Transforming Trauma

Cultivating a culture of transparency is a challenge for any organization. Recording it for posterity on a podcast is a lesson in embodied connection. Transforming Trauma host Emily Ruth welcomes back Brad Kammer, Training Director and Senior Trainer at Complex Trauma Training Center [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/] (CTTC), and Stefanie Klein, CTTC’s Assistant Training Director and Trainer, for a heartfelt and candid year-end conversation. The trio celebrates all that CTTC has accomplished and discusses challenges associated with creating and maintaining innovative programming that supports therapists in being a meaningful part of a community in a field that, according to Stefanie, “can be a very hard, lonely job.” About Brad Kammer and Stefanie Klein: Brad Kammer is the Training Director and Senior Trainer at the Complex Trauma Training Center. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, somatic experiencing practitioner, and NARM master therapist who has been in the trauma field for 25 years. He has co-authored The Practical Guide for Healing Developmental Trauma: Using the Neuroaffective Relational Model to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resolve Complex Trauma [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-practical-guide-for-healing-developmental-trauma-using-the-neuroaffective-relational-model-to-address-adverse-childhood-experiences-and-resolve-c-/17449454?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvP-6BhDyARIsAJ3uv7Ya15E5dODEoCE0ethQqtCgx-wXwSAqXlnsxJa_wk2l2DaBFOfpfCIaAiIgEALw_wcB], which presents one of the first comprehensive therapeutic models for addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Stefanie Klein is the Assistant Training Director and Trainer in the Complex Trauma Training Center. She's a licensed clinical social worker, NARM master therapist, consultant, and trainer. She has spent over 25 years in her Los Angeles private practice specializing in treating adults with trauma and anxiety disorders. Stephanie is excited to be part of the leadership of the Complex Trauma Training Center. She looks forward to continuing to support therapists who are looking to have more ease and efficacy in their practice. To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://bit.ly/ttshownotes] *** SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. [https://bit.ly/ttspace] The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com [https://bit.ly/cttcpodcast] View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ [https://bit.ly/ttcttcschedule] The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal.  The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter] Instagram @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter]

Milestones have a way of inviting reflection, and this one is no exception. This year-end review of Transforming Trauma also happens to be our 150th episode. CTTC Director and NARM® Senior Trainer Brad Kammer joins host Emily Ruth to reminisce about the incredible guests who have graced our current season and the many heartfelt conversations that have shaped the show since its inception in January 2020. To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma] *** SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. [https://bit.ly/ttspace] To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://bit.ly/ttshownotes] *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com [https://bit.ly/cttcpodcast] View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ [https://bit.ly/ttcttcschedule] The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal.  The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter] Instagram @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter]

Did you know that the diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD) has remained the same since it was officially added to the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders in 1980? Forty years later, BPD remains deeply misunderstood by the public and isolating for those who live with the condition. On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth chats with Mark L. Ruffalo, MSW., D.Psa., about his extensive work in the field of BPD. The pair discuss the history of BPD, its symptoms and characteristics, and overlap with C-PTSD.  About Mark L. Ruffalo: Mark L. Ruffalo, M.S.W., D.Psa., is a psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, Florida, and serves as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and Adjunct Instructor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. He has broad clinical experience in the psychoanalytic treatment of a range of psychiatric conditions with particular interest in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. During his training at the University of Pittsburgh, Mark worked with severely ill patients in long-term psychotherapy, an area in which he has developed significant expertise.  He has published previously in the American Journal of Psychotherapy, Psychoanalytic Social Work, Psychiatric Times, and the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. He currently serves as Co-Director of the Psychotherapy Track at the UCF/HCA Orlando Psychiatry Residency Program and is the Founding Editor of The Carlat Psychotherapy Report. Mark’s current research interests include the object relations theory of borderline personality disorder; communication dilemmas, paradoxes, and double binds in personality pathology; and deficits in logical reasoning in psychotic and borderline states. Learn More: Website [https://www.drruffalo.com/] To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma] SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join [https://bit.ly/ttspace] *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/] View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/] The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal.  The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter] Instagram @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter]

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Dr. David Richo, PhD, MFT, psychotherapist, teacher, and writer to share wisdom from his 50+ years of helping people identify and resolve relationship challenges that often mirror issues from their childhood. Dr. Richo points to growth that arrives in the form of triggers – adverse emotional responses that blur the distinction between past and present. He invites us to think of triggers as trailheads, often uncomfortable but informative starting points on our healing journey.  About David Richo: Dr. David Richo, PhD, MFT, is a psychotherapist, teacher, workshop leader, and writer who works in Santa Barbara and San Francisco California. He combines Jungian, poetic, and mythic perspectives in his work with the intention of integrating the psychological and the spiritual. His books and workshops include attention to Buddhist and Christian spiritual practices. He received his BA in psychology from Saint John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1962, his MA in counseling psychology from Fairfield University in 1969, and his PhD in clinical psychology from Sierra University in 1984. Since 1976, Dr. Richo has been a licensed marriage, family, and child counselor in California. In addition to practicing psychotherapy, he teaches in a number of places, including Santa Barbara City College, the University of California at Berkeley, Esalen Institute, Spirit Rock Buddhist Center, Pacifica Graduate Institute, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Dr. Richo is currently a clinical supervisor for the Community Counseling Center in Santa Barbara, California. Learn More: Website [https://davericho.com/] To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma] SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. [https://bit.ly/ttspace] *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/] View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/] The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal.  The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you! Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter] Instagram @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter]

Sex is one of the most complex barriers to true intimacy in a relationship. It's also one of the least-discussed topics in therapy. Therapists often avoid discussing sex due to their perceived lack of subject knowledge or confidence in their therapeutic skills.  Clinical Sexologist and Psychologist Rikke Pristed believes that therapists have already developed a baseline competency in sex-related issues simply by being human. Those trained in the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) are even better positioned to help couples improve their physical and emotional bonds. On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth and Rikke discuss the interplay between sex, trauma, and connection (or lack thereof). About Rikke Pristed: Rikke Pristed is a clinical psychologist, a clinical sexologist and has completed the Master Training with NARM. She has been working as a therapist since 1999. She lives in Denmark and has a private practice. She works with adults and sees both couples and individuals. She sees people both in person and online. Rikke is currently transforming her practice to become primarily NARM oriented. She is 53 years old and has three grown up children and 4, soon to be 5, grandchildren. Learn More: Website [https://www.rikkepristed.dk/] To read the full show notes and discover more resources, visit https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/transformingtrauma] SPACE: SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join. [https://bit.ly/ttspace] *** The Complex Trauma Training Center: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/] View upcoming trainings: https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/ [https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/] *** The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC offers a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal.  The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care. We want to connect with you!   Facebook @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter] Instagram @complextraumatrainingcenter [https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ComplexTraumaTrainingCenter]