Untangled Mind™, LLC hosted by Piper Harris

S7 Ep 84: Holding Hope: Stage 1 Triphasic Trauma Model Safety

Safety is not a warm-up stage. It is the essential foundation of all trauma recovery.In this deep dive into the first phase of the triphasic model, host Piper explores why genuine safety, both external and internal, must come before any deeper trauma processing. Drawing from Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery, she unpacks one of the book’s most powerful passages.You’ll learn:-Why safety is the non-negotiable starting point and what happens when it’s skipped-The real, often painful cost of freedom for survivors of prolonged trauma, abuse, and coercive control-Practical ways to build external and internal safety-Common red flags when clinicians rush past this stage and why this mistake can cause real harm-How the triphasic model is not strictly linear, we often need to return to safety again and againWhether you are a survivor trying to create stability in your life, supporting a loved one, or a clinician wanting to practice truly trauma-informed care, this episode offers honest insight and compassionate guidance.Resources:-Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225-Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741-National Domestic Violence Hotline & RAINN-National & GA Resourceshttps://www.untangledmind.net/nationalandgeorgiaresources-untangledmind-georgia-mental-health-counseling#untangledmindllc #umpodcast #umpathway #traumainformed #traumatherapist #ptsdhelp

S7 E83 Holding Hope: Understanding Trauma and Why the Triphasic Model Matters

What if your body still believes you’re in danger long after the threat has passed? What happens when “just talk about it” or jumping straight into processing memories actually makes things worse?In the premiere episode of Holding Hope: Trauma, host Piper introduces the foundational realities of trauma and why a clear roadmap is essential for genuine healing. We explore the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, breaking down the 10 categories of childhood adversity (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) and what high ACE scores reveal about long-term impacts on the brain, body, and nervous system.Drawing from Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery alongside modern neuroscience (including insights from The Body Keeps the Score), this episode lays the groundwork for the triphasic model of trauma-informed care: Safety, Remembrance & Mourning, and Reconnection.Whether you’re a survivor trying to make sense of your experiences, a loved one wanting to understand, or a clinician who calls yourself “trauma-informed” but hasn’t deeply studied the triphasic sequence — this episode is for you. Learn why safety must come first, how the central dialectic of trauma affects us all, and why rushing past the foundational stages can cause more harm than good.Piper shares honest reflections from her own reading of Herman’s book (including margin notes like “Augh. Reading this hurts — It’s true”) and ends with a gentle listener prompt to help you locate where you are in the healing journey.Trigger warning: This episode discusses the effects of trauma, including abuse and household dysfunction. Take care of yourself — pause or seek support if needed.Resources mentioned:-Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225-Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741-National Domestic Violence Hotline & RAINN-National & GA Resourceshttps://www.untangledmind.net/nationalandgeorgiaresources-untangledmind-georgia-mental-health-counseling-Dr. Melinda Paigehttps://melindapaigephd.com/-SHARE Military Initiative/Shepherd Centerhttps://shepherd.org/treatment/services-clinics/share/-GA First Responder PTSD Programhttps://gfrptsdinsurance.com/#untangledmindllc #umpodcast #umpathway #traumainformed #triphasicmodel #traumatherapist

S7 Ep 83 Holding Hope: Understanding Trauma and Why the Triphasic Model Matters

What if your body still believes you’re in danger long after the threat has passed? What happens when “just talk about it” or jumping straight into processing memories actually makes things worse? In the premiere episode of Holding Hope: Trauma, host Piper introduces the foundational realities of trauma and why a clear roadmap is essential for genuine healing. We explore the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, breaking down the 10 categories of childhood adversity (abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) and what high ACE scores reveal about long-term impacts on the brain, body, and nervous system. Drawing from Judith Herman’s Trauma and Recovery alongside modern neuroscience (including insights from The Body Keeps the Score), this episode lays the groundwork for the triphasic model of trauma-informed care: Safety, Remembrance & Mourning, and Reconnection. Whether you’re a survivor trying to make sense of your experiences, a loved one wanting to understand, or a clinician who calls yourself “trauma-informed” but hasn’t deeply studied the triphasic sequence — this episode is for you. Learn why safety must come first, how the central dialectic of trauma affects us all, and why rushing past the foundational stages can cause more harm than good. Piper shares honest reflections from her own reading of Herman’s book (including margin notes like “Augh. Reading this hurts — It’s true”) and ends with a gentle listener prompt to help you locate where you are in the healing journey. Trigger warning: This episode discusses the effects of trauma, including abuse and household dysfunction. Take care of yourself — pause or seek support if needed. Resources mentioned: -Georgia Crisis & Access Line: 1-800-715-4225 -Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 -National Domestic Violence Hotline & RAINN -National & GA Resourceshttps://www.untangledmind.net/nationalandgeorgiaresources-untangledmind-georgia-mental-health-counseling -Dr. Melinda Paigehttps://melindapaigephd.com/ -SHARE Military Initiative/Shepherd Centerhttps://shepherd.org/treatment/services-clinics/share/ -GA First Responder PTSD Programhttps://gfrptsdinsurance.com/ #untangledmindllc #umpodcast #umpathway #traumainformed #triphasicmodel #traumatherapist

S7 Ep 82 Offended: Your Secret Superpower for Real Growth

What if the sting of criticism or feedback wasn’t something to avoid, but your greatest tool for personal growth? In this episode, I share how a single piece of honest feedback from a recent counselor training (that could have derailed me years ago) barely phased me this time, and why that shift matters. I open up about a grad school professor whose constant nitpicking once felt like a personal attack, only to become one of my most valuable mentors. Along the way, we dive deep into the psychology of offense: why we get so defensive, the cognitive biases (like self-serving bias, confirmation bias, and negativity bias) that fuel it, and how shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset can turn those uncomfortable moments into powerful opportunities for change. You’ll walk away with practical questions to ask when offense hits, tools to build quiet, resilient confidence, and a new way to see feedback, not as a threat, but as data that helps you level up without the emotional baggage. If you’ve ever replayed a critical comment, gotten defensive in a meeting, or struggled to receive tough feedback, this episode will help you flip the script. Tune in and discover how to use offense as your secret superpower. #untangledmindllc #UMpathway #UMPodcast #offense #mentalhealthhelp

Season 7 Ep 81 Part TWO with Dr. Emily Ferrara Comfortable but Not Changing: The Three Signs You’re in Stalled Therapy

You like your therapist.The sessions feel safe and supportive. But deep down, you know nothing is really changing. If you’ve ever left therapy thinking “I feel heard… but why am I still stuck?” this next episode is for you. This Friday, Emily Ferrara and I sit down to talk about what happens when therapy becomes comfortable… but not effective. We pull from Abigail Shrier’s Bad Therapy and get honest about the quiet ways people stay stalled for months or years. No fluff. Just practical truths about when it’s time to reassess. Episode drops early next week. Have you ever felt stuck in “good enough” therapy? Drop a comment or 🔥 below, you’re not alone. #untangledmindllc #UMPathway #UMPodcast