The Constructed Awareness Podcast

Episode 6: CA and Nonviolence

* 00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Jandita Zaki * 02:40 – Overview of CA and its first principle: awareness brings change * 04:55 – Ron Kurtz’s influence and the concept of “violence” in therapy * 07:20 – Jandita’s personal experience discovering nonviolence in CA training * 12:05 – Filling vs holding space: therapist discomfort and the urge to help * 19:10 – Sitting with silence vs holding silence in session * 23:30 – Resistance, duality, and how advice-giving creates tension * 25:50 – Helping interns move from fixing to presence * 28:10 – Mindfulness as repression vs mindfulness as presence * 32:40 – Sitting with emotions without promising outcomes * 37:05 – Nonviolent language: “I want you to” vs invitational phrasing * 41:40 – Co-regulation, childhood experiences, and emotions as involuntary * 46:10 – Cultural perspectives on emotions like anger * 50:40 – Eurocentric therapy vs CA’s flexible building blocks of experience * 55:40 – How CA helps clients discover their own inner wisdom * 58:00 – How to connect with Jandita and resources on Constructed Awareness

Episode 5: Constructing Emotions

* 00:00 — Introduction to the episode and guest * 02:00 — Phil’s academic and clinical background * 05:00 — Tyler explains the three core principles of CA * 08:30 — Mental, sensation, and external orientations explained * 12:00 — What is an emotion? Constructed vs classical views * 15:00 — The Schachter–Singer experiment and the two-factor theory * 18:00 — How CA’s third building block emerged from clinical work * 21:00 — Cultural differences in emotion (e.g., awe, loneliness) * 24:00 — Snake story: a real-world example of building block activation * 28:30 — CA’s nonviolence: not trying to change clients' emotions * 31:45 — The “noise gate” metaphor and sensory cutoff * 34:45 — Social, historical, and political forces that shape orientation * 36:45 — Orientation and empathy: what we can and can’t control * 39:55 — Emotions as concepts: storm and spaghetti metaphors * 43:30 — Emotion history: Shakespeare, grief, and evolving language * 47:00 — Fear vs curiosity and how breaking emotion into parts helps * 50:00 — CA’s contribution: naming the building blocks, not just the concept * 53:00 — Limitations of existing theories of emotion * 55:30 — Final reflections on the evolving language of emotion * 1:02:45 — Closing thoughts: There’s more to emotion than a word * 1:04:00 — Where to learn more about CA and connect with the guests

Episode 4: The CA Orientations

Key Moments & Timestamps: 00:00–02:00 – Intro and guest introductions Tyler introduces Jamie and Christina and sets up the conversation as a three-way dialogue among different orientation styles. 02:00–04:30 – Overview of Constructed Awareness theory Tyler explains the three building blocks (thoughts, sensations, external senses) and the CA principles. 06:08–09:03 – Orientation patterns in clients The group discusses which orientations are most common and how these patterns show up in their practices. 09:03–13:05 – Jamie on sensation orientation and being a highly sensitive person Jamie shares how CA helped her trust her embodied experience and manage empathic overwhelm. 17:52–20:31 – Jamie on how she regulates through physical comfort She describes using weighted blankets, ice water, and sensory tuning to stay grounded. 21:38–24:10 – Jamie on movement and nonverbal expression Jamie talks about how shaking, vocal vibration, and physical release help regulate emotion. 25:02–27:00 – Tyler on the contrast between mental and sensation orientation Tyler shares how moving out of his mind and into his body during CA practices changed his perspective on regulation. 27:17–30:36 – Christina on external orientation and people-pleasing Christina discusses how being externally oriented led to disconnection from her inner world and how CA helped her return to it. 30:36–33:52 – Christina on disembodiment and reclaiming her body She explains how being present with sensations helped her heal from chronic illness and reconnect with herself. 35:42–37:44 – Tyler’s story of becoming aware of his environment for the first time He recounts a powerful moment of shifting from mental to external orientation. 38:22–43:04 – Attachment patterns and how orientation styles develop The group reflects on how childhood experiences shape which building blocks we cling to. 44:06–46:35 – Chronic illness and orientation Jamie and Christina describe how CA has helped clients reduce pain and Jamie shares her own story of resolving chronic migraines. 46:35–53:44 – “Talking With Your Hands” and building a sensation vocabulary Jamie and Christina explain how describing internal sensations using tactile language supports regulation and clarity. 55:17–57:15 – Jamie and Tyler on the difference between drowning in sensation and observing it Jamie reflects on how the building blocks support each other and allow for true emotional presence. 57:15–58:57 – Wrapping up: CA, tuning, and how awareness leads to change Tyler shares a powerful story of how CA helped him break a conflict pattern and respond differently through awareness. 01:01:07–01:03:12 – Where to learn more and closing remarks The guests share how to contact them, and Tyler announces upcoming CA trainings and CE offerings.

Episode 3: CA and EMDR

00:00 - 02:00: Introduction to the episode with Tyler Orr and Ann Simmons. Ann shares her background as a dual-certified therapist in Constructed Awareness (CA) and EMDR. 02:00 - 05:00: Ann discusses her journey to becoming certified in EMDR and CA, including how she met Tyler and her experience with CA Level 1 training. 06:00 - 09:00: Tyler shares his journey with EMDR, including his training and experience as an EMDR trainer. He discusses how his work with phases one and two led to developing CA. 10:00 - 14:00: Explanation of the foundational principles of CA: Awareness brings change. Experiences are constructed from thoughts, sensations, and external perceptions. Individuals naturally orient to one building block more than the others. 15:00 - 20:00: Discussion of how CA integrates with EMDR, including how tuning techniques from CA complement EMDR’s structured approach. 21:00 - 25:00: Ann shares practical applications of CA in her EMDR practice, highlighting how CA enhances awareness and helps clients process more fully. 26:00 - 30:00: Tyler explains how CA focuses on awareness rather than changing thoughts directly, contrasting it with CBT’s cognitive restructuring. 31:00 - 35:00: The concept of "tuning" in CA, where therapists help clients switch awareness between thoughts, sensations, and external perceptions. 36:00 - 40:00: Comparison between CA and EMDR processing, with Ann discussing how CA feels more interactive and client-centered. 41:00 - 45:00: Discussion of how CA principles help therapists stay engaged and adaptive, while also being flexible with clients' needs. 46:00 - 50:00: Insights on how CA training enriches personal awareness and therapeutic practice. 51:00 - 55:00: Tyler discusses upcoming CA and EMDR integrated training sessions, designed for EMDR therapists interested in incorporating CA techniques. 56:00 - 58:30: Closing remarks, information on how to connect with Ann and Tyler, and where to learn more about Constructed Awareness.

Episode 2: CA and Chronic Pain

- Pain is real, even when not linked to tissue damage. It’s a brain-based protective response, not a something originating in the body. - CA is a mindfulness-based, trauma-informed model that helps clients reconnect with disowned or underdeveloped parts of their experience. - Tuning helps clients avoid overwhelm by shifting attention across different types of awareness, rather than diving straight into distressing material. - The hosts suggest that chronic pain often arises from repressed emotional experiences, especially feelings of powerlessness. - Many clients come to therapy expecting to accept a life with chronic pain, but end up experiencing transformation and relief. - CA research has already shown early results in reducing symptoms of trauma and chronic pain.