009. Mourning & Grief w/ Liz Allen

009. Mourning & Grief w/ Liz Allen

Reach us via text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554957/fan_mail/new] 009. Mourning & Grief w/ Liz Allen By Brian Arbor | September 3, 2025 About Liz Allen: Liz Allen is a 23-year Board Certified Chaplain and Grief Counselor, working in hospitals with individuals and families to support their emotional and spiritual needs.  Prior to her current work, she was a registered Occupational Therapist for over 30 years. The scope of her practice included working with pediatrics, rehabilitation, nursing homes, acute medicine, and mental health patients. In addition, Liz has a Master’s Degree in Education and taught at the University of Wisconsin Occupational and Physical Therapy Schools for several years. In this episode:  In this episode, Brian speaks with Liz Allen just weeks after the death of her younger sister. Despite nearly three decades of working with loss, Liz finds herself navigating grief she's never experienced before: losing a sibling. She shares what it means to let yourself have grief rather than avoid it, the difference between grief and mourning, and why the parts of people we resisted in life are often what we miss the most. Key Conversations: Survivor’s Guilt Grief vs. Mourning & How to Heal The Lakota Teaching on Grief Quote from Liz Allen on How to Grieve: "You write about it, you talk about it, you art about it, you dream about it, you share about it with someone. Get it out of you. Give it its own life... You need to let it be so it can let you be." How to Connect with Liz:   Please send all connection requests to brian@tracesoftrauma.com [brian@tracesoftrauma.com], and we will facilitate an introduction. Traces of Trauma Podcast is currently sponsored by the following: Embrace The Darkness: Somatic Breathwork for Grief and Healing  |  embracethedarkness.org [http://embracethedarkness.org]  Practical Sanctuary: Sensory Interior Design  |  practicalsanctuary.com [https://practicalsanctuary.com] Connect with Brian: Website: https://tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianarbor

Moral Injury and Faith w/ Larry Brant

Reach us via text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554957/fan_mail/new] By Brian Arbor | November 27, 2025 About Our Guest Dr. Larry Brant is a U.S. Navy chaplain of 16 years with 25 years of previous experience as a local minister and has a proven track record dealing with PTSD and moral injury. He is also the author of Restoring the Broken: A Ministry Leader’s Guide to Understanding and Healing Moral Injury. While written for ministry leaders, the book is intended for anyone seeking to understand moral injury and how to support those affected by it. Episode Summary Together we navigate an in-depth conversation on moral injury, how it is distinct from PTSD, and its impact on identity, values, worldview, and personal faith. We explore how moral injury shows up across military service, faith communities, sexual abuse, and more, and why traditional trauma frameworks often fail to provide remedy. Core Topics What is Moral Injury - and How Does It Differ from PTSD? The Impact On Faith and Challenges of Returning to Spiritual Practice Restoring Connection, Finding Safe Companionship, and the Path Toward Restoration Key Takeaways Moral injury is not a lack of belief, but a loss of connection. This can result in withdrawal, self-punishment, and a belief in one’s own unforgivability rather than fear or hypervigilance. Moral injury doesn’t need answers - it needs companionship. Healing these wounds is best supported by sitting compassionately with someone’s pain and listening without judgment, and resisting the urge to offer solutions or changes in perspective. Safe spaces enable healing across disciplines. Whether in therapy, faith communities, families, or peer groups, restoration begins when individuals are met with steadfast companionship in their darkest inner landscapes, are allowed to be fully seen, and are received with quiet love and grace. Memorable Quote “People don’t need quick fixes. They need someone to sit with them in the ashes long enough to believe that beauty can rise from it.”  Connect w/ Our Guest: Website: https://restoring-the-broken.com/ 99¢ BOOK DOWNLOAD:  Get it on Amazon on release day, February 3rd, 2026! Or visit his website to get on the waitlist With Gratitude for Our Sponsors: Embrace The Darkness: Somatic Breathwork for Grief and Healing  |  embracethedarkness.org [http://embracethedarkness.org]  Practical Sanctuary: Sensory Interior Design  |  practicalsanctuary.com [https://practicalsanctuary.com] Connect with Brian: Website: https://tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianarbor

“Doctor or Healer?” & The Hidden Cost of Medication w/ Dr. Fred Moss

Reach us via text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554957/fan_mail/new] About Dr. Fred Moss: Dr. Fred Moss has served in the mental health industry for almost four decades, consulting with patients, practitioners, medical facilities, non-profit organizations, and community groups. He is committed to shifting the conversation of mental illness on a global scale. His services include mental health coaching [https://welcometohumanity.net/mental-health-coaching], speaking/consulting [https://welcometohumanity.net/consultant-speaker-advisor], telepsychiatry training [https://welcometohumanity.net/online-telehealth-course], and expert witness [https://welcometohumanity.net/expert-witness] testimony. He is also a life optimization coach, author, and a podcaster. Dedicating his efforts to his Welcome To Humanity brand, Dr. Fred serves as a beacon of hope as a "non-diagnosing psychiatrist". He believes that communication, connection, creativity, and self-expression are core to all healing, including in our mental health. His unwavering commitment to these principles shapes a legacy that continues to impact and transform lives, echoing the essence that, just as we are, we are whole and perfect.  In this episode:  Brian Arbor and Dr. Fred Moss discuss the nature of healing and challenge some of the widely accepted standards for identifying trustworthy and effective support. We also explore the possibility that trauma may simply be a result of something that happened to us that exceeded our capacity to absorb and effectively process what occurred - and what influence we may be able to exercise in the recurring reappearance of our traumas and emotional surges. Throughout this conversation is a recurring theme that community and compassionate integration of these experiences are both critical to long-term healing. Key Conversations:   - The power of resonant conversation and community   - Recognizing not all doctors are healers   - The Pros & Cons of medication for mental health Quote from Dr. Fred: “The possibility that there’s nothing wrong with you is a good place to start.” Connect with Dr. Fred:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drfredmossmd LinkedIn URL: http://linkedin.com/in/drfredmoss [http://linkedin.com/in/drfredmoss] Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/drfredmoss/ A Gift for Our Listeners from Dr. Fred: Schedule a 1:1 call with Dr. Fred to discuss how you can become a true healer without needing a license https://drfred.as.me/schedule/47be68f5 [https://drfred.as.me/schedule/47be68f5] Connect with Brian: Website: https://tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianarbor

Collective Trauma & Systemic Healing w/ Dr. Sailesh Rao

Reach us via text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554957/fan_mail/new] Collective Trauma & Systemic Healing w/ Dr. Sailesh Rao By Brian Arbor | October 29, 2025 In this episode of Traces of Trauma, we meet with Dr. Sailesh Rao, Executive Director of Climate Healers and author of "There Is a Planet B." Dr. Rao brings a systems engineer’s perspective to the urgent issues of collective trauma and eco-anxiety, challenging the narrative that humanity is a mistake and instead offering a vision of hope: that we are evolving into the planet’s (and out own) caretakers. Our conversation explores the connection between personal healing and global responsibility. Dr. Rao shares his personal journey from engineering to environmental activism and reveals how individual choices—like adopting healthy habits and reconnecting with nature—can spark collective change. He explores the parallels between generational trauma in families and the trauma experienced by our planet, and offers practical wisdom for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world. Join us for a conversation that might just change the way you see yourself—and the world. About Dr. Sailesh Rao: Dr. Sailesh Rao is the Executive Director of Climate Healers, a nonprofit organization focused on addressing collective trauma and eco-anxiety by fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility toward the planet. Originally a systems engineer, Dr. Rao shifted his focus from electrical engineering to environmental systems, advocating for humanity’s role as a “caretaker species” of Earth. He is the author of "There Is a Planet B" and is recognized for his work in promoting holistic healing—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—at both individual and collective levels. Most Memorable Moment: “We have been gathering strength so that we can become the caretaker species of the planet. And now that we have understood our strength, now we can say, ‘Okay, we belong. We belong as the caretaker species of the planet.’ And so we have never been separated from nature because separation is a delusion.” ~Dr. Sailesh Rao Key Takeaways: Recognizing Collective Trauma and Eco-Anxiety: Dr. Rao discusses how humanity’s separation from nature has led to a collective trauma, manifesting as eco-anxiety. He reframes this narrative, suggesting that humans are not a mistake but are evolving into the planet’s caretakers. The Power and Responsibility of Humanity: Rao emphasizes that with the collective power humanity wields comes the responsibility to heal ourselves and the planet. He draws parallels between generational trauma in families and the trauma experienced by the planet, advocating for healing at both levels. 8 Risky Behaviors & Personal Healing: Dr. Rao shares his personal journey of adopting healthy habits - tied to the 8 Risky Behaviors (that contribute to 15 different chronic conditions): Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise, Smoking, Lack of Health Screening, Poor Stress Management, Lack of Sleep, Poor Standard of Care, & Excessive Alcohol or Drug Consumption. He encourages others to find their own tailored approaches, highlighting that individual healing contributes to collective transformation. Connect with Dr. Sailesh Rao:   Website: www.rejoicingwithoils.com [http://www.rejoicingwithoils.com] YouTube: https://youtube.com/@climatehealer Connect with Brian: Website: https://tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianarbor

Military Sexual Trauma & Rejoicing With Oils w/ Christina Gray

Reach us via text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2554957/fan_mail/new] Military Sexual Trauma & Rejoicing With Oils w/ Christina Gray By Brian Arbor | September 21, 2025 In this episode of Traces of Trauma, host Brian Arbor welcomes Christina Gray, an Army veteran and essential oil practitioner. They discuss Christina's challenging experiences as a military spouse and how her journey led her to discover the healing power of essential oils. Christina introduces her unique three Rs method—revelation, restoration, and rejoicing—and shares the impact of essential oils on managing trauma, particularly in veterans. The conversation delves into the complexities of military trauma and the importance of finding compassionate avenues for healing. About Christina Gray: Christina Gray is an essential oil practitioner and founder of Rejoicing With Oils. Her passion for natural healing stems from a deeply personal place. As a military veteran and spouse living in South Korea, she faced the heartbreaking challenges of my daughter's ADHD and Tourette Syndrome diagnoses as well as the aftermath of her own military sexual trauma. Having experienced and witnessed the side effects of traditional treatment and medication provided by the military, she knew there had to be another way and her quest for answers led me to the transformative power of essential oils.  Key Takeaway: The Rejoicing With Oils “3R’s method”: Revelation:      Using advanced scans to uncover hidden imbalances within the body, especially on an emotional level Restoration:      Creating personalized protocols with essential oils to restore balance and promote restoration Rejoicing:      Celebrating the rediscovery of wholeness and vibrant health, and all the steps along the way Connect with Christina Gray:   Website: www.rejoicingwithoils.com [http://www.rejoicingwithoils.com] Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/RwOrejoicing [https://www.facebook.com/RwOrejoicing] Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/queengray2003/ [https://www.instagram.com/queengray2003/] A Gift from Christina Gray: 15- minute free consult    https://www.rejoicingwithoils.com/contact-us Connect with Brian: Website: tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook personal page: https://facebook.com/brian.arbor/ Facebook podcast page: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Traces of Trauma Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ [https://linkedin.com/in/Traces]brianarbor Traces of Trauma Podcast is sponsored by the following: Embrace The Darkness: Somatic Breathwork for Grief and Healing  |  embracethedarkness.org [http://embracethedarkness.org] Connect with Host, Brian Arbor:   Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook personal page: https://facebook.com/brian.arbor Facebook podcast page: http://facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Connect with Brian: Website: https://tracesoftrauma.com/ Email:  brian@tracesoftrauma.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracesoftrauma Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracesoftrauma Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracesoftrauma/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/brianarbor