Trauma Informed Podcast

Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews Alex Abraham about his new book Trauma and Ecstasy. This book tells the story of Alex's healing journey from childhood sexual abuse through the use of psychedelics.

In this episode Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews Pepper Joy. Pepper Joy is a certified Trauma Recovery Coach supervisor. She facilitates coaching for individuals, couples, in tandem with Coach PJ and in groups. Pepper Joy also helps other coaches in their practice to hone their skills and enhance their own healing experiences. Pepper Joy is a survivor of childhood trauma and human trafficking. She is no stranger to the complexities and intersectional pieces of the scope of trauma and its effects on the human brain, body and soul. She is the expert and creator of RReST, the Restorative Response Systems theory that is taking the world of psychology and trauma recovery by storm.

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast, we have Marta Iglesias as our special guest. Marta Iglesias is a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern based in Miami, Florida. You can follow her on Instagram @micounselor or learn more about her on her website www.mi-counselor.com. We discuss a unique approach to trauma that Marta employs called Trauma Incident Reduction TIR. You can learn more about TIR here https://www.traumaresolutioncenter.net/tir.

Here Jeff Friedman interviews Denise Bossarte about her latest bool Thriving after sexual abuse. Denise Bossarte is an award-winning author, poet, and photographer and artist whose passion is sharing the worlds of her mind and camera. Her daytime job in IT helps to keep the household running. She is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. She recently published a book called Thriving After Sexual Abuse. You can learn more about her here http://www.denisebossartebooks.com/.

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW sits down with Dr. Michele Fineran. We discuss Dr. Finneran's latest book Surviving Domestic Abuse Formal and Informal Supports and Services. You can learn more about Dr. Fineran here https://www.psychotherapist-services.org/.

In this episode, Jeff Friedman speaks with Victoria Burns, Ph.D. an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. Here we discuss her own recovery from trauma and addiction. We also touch on the stigma of being sober in academia.

Here I sit down for a conversation with Fausto Castellanos. A person in long term recovery from drugs as well as sexual abuse. He is also a ninja with the Jump Rope. We talk about how jumping rope has been integral to his recovery and sobriety. Here he shares his story about how he met his mentor the Jump Rope Master Buddy Lee of https://buddyleejumpropes.com/.You can follow him on IG @ https://www.instagram.com/soberfaust/ and on the web http://soberfaust.com/.

Here I chat with Logan an aspiring welder from Manitoba, Canada. He is a huge Juice Wrld fan. We discuss Juice Wrld's legacy and how it relates to Mental Health and Substance Use issues.

Here I have Holly Wood LMFT as my special guest. My name is Holly and I am a Trauma-Informed Clinical Sexologist. I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist and coach for individuals, couples, and families that are struggling with reaching their full potential. As a clinician, I am passionate about helping people achieve their goals and live happy, healthy, rewarding lives. I truly believe that trauma is the source of pathology and that everyone has within them the capacity to heal. Furthermore, I am dedicated to fostering a safe environment, working with each individual to develop the necessary skills to achieve lifelong change to improve their quality of life. You can learn more here https://www.hollywoodmft.com/.

Here I chat with Crystal Tejara a personal development enthusiast and Miami Native. We talk about Brainspotting a unique technique for trauma healing. Check Crystal out on IG @crystaltejara. She is the director of wellness for Miami Vibes https://www.miamivibesmag.com/ a local magazine about all things Miami.

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed, we have a special guest Leah Summer. Leah is a rock star recording artist and also a trauma survivor. She shares her experience of surviving childhood trauma and domestic violence as an adult to forging a career as a successful singer-songwriter. Follow her on IG @leahsummer1111.

In this episode, Jeff Friedman has a special guest Odeline Jean-Baptise. We discuss how Odeline's experience of being born in Haiti influences her identity and her clinical work as a therapist. Odeline describes herself here: As a therapist, I serve as a hand to guide clients toward developing their personal growth. I specialize in depression, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, ADHD, anger management, grief and adjustment issues. I have experience with various age groups such as children (as early as age 5), adolescents, and adults. Through a unique approach, I encourage clients to gravitate towards their ideal self. I strive to present a psychotherapy approach through empathy, empowerment, and self-determination methods. Throughout the process, I assist my clients in gaining clarity while finding solutions to the challenges they may face along their journey. Evidence-based Interventions such as Positive Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Solution-focused brief therapy, and Person-Centered therapy is used to establish effective skills to assist the clients in reaching their goals. My approach focuses on changing thought patterns by creating new thoughts that enable you to take action towards achieving your desired results. Therapy sessions are available virtually as well as remotely. For a free consultation or networking proposal please contact me at (786) 405-9959 or via email Odeline1.jeanbaptiste@gmail.com.

In this podcast, I chat with an individual about her experience of being on a cocktail of psychiatric medication and discontinuing the medication during Covid-19. We connected with each other on the radical mental health sub on Reddit. This is not medical advice and please consult with a medical professional if you decide to make a change regarding your medication.

In this episode of the trauma-informed podcast, we have Rissa Wray as our very special guest we talk about Thai Massage, Yoga, and Trauma Healing. You can learn more about her work on the web https://www.thaimassagestpete.com/ and follow her on IG https://www.instagram.com/rissawray.

Here is part two of Jeff Friedman Ph.D. interview with professional ping pong player Wally Green. We discuss how the sport of Ping Pong took him to North Korea. He uses the game of ping pong as a vehicle for promoting peace across cultural and racial lines. We also touch on his perspective on the recent protest following the death of George Floyd.

On this Episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast, we have a very special guest Wally Green. From his website https://www.whoiswallygreen.com/ he describes his life: Growing up in one of the most dangerous housing projects in Brooklyn, at a very young age I sought protection through gangs, guns, and violence. Homelife was one of constant abuse and domestic violence by my stepfather. I was repeatedly told by him that I was no good and would never amount to anything, and with my mother being abused and yet still protecting him, I was filled with extreme hatred. He swore that the only future I would have would be in jail or dead somewhere. In the midst of all the abuse and turmoil in my life, at a late age, I found a totally unusual sport and excelled, becoming one of the most Internationally famous and entertaining American players in the world! If it wasn't for the sport of table tennis, I would have probably ended up in jail or dead, but through this sport, my eyes were open to all the endless possibilities that life had in store for me. Table Tennis in many ways helped me to realize that the whole world wasn't bad and that there were much better things for me other than being in the streets. The sport of table tennis truly saved my life. Wally's story is really an amazing one about how sports can really be a catalyst for resilience from some of the most traumatic experiences. Follow Wally on Twitter https://twitter.com/wallygreennyc and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wallygreennyc.

Here is part two with Gara Love aka Gara Steinfeld. We discuss what addiction recovery is like with Zoom Meetings these challenging times. Follow Gara on social at https://www.instagram.com/gara_love/.

Gara Steinfeld aka Gara Love is a Psychotherapist in Delray Beach, Florida. She assists clients in gaining freedom from destructive patterns and behaviors, healing from trauma, and working through even the most difficult of times. She believes in creating a strong therapeutic bond and an environment conducive to healing as it is necessary her clients feel supported, grounded, and safe as they engage in the often-uncomfortable work involved in the healing process. Gara knows that this work is not easy. In fact, it can be one of the most difficult (and greatest) challenges you’ve ever accepted, and she honors you for it. While healing is the number one priority, she doesn’t believe in taking ourselves too seriously, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself having a little fun along the way. We discuss the new documentary about childhood trauma called "Cracked Up" https://www.crackedupmovie.com/. You can follow Gara https://www.instagram.com/gara_love/.

This the first podcast I ever recorded. I was lucky enough to have with me Dr. Chris Lariche an addiction psychiatrist as my guest. We discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs and how they relate to Addiction. This Episode was recorded in October 2015.

ere is a recording of my dissertation defense to the faculty of Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern I present my qualitative research on resilience from Adverse Childhood Experiences. The Abstract of my study is found below: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, and household dysfunction. Much has been reported about the detrimental outcomes associated with these experiences. The associated negative outcomes of ACEs can include addiction, suicide, disability, teenage pregnancy, and early death. However, it is well known that many people experience ACEs and do very well. Rather than viewing negative outcomes only as symptoms of trauma and positive outcomes only as signs of resilience, it is possible to consider adaptations. This study focused on how adults adapted to their adverse childhood experiences. Data were collected based on semistructured interviews with nine members of the ACEs Connection Social Network, an online support group. The data were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory methodology. A grounded theory then emerged from data, supporting the adaptation construct.

Here is a talk I gave about applying the lens of Toxic Masculinity to the phenomenon of school shootings. I gave the talk a few years before the Parkland shooting occurred. The talk was given at Nova Southeastern University where I received my Ph.D.

Mitchell Leff is a recovery coach based out of New York City. He is sober and has 11 years in recovery. He operates a sober coaching business called Mitch Motivates. He has an active IG https://www.instagram.com/mitchmotivates and you can find him here on the web @ https://www.mitchmotivates.com. In this episode Mitch tells about his own recovery journey and how he founded his own recovery coaching business.

In this episode we have Mollie McGlocklin as our special guest. Mollie is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill, a company that optimizes how people sleep through a unique blend of technology, accountability, and behavioral change. The company was born from “scratching her own itch” after a lifetime of poor sleep habits culminated into a mega-challenging bout of insomnia for months without end. With a background in psychology & human behavior, she went down the rabbit hole to solve her own sleep disturbances without sleeping aids. She became fascinated with chronobiology, and by extension, its practical applications to restore a state of homeostasis not only to her sleep but also to her life as a whole. Knowing the difference between a life with sleep and without, she’s now dedicated her life to sharing the forgotten skill set of sleep. Insomnia is often an unwanted side effect of Trauma and PTSD. Mollie provides tools and strategies for preventing insomnia and optimizing sleep. You can get social with Mollie at the links found below: Sleep Reset Course: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/sleep-reset Weekly Newsletter: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/get-started Sleep Is A Skill Podcast: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-mcglocklin-sleep-is-a-skill-82531825/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molliemcglocklin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepisaskill/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepIsASkill Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sleepisaskill/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy-IU372xapHLvXnZRbXU7A

In this interview, Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews Mildred "Millie" Steinberg. Millie shares her story of how she was able to remain positive after the death of her son who was murdered by accident.

In this podcast, Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews a then 93-year-old Norman Hayon. Norman is a Jewban Holocaust Survivor. He tells his story of escaping Nazi Germany via Havana Cuba and then landing in New York City. Norman currently resides in Aventura, Florida, and is 100 years old.

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast, we have Darby Munroe as our guest. Darby is an educator and Ph.D. student in Conflict Resolution. We discuss how a Trauma-Informed perspective can be applied to Family Courts. You can follow Darby on Twitter @ @DarbyMunroe

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW has a very special guest Lauren Brill the founder of The Unsealed. Lauren's own experience of sexual assault led her to develop The Unsealed. The Unsealed is a media platform that helps people heal through the art of storytelling. You can learn more about The Unsealed here https://theunsealed.com/ follow Lauren on IG @laur_brill Twitter @_laurenbrill and FB @laurenbrillsports.

In this episode, I chat with Jennifer one of the moderators of the SubReddit r/PsychotherapyLeftists. We discuss the intersection of Leftist Politics and Mental Health.

In this episode, we have Derrick Hoard LMFT as our guest. Derrick says that he thinks that traditional therapy is broken. Most practitioners are so boring and have no personality. They are so concerned with "treating mental illness" that they forget how to "have a conversation with a client". Listen to hear some of the stories behind his brand of therapy he calls "Situational Therapy" You can find him on Twitter @HoardJavan and at his professional website listed here https://thesituationaltherapist.com.

In this Episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast, Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews Max Weissman LPC a Therapist based in Asheville, North Carolina that specializes in Adolescent Males.

In this episode, I chat with Aspen and Ren a SoundCloud Rap Duo out of Seattle, Washington. We discuss Soundcloud Rap and mental health. Aspen speaks of his experience of drug addiction, being homeless, and getting sober. He talks about how he found his partner in music Ren and how they share a special bond.

In this episode of the Trauma-Informed Podcast Jeff Friedman Ph.D. LCSW interviews Michelle Muenstermann about her experience of surviving a Troubled Teen Industry Program in Utah.

In this episode, we have Eli from Crown Heights, Brooklyn where he shares history from going from a Yeshiva Boucher to an OTD Dentist.

Jeff Friedman LCSW of www.friedmanfamilytx.com interviews Justin Volpe CRPS-A Certified Recovery Peer Specialist. Justin is in recovery from mental illness, substance use, and trauma. He speaks nationally for SAMSHA advocating trauma-informed care and sharing his recovery journey. You can follow him on Twitter at @VolpeJustin.

Episode # 2 of the OTD Podcast. Here I interview Andrew who grew up attending the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, New Jersey. We discuss some of his struggles challenging the Jewish Teachings he grew up with. Specifically, how he was able to reconcile some of the conflicts he had with his family with his beliefs diverging from theirs. We also discuss some of his Libertarian political beliefs and how they relate to his Orthodox Jewish upbringing. Below is a snippet of the interview transcript: [00:00:00] Jeff: [00:00:00] So my first question is, where are you from? How did that place and those people that lived in that place influence your life. [00:00:08] What about influencing my life? Okay. I'll say it again. Where are you from and how did that place and those people where you're from influence your life? [00:00:17] Andrew : [00:00:17] Sure. So I'm from Northern New Jersey. I grew up in a small little town called Bernardsville, New Jersey. [00:00:28] I had never spent a day out of Jewish day school or Yeshiva. I'm not sure if a particular location influenced my life so much. I kind of feel like modern Orthodox communities are the same everywhere you go. I don't know if I have much to say on that topic. How they, each place is a little bit like the still the neighborhood might have some interesting nuances that are a little bit geographically. [00:00:55] I actually grew up, I lived not directly in the Jewish community [00:01:00] that I was a part of. I lived a little further away and drove 30 minutes every day to a Kushner Yeshiva where I was for middle school and high school. My parents actually became religious later in life. They both grew up somewhat conservative. [00:01:16] To a larger extent, my dad had kind of a religious awakening when I was around seven or eight. Something happened in one day, but it was slow over the course of years and years and years, and he became more and more religious than. [00:01:33] My school was a Jewish school that wasn't associated with any movement. there's a term for that. Jeff: It's called non-denominational Andrew I went to a non-denominational lower school, and the fifth grade, and then, you know, as they were becoming more religious, they switched me to Kushner which was a modern Orthodox school for middle school and high school. [00:01:52] Jeff: And what would you say your father was sort of Bal-Teshuvah? Andrew: So it's kind of interesting. I don't, it's, you wouldn't use that term for himself though. He [00:02:00] He wouldn't use that term for himself because I don't think he believes he's become religious as he should be. [00:02:07]So what's kind of interesting is my parents were somewhat a conservodox, actually, I would say when I was growing up. So they, when, I mean growing up and as I got older they became more religious. So after. after I was maybe 12 or 11, that's when they really, I think they peaked in terms of their religiosity. [00:02:25] And so, what that meant really was that my, they, they definitely believed Orthodox Judaism was correct and they wished they were closer to Orthodox Judaism, but because of the circumstances of living further away from the community, it did present some problems in terms of Shabbat and driving. So for example, they would, they were, the, what it ended up being was they would never, you know, touch your TV or electronics on Shabbat but they would be a little more okay with turning the lights on and off. [00:02:50] It was more about the spirit of Shabbat than it was about holding to the exact letter of the law.

On this episode, we have Juliana Mulligan as a guest. Juliana is a trauma survivor that has healed her trauma from using an ancient plant medicine called Ibogaine. Ibogaine is an African plant that has shown great promise in helping people recover from problematic opiate use. She talks about her own story as well as some of her current Harm Reduction work in New York City.

On this episode of the Trauma- Informed Podcast wa have Lisa Danylchuk as a guest. Lisa is a Psychotherapist and Yoga Teacher. She also has an online course educating yoga teachers as well as mental health professionals how to use yoga as a healing modality for trauma. You can learn more and sign up here http://howwecanheal.com/y4t/.

Listen to my chat with Chris Grosso. Chris is a tattooed, independent culturist, freelance writer, spiritual aspirant, recovering addict, and musician. Chris writes for such venues as "Rebelle Society", "Huffington Post", "Intent" blog, and is a monthly contributor on the radio show "Where is My Guru?" He created the popular hub for all things alternative, independent, and spiritual with The Indie Spiritualist website. A self-taught musician, Chris has been writing, recording, and touring since the mid-1990s playing with independent bands. www.theindiespiritualist.com/

Here I interview Elona Washington. Elona is sexual abuse survivor and advocate. She has a new book out the chronicles her journey from childhood sexual abuse to becoming a stripper and now an advocate for women who have been sexually abused. The book is called From Ivy League to Stripper Life Ten Life Lessons. You can use the hashtag #10lessons to tweet your comments. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her twelve-year-old son. She can learn more about her @ www.elonawashington.com .

Here is we have Leah Harris who is #Trauma survivor and activist. She is a consultant on #TraumaInformed care. You can learn more about her at her website www.leahidaharris.com

Here, Interview Erik Martin whose work was Feature in the film Paper Tigers http://kpjrfilms.co/paper-tigers/ . Paper Tigers featured Lincoln High School the first Trauma Informed High School in the country. Lincoln is an alternative high school located in Walla Walla Washington.

Here I have Jane Clapp. Jane is a personal trainer based in Toronto, Canada. She is the owner of Urban Fitt www.urbanfitt.com a fitness studio that utilizes movement to help people recover from emotional #Trauma.

This is part # 2 of my interview, Kevin Garcia. H shares his story of recovery from addiction. His experience in #Rehab and #DrugCourt. He is a past president of Students For Sensible Drug Policy at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He is a budding cognitive neuroscientist. Among other things, he is also a competitive #Powerlifter. I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin at a #Psychadelic dinner to raise funds for research on #MDMA for treating #PTSD.

Here, I interview Kevin Garcia as he shares his story of recovery from addiction. He is a past president of Students For Sensible Drug Policy at Florida International University in Miami, Florida. He is a budding cognitive neuroscientist. Among other things, he is also a competitive #Powerlifter. I had the pleasure of meeting Kevin at a #Psychadelic dinner to raise funds for research on #MDMA for treating #PTSD.

Allen Minor is part of the #CombatHippies a spoken word group comprised of #Veterans spreading the message of #PostTraumaticGrowth. You can learn more about them @ www.thecombathippies.com. Allen is also an accomplished poet and #MentalHealth Advocate. You can learn more about him @ www.youtube.com/channel/UCb0XwouSHmMLNmvQSYtvXcA

Here I have Jason Zavers on the show. Jason is an elementary school teacher, dad, and artist based in outside of Vancouver, Canada. He currently working on children's book to encourage children to express their full range of emotions. He lost his dominant arm while operating farm equipment about nineteen years ago. He speaks about how this #Trauma enabled him to grow into a stronger person. You can follow Jason on Insta @Jason_ZED

Here is a Podcast with Rachael Schneider LCSW Clinical Director at pure life adventures and CEO Andrew Taylor. A Wilderness program for young adults dealing with various symptoms of #trauma. www.purelifeadventure.com

Here is my latest podcast with Amber Amour. She is a sexual abuse survivor and an activist. Her latest campaign is about creating consent culture. You can learn more abourt her here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/6844209/Activist-amber-amour-graphic-account-of-shower-rape.html

Here is my latest #Podcast with Karial Ret. She resides in High Point, North Carolina but was born in Sudan Africa. She has a very active Instagram you can follow her @Karialr. Check out her article @ ThryveMag issue #6 ??????and my piece "Your Faith Has Made You Whole" shop.thryvemag.com/pages/mended-issue-no-6 .

Here I have Oryx Cohen. Oryx is featured in the film Healing Voices. This film asks us to think about what it means when we use the term "Mental Illness". Learn more about the film at www.healingvoicesmovie.com Read Oryx's recovery journey here: www.power2u.org/articles/recovery/recovery_stories/oryx.html Follow him on Twitter @OryxCohen

Here is a fascinating discussion with Sturla Haugsgjerd a Norwegian writer/activist - Morgenbladet and FHN (Humane Drug Policy Association. We talk about addiction, drug policy, and harm reduction.