Best Fawn Trauma Response Podcasts (2025)

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Emotional Numbness, Triggers & Childhood Patterns | #110 58:45

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1d ago58:45

58:45

Michael talks about shutting down over Thanksgiving, emotional numbness, and the messy reality of grief. Louie breaks down triggers, embarrassment, childhood patterns, and why certain moments feel like personal attacks. ______ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a …

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The Physical Signs You Didn’t Know Were Trauma Responses, Part 1: How Covert Narcissism Shows Up in Your Body 21:50

2d ago21:50

21:50

When you live in the backwards, upside-down world of covert narcissistic abuse, your body often understands the danger long before your mind can name it. The symptoms you thought were “random,” “weird,” or “just stress” were actually your nervous system trying to protect you. In this episode, we explore the physical signs you didn’t recognize as tr…

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How to Talk to Your Adult Children About a Covert Narcissistic Parent Without Badmouthing 27:45

5d ago27:45

27:45

Talking to your adult children about a covert narcissistic parent is one of the hardest and most emotionally loaded challenges survivors face. You’re carrying years of truth inside you — experiences that shaped your life, your self-concept, your safety, and in many cases, the childhood environment your kids grew up in. And yet, speaking that truth …

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The Freeze, Appease or Fawn Response to Sexual Violence 20:12

5d ago20:12

20:12

Your nervous system has a built-in Freeze and Appease response to manage the threat of sexual assault, aka the Fawn response. Learn to forgive yourself and train to respond differently. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership When someone experiences sexual harassment or sex…

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Dr. Judith Herman on Complex PTSD and What Survivors Really Want 31:20

7d ago31:20

31:20

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Judith Herman, author of the groundbreaking book Trauma and Recovery, to talk about complex PTSD, trauma recovery, and what justice actually means to survivors. Dr. Herman explains why complex trauma is still overlooked in mental health training, what the three stages of trauma recovery really look like in pract…

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CPTSD vs PTSD (And, Why You Keep Getting Misdiagnosed) 13:50

7d ago13:50

13:50

If you've been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, borderline personality disorder, or bipolar - but nothing quite fits - you might actually be dealing with Complex PTSD. In this episode, I break down the crucial differences between PTSD and CPTSD, why so many trauma survivors get misdiagnosed, and why traditional therapy approaches often miss the …

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Welcome to The Complex Trauma Podcast 14:35

7d ago14:35

14:35

Welcome to the Complex Trauma Podcast, formerly Reclaim You. If you’ve been minimizing your experiences as “not that bad,” holding it together for everyone else because you don’t know another way, or you’re finally ready to understand why you are the way you are in the world, you’re in the right place. Host Sarah Herstich shares the story behind th…

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159. Reconnect with Your Embodied Sense of Self with Beatriz (Bea) Victoria 46:15

8d ago46:15

46:15

This episode with Beatriz Victoria Albina, NP MPH SEP, author of End Emotional Outsourcing, comes at a pivotal time in our culture’s search for real self-worth and belonging. So many people today struggle with perfectionism, codependency, and people-pleasing, often because of pressures from work, social media, and our fast-paced world. Dr. Nicole, …

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[E226] Replay Let's Talk About the Holidays! 40:02

8d ago40:02

40:02

It's that time of year again - time to take a deep breath and spend hours and hours with family members you may or may not want to see, eat foods that may or may not be easy for your kids to eat and spend the next month or so with the dull hum of presents and high expectations accompanying your every move. Happy Holidays everyone! In all seriousnes…

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Fawning Is Not Codependency: Understanding the Difference When You’ve Lived With a Covert Narcissist 21:45

9d ago21:45

21:45

So many survivors walk into healing believing they were “codependent,” when the truth is far more compassionate and far more accurate: What you were doing wasn’t codependency — it was fawning, a trauma response your nervous system used to keep you safe in an emotionally dangerous environment. In this episode, we break down the difference between fa…

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What is IFS? No Bad Parts Book Summary - Trauma Therapy 26:40

11d ago26:40

26:40

Book summary of No Bad Parts written by Richard Schwartz, it's an introduction to Internal Family Systems model aka IFS Therapy. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional …

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Thanksgiving Special: Healing from Covert Narcissistic Abuse Through Self-Gratitude 16:03

12d ago16:03

16:03

This Thanksgiving episode is unlike any you’ve heard before. Instead of forcing gratitude outward—toward family, toward traditions, toward circumstances that may feel complicated or painful—this episode brings gratitude back home. To you. Survivors of covert narcissistic abuse often carry shame for the very responses that kept them alive. They ques…

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When Grief Finds You - Grief Part III | #109 56:49

16d ago56:49

56:49

Louie shares a dream about his late partner that cracks open a huge conversation about grief, avoidance, triggers, and what it means to actually move forward. Michael challenges him, things get tense, and it turns into one of our most honest episodes yet. ______ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://bet…

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How Unsafe People Erase Your Reality And Safe People Restore It 19:34

16d ago19:34

19:34

In Part 2 of this story, we pick up right where the alligator encounter left off — not with danger, but with the emotional aftershock that followed. My body was still shaking, adrenaline pumping, breath unsteady. I paddled straight toward my friend in a heightened state: frightened, confused, and trying to make sense of whether I had truly just kay…

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How to "Lean In" to Feelings - Anxiety Meditation w/ Thomas McConkie 30:41

18d ago30:41

30:41

Have you ever felt more anxious when you've tried to calm down? Learn how to lean in to feelings with acceptance and meditation expert Thomas McConkie. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Check out Thomas' School: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/ Learn how to lean in to yo…

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When Every Conversation Turns into Confusion: The Communication Breakdown of Covert Narcissism 19:58

19d ago19:58

19:58

In a healthy relationship, conversations might be difficult at times—but they are possible. You can talk, clarify, repair, and understand each other. But when you’re living with a covert narcissist, communication slowly becomes a maze you can never find your way out of. In this episode, I share how the most ordinary exchanges in my marriage became …

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158. How to be Emotionally Healthy with Dr. Karthik Ramanan 51:04

22d ago51:04

51:04

Join Dr. Nicole and Hadlee as we sit down with Dr. K to explore what emotional health *really* means. He breaks down his simple yet powerful Five Pillars of Emotional Health-- and get ready-- these are going to be your next favorite tool for feeling calm, strong, happy and resilient! Today, ALL VIBES ARE WELCOME. Forget the pressure to "be happy" a…

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[E225] Kids Should Be Grateful! (And What If They're Not?) 55:48

22d ago55:48

55:48

In this episode, Becca, Jesse, and Tona dive into a timely topic: gratitude. With the holiday season in full swing, we can’t help but ask, should children be grateful? If not, how do we scaffold gratitude for our kiddos? Tune in for an honest conversation about expectations, empathy, and what gratitude really means. We share personal stories, a few…

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Why Are Victims Expected to Do All the Work? 23:54

23d ago23:54

23:54

This episode tells the story of Thomas, a survivor who went no contact with his abusive father after a public meltdown at his wedding, and how the world around him quietly blames him for the relationship he didn’t break. From well-meaning coworkers saying “all families have stuff,” to relatives insisting “you’ll have to let it go,” Patrick explores…

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Porn Addiction & Monastic Wisdom with Jeremy Lipkowitz | #108 1:02:59

23d ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Jeremy Lipkowitz breaks down porn addiction, how it affects your relationships, and why it’s more common than people think. He also talks about his time as a Buddhist monk and what that life taught him about discipline, desire, and mindfulness. _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/…

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I Kayaked Over an Alligator And Finally Understood My Trauma Response 22:39

23d ago22:39

22:39

In this episode, I’m taking you with me on a peaceful Florida river… right up to the moment my kayak bumped over what I thought was a floating log. Except it wasn’t a log. It was a massive mama alligator. But the most surprising part of the story isn’t the alligator. It’s what my brain did in the exact moment of danger. Instead of panicking, scream…

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Rebuilding Healthy Attachment Relationships after Childhood Trauma or CPTSD 17:28

25d ago17:28

17:28

Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Childhood trauma doesn’t just live in your memories—it rewires how you show up in relationships. If you’ve ever panicked when someone leaves your text on read, overshared on a first date, or pulled away when closeness feels scary, you’…

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Not All Covert Narcissists Look the Same 14:38

26d ago14:38

14:38

Covert narcissism isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some manipulate through silence, others through guilt or tears. Some quote scripture, some play the victim, and some simply vanish into the quiet coldness that leaves you questioning your worth. In this episode, Renee Swanson explores how covert narcissism exists on a spectrum—why it can look completely di…

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Why We Struggle With Compliments, FOMO, and Accountability | #107 1:09:25

30d ago1:09:25

1:09:25

Louie gets a wild text from his dad and things spiral into talk about cynicism, giving (and taking) compliments, and why we chase what we’re “missing out on.” _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions…

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The Inflatable Clown: Living with a Covert Narcissist Who Always Needs Air 21:22

1M ago21:22

21:22

Ever feel like you’ve been living in a circus you didn’t sign up for? In this episode, Renee Swanson uses humor to shine a light on the exhausting emotional reality of living with a covert narcissist — through the story of an inflatable clown and a bicycle pump. You know the one: it’s dramatic, unstable, takes up too much space, and leaks air faste…

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Why do I feel so numb? Why can't I cry? Working through Emotional Numbing and Dissociation 15:14

1M ago15:14

15:14

Emotional numbing and dissociation is often a response to trauma, grief or loss. You might feel empty, dead inside, or like you can't cry. Numbness is a common symptom of PTSD. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership check out our free course Grounding Skills for Stress, Anx…

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Parental Alienation Explained: How Covert Narcissists Turn Children Against You 20:46

1M ago20:46

20:46

What if your greatest fear as a parent has already come true? You can feel it — your child pulling away, repeating phrases that don’t sound like them, looking at you through someone else’s eyes. This is the painful reality of parental alienation, one of the covert narcissist’s most devastating tools of control. In this episode, Renee Swanson explai…

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[E224] Replay From Trauma and Loss to Healing and Empowerment with Cam Lee Small 39:35

1M ago39:35

39:35

Enjoy this replay of From Trauma and Loss to Healing and Empowerment with Cam Lee Small. One of our favorite Therapists/Adoptee Voices joins us on the pod to talk about lots of things including his book The Adoptees Journey: From Trauma and Loss to Healing and Empowerment. We talk with Cam about everything from how identities are formed in adoptees…

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157. Is Your Airway Making You Anxious? Insights from Dr. Ingo Mahn 49:12

1M ago49:12

49:12

Dr. Ingo Mahn is a leading expert in biological dentistry and a passionate advocate for integrative health. With over 30 years of experience, he has dedicated his career to helping patients achieve optimal wellness by addressing the critical connection between oral health and overall health. As the founder of Natural Dental Partners in Arizona, Dr.…

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Why Men Struggle With Vulnerability | #106 57:32

1M ago57:32

57:32

Louie and Michael answer a listener email about why men struggle with vulnerability—diving into shame, repression, and the fear of emotional connection. _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about…

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The Hidden Weight of Resentment in Covert Narcissistic Abuse 15:53

1M ago15:53

15:53

Resentment is one of the hardest emotions to face after covert narcissistic abuse—because it shows up long before you even realize what’s happening. You start resenting them for the confusion, then resenting yourself for pulling away. But what if resentment isn’t bitterness at all? What if it’s your system’s way of saying, “I’ve had enough.” In thi…

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Trauma Fueled Nightmares and Night Terrors with PTSD 12:58

1M ago12:58

12:58

Learn how to stop nightmares and night terrors in adults, understand PTSD-related sleep issues, and get practical treatment tips for better rest and recovery. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership What’s the difference between nightmares and night terrors—and how do you st…

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Beyond Blame: A Message for the Children of Divorce 20:23

1M ago20:23

20:23

When a marriage falls apart, the story children see is often only a small part of what truly happened. One parent may look angry or reactive while the other appears calm or composed — but underneath, both are often hurting, both are surviving, and both are human. In this heartfelt episode, life coach and podcast host Renee Swanson speaks directly t…

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Improving Body Image w/ a Somatic Approach, and Deb Schachter 47:28

1M ago47:28

47:28

Let's talk about body image and how to stop comparing yourself to other in this interview with author Deb Schachter. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Rethinking Body Image from a Somatic Perspective with Deb Schachter Most of us try to fix body image by changing how w…

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Fawning: The Hidden Trauma Response Behind People-Pleasing | #105 54:33

1M ago54:33

54:33

Louie and Michael unpack fawning—the hidden trauma response behind people-pleasing, codependency, and emotional safety—in their most vulnerable talk yet. _____ -BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions abou…

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When Your Mind Won’t Stop: Escaping the Trap of Catastrophic Thinking After Covert Narcissistic Abuse 23:08

1M ago23:08

23:08

If your mind can take one tiny worry and turn it into a full-blown disaster movie, you’re not alone. That’s catastrophic thinking — and it’s one of the most common patterns survivors of covert narcissistic abuse struggle with. After years of walking on eggshells, your brain learns to expect danger, even when there’s none. Whether you lived with a c…

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Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker -Book Summary about Healing Childhood Trauma 25:18

2M ago25:18

25:18

Childhood trauma can turn into CPTSD which has pervasive symptoms throughout your life, but you can learn to heal from childhood trauma. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Emotional Flashbacks video: https://youtu.be/oVLHysMGi8o?si=oJZy76o957LNranw Relationships after C…

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Toxic Mothers and the Impact on Daughters 45:56

2M ago45:56

45:56

This episode explores how growing up with a toxic or emotionally unavailable mother can shape a daughter’s sense of worth, identity, and boundaries, and how to finally break free. Rather than focusing on blame, Patrick unpacks the lasting emotional damage that daughters carry into adulthood and the path toward self-trust and emotional independence.…

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But They Had a Rough Childhood”: When Excuses Become Permission Slips for Abuse 22:02

2M ago22:02

22:02

We’ve all heard it—“But they had a rough childhood.” “They just don’t know any better.” “You have to feel sorry for them.” Yes, empathy is beautiful. But at some point, we have to ask: how far does this excuse go? In this episode, Renee pulls back the curtain on one of the most common traps survivors of covert narcissistic abuse fall into—confusing…

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156. Fueling the Future: ESS60, Mitochondria & Mission Longevity with Chris Burres 1:01:03

2M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

Chris Burres is a published author of Live Longer and Better, Host of the Live Beyond the Norms, Podcast and patent holder with a surprising twist – he’s not just a visionary scientist but also a master of comedy improv. Chris Burres is the founder and chief scientist at MyVitalC, where he manufactures a Nobel Prize winning molecule responsible for…

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[E223] Sensory Processing 101 54:06

2M ago54:06

54:06

Ever wonder why certain behaviors leave us scratching our heads? On today’s Empowered to Connect Podcast, we’re diving into sensory processing. What it is, why it matters, and how it impacts our ability (and our kids’ ability) to regulate and move through the day. We all know the basic 5 senses, right? But did you know there are actually EIGHT sens…

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Understanding Misogyny: Gina Martin on Compassion, Gender, and Healing | #104 1:09:37

2M ago1:09:37

1:09:37

Gina Martin joins to talk misogyny, feminism, and emotional healing—how patriarchy, trauma, and compassion shape identity, relationships, and recovery. BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the bra…

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How to Handle Triangulation: Protecting You and Your Children 21:45

2M ago21:45

21:45

Triangulation doesn’t stop just because you see it. In fact, once you recognize the pattern, the covert narcissist often pushes harder, twisting words, controlling the story, and pulling others into the tension. In this episode, Renee walks you through how to handle triangulation in every stage of the journey: While you’re still in the relationship…

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6 Deep and Lasting Ways to Improve Your Self-Esteem 15:33

2M ago15:33

15:33

Boost self-esteem with 6 practices to transform self-talk, build self-worth, and align your life with purpose, integrity, and authentic confidence. 👉 Download my free Values Clarification exercise here: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/opt-in-2123fb37-7322-4208-a65a-2b135a653d47 Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership:…

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Covert Narcissism Unmasked: Sarma Melngailis on Manipulation, Awakening, and Resilience 27:50

2M ago27:50

27:50

In Part 2 of my conversation with Sarma Melngailis, we dive into the turning point—the awakening after covert narcissistic abuse. Sarma shares the moment she began to see the manipulation clearly, how she learned to gray rock and set boundaries, and what it means to find freedom after years of psychological control. Together, we unpack the neurobio…

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Breaking Free From a Narcissistic Parent 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

This episode explores how growing up with a narcissistic or emotionally immature parent can distort your perception of yourself, others, and your worth, and how to reclaim it. Instead of fixating on the parent, we look at the damage that lingers and the path to undo it. Learn why triggers around work, relationships, and self-doubt aren’t personalit…

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Covert Narcissist Triangulation: How They Control the Narrative and Divide Relationships 16:45

2M ago16:45

16:45

Triangulation is one of the covert narcissist’s most insidious tools — because it’s quiet, invisible, and devastating. It’s how they control the narrative, twist communication, and turn the people you love against each other — all while pretending to be the calm, reasonable “peacekeeper.” In this episode, Renee shares two powerful stories that reve…

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Connectability with Anna Runkle 50:05

2M ago50:05

50:05

How to have healthy relationships after CPTSD or Childhood Trauma. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership You can learn how to build healthy relationships after childhood trauma or CPTSD. Today we talk with Anna Runkle, creator of Crappy Childhood Fairy about how to work th…

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Perfection is the Problem | #103 1:10:45

2M ago1:10:45

1:10:45

Lou and Michael unpack wabi sabi, the beauty of imperfection—talking therapy, accountability, control, and what it means to be seen before you’re “fixed.” BetterHelp: If you’re struggling, consider therapy with our sponsor. Visit https://betterhelp.com/secondhandtherapy for a discount on your first month of therapy. If you have questions about the …

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Restoring your Internal Sense of Safety after Trauma w/ CPTSD Expert Dr. Arielle Schwartz 1:05:22

2M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Let's dive into how to feel safe again after Childhood Trauma, aka CPTSD, Complex PTSD, using a somatic and polyvagal lens. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership Check out Dr. Schwartz' online course here- Strengthen Vagal Tone & Transform Trauma Through Somatic Practices …