognize the vital role of therapist self-care and sustainability.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training

"It's simple, not always easy—but movement, writing, and a little fresh air changed my life." – Lawrence Chrystopher Harris

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth sits down with Lawrence Chrystopher Harris, a youth empowerment speaker who transforms his lived experience of childhood trauma into practical hope for young people and their supporters. Lawrence reflects on growing up as a neurodivergent child in Philadelphia, surviving family abuse, and overcoming alienation, offering an inside look at the barriers he faced and the hard-won lessons that now guide his work.

The conversation centers on accessible tools for healing—journaling, exercise, and getting outdoors—framed as a "mental, physical, spiritual triangle." Lawrence shares how consistent daily practice of these simple habits helped him learn self-reflection, emotional regulation, and self-love, breaking free from patterns of self-doubt and disconnection. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity in self-inquiry, the courage to acknowledge both shadow and light within, and the profound difference between our feelings and our identity. The episode is a powerful call to caregivers, educators, and youth themselves: transformation is possible when we start with manageable, sustainable steps anchored in agency and imagination.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training

"Hip hop culture is a fuel for life… an organic healing culture with roots that empower both individuals and communities." – Dr. Raphael Travis

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Dr. Raphael Travis, an educator, researcher, and social worker who has devoted his life to understanding how hip hop culture serves as a powerful tool for individual and collective healing. Dr. Travis traces hip hop's five key elements—MCing, breakdancing, DJing, graffiti, and knowledge of self—and discusses how each contributes to identity reconstruction, resilience, and post-traumatic growth. He reflects on his own lived experiences growing up in New York during the early days of hip hop, and shares stories from his work with youth in clinical and community settings.

Listeners will explore how hip hop's expressive arts create vital counter narratives to trauma-induced identity threats and why culturally grounded modalities are essential for trauma transformation. Dr. Travis explains how shifting from a deficit-based to an empowerment-based approach to youth development can catalyze agency, belonging, and social change. He shares practical strategies—ranging from lyric analysis to innovative uses of technology like beat making and haptic devices—for building therapeutic connection and intentional healing within youth and communities. The conversation highlights the importance of relationship, positive development, and the transformative potential of the arts in fostering both individual and community recovery.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training

"We heal not through perfection, but through presence." – Lisa Gillispie, as reflected by Emily Ruth

On this special year-end episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Brad Kammer, LMFT, LPCC, Training Director of the Complex Trauma Training Center, for an intimate conversation on the evolving landscape of trauma therapy practice and community. Together, they look back on a year filled with wisdom from leading voices in the field of complex trauma, and the courage to embrace imperfection.

Emily Ruth and Brad reflect on memorable episodes featuring NARM®-trained colleagues and guests innovating across approaches including Somatic Experiencing, Jungian Psychology, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). They explore how practitioners like Lisa Gillispie and Kelly Cook are advancing integrative trauma modalities within schools, clinical supervision, and diverse care settings. The conversation honors stories from therapists working with marginalized groups, such as those impacted by the criminal justice system and LGBTQ+ communities, emphasizing how real transformation unfolds through deep relationships and shared humanity.

Brad also shares insights from the inaugural year of the SPACE Inner Development Program, created to support therapists in supporting presence, awareness, connection and embodiment. The dialogue surfaces ongoing growth edges and challenges while celebrating the resilience and creative spirit within the complex trauma therapy field.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training

"[SPACE] is really a dynamic, alive experience… One person even said, "I could keep doing this for the rest of my life." – Marcia Black

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth reunites with Brad Kammer, Stefanie Klein, and Marcia Black for a heartfelt group reflection on the inaugural year of the SPACE Inner Development Program at the Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC). Together, they explore the intentions behind creating a professional community where therapists can reconnect with themselves and each other—without judgement or performance—for authentic support, mentorship, personal and professional growth.

Hear how the SPACE program emerged as a co-creation not only among facilitators but with participants themselves, deepening into real-time feedback, transparent dialogue, and evolving interests. The conversation highlights key program themes—cultivating greater internal space as therapists, navigating relational enactments with clients, honoring the transpersonal, and embracing healthy vulnerability and support-seeking as mental health professionals. Brad, Stefanie, and Marcia share observations from small groups and triads, discuss the power of naming challenges like asking for help or facing therapeutic enactments, and affirm the value of centering the therapist's own healing journey as vital to trauma-informed care. Enriching personal stories and participant anecdotes illustrate the transformation that occurs when space is held for open exploration and connection.

The team also looks ahead to new program offerings from CTTC and their ongoing commitment to building an inclusive, compassionate learning community for those deepening into SPACE, practicing NARM® (NeuroAffective Relational Model®) and other trauma-informed practices.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training

High control religion is rarely one big wound. It is closer to death by a thousand paper cuts that add up to complex trauma for many people."- Laura Anderson

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, Emily Ruth welcomes Dr. Laura Anderson for a compassionate exploration of religious trauma, its impacts, and the nuanced paths toward healing. Drawing from her personal journey and clinical experience, Laura shares how religious trauma operates much like other forms of complex trauma—emphasizing that overwhelm and harm are deeply subjective and that each person has their own unique experience and story.

The conversation highlights Laura's definition of religious trauma, the importance of naming adverse religious experiences, and how healing must center on agency, autonomy, and honoring lived experience. Together, they discuss the limitations of prescriptive healing models, the need for pacing in trauma recovery, and how practices rooted in compassion and connection—such as the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) and other somatic approaches to trauma—help clients rediscover self-trust and resilience. Laura underscores the significance of spaciousness and validation, both in clinical relationships and in communities navigating faith, offering hope for anyone affected by high-control or adverse religious contexts.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

**SPACE:**

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

**The Complex Trauma Training Center:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

**View upcoming trainings:**

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

**Facebook **

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**Instagram **

https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

**LinkedIn**

https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

**YouTube**

https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter

**X**

https://x.com/CTTC_Training