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Seeing Suicidal Ideation through a Trauma-Informed Lens
“I don’t want to be here anymore.” These words strike fear in the hearts of all therapists. They remind us of the reality that pain may be so deep and pervasive that someone would think of ending their life. They also raise questions of our legal and moral responsibility for the lives of others. The…
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Self-Compassion During Complicated Holidays
With Mother’s Day having passed recently and Father’s Day around the corner, it is important to touch on the fact that these celebrations do not land the same with everyone. Being a therapist gives me the privilege to witness how painful these two days can be for someone who has experienced loss or who has…
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Setting Boundaries During the Holiday Season
Heading into the holiday season can bring with it a multitude of conflicting feelings, particularly when caregivers or other family members were the source of painful or invalidating experiences. I often find clients struggling with exploring their own needs and boundaries with their families, or feeling guilty when they do. These struggles and difficulties…
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The Stress Response Doesn’t Stop at “Fully Vaccinated”
As healthcare and governmental organizations have suddenly shifted the masking requirements of the pandemic, I have found myself saying some version of this over and over to my clients: the anxiety, panic, overwhelm, exhaustion, shut down, grief, and loneliness you are feeling right now makes sense.
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Coming Back Into Connection
As a trauma therapist, I utilize a body-centered approach with my clients. This means, understanding and respecting the impact of trauma on the body and our physiological states and how our bodies are integral in the process of healing. Trauma can leave us disconnected from ourselves and our bodies as a way to keep us…
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Using Gender-Neutral Language Is Not Optional
Today I was browsing Fat Positive Cooperative, a site that connects people with fat acceptance and fat positive resources, and a post by trans, nonbinary and fat activist J Aprileo caught my eye; it was entitled, “Fat & Trans: Reclaiming My Autonomy.” In it, J highlights an experience that trans and nonbinary folks know well:…
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How Our Inner Critic Acts Up In Times of Stress
As a therapist to clients during an unprecedented time, a worldwide pandemic, a modern civil rights movement, an intensely divided political climate, I have a unique privilege to witness and be with individuals as they process and endure through these times. It’s led me to notice a thematic trend amongst my clients, and myself. A…
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CCIH Statement on Racial Trauma
We at CCIH find ourselves compelled to reflect on what it means to be a trauma-informed therapist during the current times. The pandemic has shone an ugly light on the reality that there are wide disparities across race and identities in our country. Illuminating very painfully what happens in a country built on principles of…
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Notes From a New Clinician
As a new clinician interested in working with survivors of complex trauma and dissociation, insight from experienced practitioners is invaluable to me. Recently, I connected with Amy Zajakowki Uhll, LCPC, a psychodynamically trained therapist with over 25 years of experience, to learn more about her work in the field, current treatment approaches, and her thoughts…
