Science of the Soul

Facilitating Trauma Recovery: The Culturally Informed Trauma Workbook

In this episode of "Science of the Soul," join host myself and my podcast editor Will as we delve into the creation and impact of my latest publication, "The Culturally Informed Trauma Workbook." This digital resource is designed to support individuals in therapy by providing a culturally relevant lens to understanding and healing from trauma.

We explain the significance of integrating cultural contexts into trauma work, highlighting how this approach can enhance healing and personal growth. The workbook, tailored for individuals familiar with therapy and mental health practitioners, offers a blend of psychoeducation (videos, texts, quizzes, images) and interactive exercises that acknowledge the diverse cultural backgrounds of Australia's transcultural society.

Discover how this innovative resource empowers people to draw on their cultural strengths and unique blends, fostering a more inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment. I also share insights into the upcoming modules of the workbook, which will focus on present and future growth, promising to guide users toward a more content and meaningful life.

Tune in to learn more about how this valuable resource scaffolds trauma healing and find out how you can access it to enhance your clients' or your own journey of self-discovery and recovery.

Exploring Virtue and Growth: Journeying with A Therapist, Teacher & Researcher

Join me as I delve into the intricacies of mental health, therapy, and the human psyche. In this episode, I welcome Jim Schirmer, a therapist, lecturer, and writer with a unique blended background in psychology, counselling, philosophy, ethics, and theology. 

Together, we explore the intersection of these fields with psychotherapy and discuss the importance of virtues in therapeutic practice. He highlights the significant impact of the therapist's personality on therapy outcomes, noting that therapist effects can influence up to 10% of therapy success. 

Jim shares his journey from youth work to academia, highlighting the rewarding experiences of teaching and practicing counseling. He reflects on the significant role of virtues like honesty, courage, and compassion in therapy, as well as their broader application in daily life. The conversation also touches on the challenges and complexities of ethical dilemmas and how virtues can guide practitioners and individuals alike.

We then further discuss the phenomenon of post-traumatic growth and the nuanced understanding of trauma and adversity. We examine the concept of virtues as ideals that regulate behavior and how they can help navigate life's perplexities.

This insightful episode offers a fresh perspective on personal and professional development, encouraging listeners to embrace the transformative power of virtues.

Weddings and Funerals: A Celebrant's Insight into Love and Life

Join me with Stacey Morris, a seasoned marriage and funeral celebrant, as she shares her inspiring 16-year journey into celebrancy, sparked by her own wedding experience.

Stacey tells us about her unique profession as we dive deep into the art of personalizing ceremonies, building connections, and compares her approaches between weddings and funerals.

She reflects on the sanctity of marriage, the impact of mental health, and the crucial role of self-care for supporters. 

Stacey shed her insight on:
- Differences between the emotional landscapes of weddings and funerals in terms of love and loss
- Navigating mental health challenges within marriage, including PTSD and postnatal depression (PND)
- Offers practical advice for early-stage couples on maintaining a healthy, evolving relationship, and
- Highlights the essential role of community, communication, and support systems in marriage.

We also:

- Explore the impact of past experiences on current relationships, and

- Reflect on the different experiences of couples who get married early versus later in life.

Finally, Stacey and I explore the importance of community, open communication, and evolving with your partner to sustain a healthy relationship.

 

You can find Stacey on:

Instagram - @sunny_coast_celebrant

Facebook – @staceymorriscelebrant

Website – www.staceymorriscelebrant.com.au

Grief as a VERB: Healing Through the Power of Movement

In this episode, I’m excited to introduce Richmond, a pioneering physiotherapist and founder of TRE Australia. Richmond is at the forefront of neurogenic or spontaneous movement, boasting a background in mental health, youth suicide prevention, and an Advanced Diploma in Aboriginal Studies. He's also the creator of the world's first online TRE course. 

In this insightful conversation, we delve into the world of TRE, which stands for Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises. Richmond explains how simple exercises can lead to muscle fatigue, triggering natural shaking and trembling. These neurogenic tremors are not signs of weakness but the body’s way of dissipating tension and stress, aiding in calming the nervous system.

We also explore the cultural perspectives on shaking and trembling, contrasting Western stigmatization with the acceptance and utilization of these natural processes in other cultures. Richmond shares fascinating examples from the Kalahari Bushmen to traditional Swahili midwives, highlighting the importance of allowing the body to release stress naturally.

Join us as we discuss:

- the balance between control and surrender

- the physiological aspects of grief and loss

- integrating grief and trauma

- the role of movement when processing emotions

- grief and psychedelics

- grief as a verb

- the physiology of laughter and crying

- and how practices like TRE can help us reconnect with our bodies, move through trauma, and embrace life's inevitable challenges.

Tune in for a deep dive into the body's natural healing processes and learn how to flow through life’s ups and downs.

 

To reach Richmond and access his free courses and podcasts:

Free online TRE course

www.trecourse.com

Free podcasts & presentations from Richmond https://www.treaustralia.com/free-resources/

Contact Richmond 

www.treaustralia.com

 

 

Wholeness: The Role of spirituality in Mental Wellbeing

In this podcast I talk to Tom Schmidt, a university Chaplain Coordinator. Tom studied theology, and sheds light on how spirituality influences one’s mental health. We discuss a contemplative meditation practice, Lectio Divina and the role of spirituality in mental wellbeing. 

Tom takes us through a perspective shift, highlighting the function of faith in one’s sense of self, and purposefulness in life. Together, we discuss how various other wisdom traditions informs our spirituality and subsequently mental health.

Tom insightfully uses various metaphors to illuminate topics of: 

• The spiritual practice of Lectio Divina
• Bargaining with God as a result of purely dogmatic spiritual practice
• The concept of Wholeness
• The function of Wholeness
• Relationships with self and the divine
• Science and Faith

Lifestyle Medicine & Embracing Transculturalism

Lisa Hoy-Chiang is a university counsellor and project manager, in charge of embedding mental wellness and wellbeing in university curriculum across various courses. She supervises research students, and authored a book for young people titled "Restful Adventures: A Guide to Deliberate Rest for Children." Lisa is a Certified Nutritionist and also holds Board Certification and Fellowship for Lifestyle Medicine. 

 

Lisa explains to us what Lifestyle Medicine is, what it looks like in community, and how it has been in practice throughout human history, as observed in the Blue Zones. 

 

We delve into the importance of fostering authentic relationships in our communities for our wellbeing. We explored cultural messages and norms around vulnerabilities, stigmas, and discussed the role of food in strengthening social connections. 

 

We talked about cultural love languages and how food and acts of service have been an integral expression of love for many collectivist cultures. We addressed the blending cultures, drawing the valuable traditions of various cultures into our way of being as a transcultural person. 

 

Lisa and I shared our ancestry and how they colour our approaches in life, and our paradigms. We also delved into the functions of virtues such as compassion, intentionality, and humility in order to bridge cultural differences and improve psychological wellbeing. 

 

The second half of the podcast addressed more practical strategies for wellbeing such as exercise, sleep, socialisation, and diet. Lisa shed light upon some surprising research on exercise:

- autonomy on exercise (negatively geared)

- types of exercises that benefit different genders

- traditional group exercises

 

Lisa and I also speak to the importance of sleep, and how it affects our emotional and psychological wellbeing. 

 

We also impart other actionable nuggets of wisdom such as:

- an ancient premeditation practice for anxiety management,

- rituals to shift spatial spaces and maintain psychological clarity,

- disciplining the mind around work and rest, 

- setting boundaries within the home

 

We hope you found this episode enlightening, engaging, and applicable. 

 

You can find Lisa Hoy-Chiang on all social media platforms: 

linktr.ee/wellmind.insight

Her book, Restful Adventures, can be found on Amazon and is available in print and eBook.

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CW2YJFLR?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_7CZE3A13CKK90A80C8QY

Appreciating People with Disabilities & Demystifying Narcissism

Dr Karenne Hills was once a registered nurse before switching over to a career in counselling. She has been a counsellor for 25 years, a lecturer of counselling for 11 years, and her areas of expertise and interest are in children and adults with disabilities. 

 

In this podcast, Dr Karenne Hills provided a deeply empathetic and educated exploration two major issues: Making meaning with people with disabilities and demystifying narcissism. The initial part of the podcast explored:

how she conducted research with non-verbal poets,

her journey as a mother raising two children with disabilities, 

how she made meaning from her struggles, and

how she recognised the gifts and value of people with disabilities. 

 

The rest of the podcast dives into the clinical definitions of narcissism, the types of narcissism, the psychological makeup of people with narcissistic personality disorders, how narcissism develops, and how it manifests. 

 

Dr Karenne speculated over how narcissism manifests due to gender differences, highlights how strongly narcissism impacts the family, influences of family of origin, and lead to the development of codependency in intimate partners. She also talks about:

the patterns that develop within the individuals and families living with a narcissistic personality,

what couple counselling looks like,  

growing up with narcissistic parents, and

the general consensus amongst experts on such relationships. 

 

Our conversation later delves into whether psychedelics would be able to attain ego dissolution for people with narcissistic personality disorders, as well as how intimate partners psychologically and emotionally suffer from an ever-shifting reality.

 

Finally, Dr Karenne Hills leaves us with sound advice drawn from lived experience and evidence-based research on how to deal with narcissistic partners.

 

To learn more about how to navigate your communication with family members who you suspect have narcissistic personality disorders, visit the podcast link below by Rick Hanson & Forrest Hanson: 

Being Well Podcast: Understanding Narcissism and Narcissistic Traits with Dr. Craig Malkin

https://rickhanson.com/being-well-podcast-understanding-narcissism-and-narcissistic-traits-with-dr-craig-malkin/

 

 

The Sex Industry, Risks, Trauma, Violence & Staying Safe

Roisin Taylor is a personal violence counsellor who supports university students facing family violence, domestic violence and sexual abuse. Roisin is also engaged in a lot of prevention work in order to help students mitigate the risks involved when working in the sex industry as well as in domestic violence. 

In this podcast, Roisin drew attention to the importance of understanding and learning about relationships, drawing boundaries, spotting red flags, understanding personality types, reflecting on early life attachment styles and how they play out in adult relationships, and the impacts of trauma. 

 

With regards to people working in the sex industry, Roisin discussed:

- risk factors for violence and sexual abuse

- what establishing boundaries might look like

- expectations

- assertive communication 

- trauma history

- non-consensual sharing of images such as revenge porn and,

- how to manage and prevent such incidents.

 

We discussed the societal stigma, as well as the shift in societal acceptance.

We also explored:

- the psychological and mental demands of working in the industry. 

- coping mechanisms and various types of dissociation

- the different mindsets people have when entering the industry

 

Finally, we discussed domestic violence by emphasising the role of power and control, the types of abuse, the cycle of violence, various forms of abuse including multiple pregnancies and religious abuse and such. 

 

Roisin also sheds some light upon ways to support loved ones who are experiencing violence. 

 

If you or someone you care about are experiencing violence, or might be at risk, visit the links below to empower yourselves towards comprehensive care, education, safety plans, reporting and 24/7 crisis hotlines.

 

E-safety:

https://www.esafety.gov.au/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzk2sDxlKEy8OPDiyeKaUSU2IHbjCFU0DrrtPvslTDvTIGw1ngEuLQ8aAm4oEALw_wcB

 

1800RESPECT:

https://www.1800respect.org.au/

1800 737 732

 

DVConnect:

https://www.dvconnect.org/

1800 811 811

 

Men's Referral Service (Yes, men face domestic violence too. Less physical violence, more emotional and psychological violence):

https://ntv.org.au/get-help/

 

Trauma Work: PTSD, Complex PTSD, Corporal Punishment, Alter Personalities & Growth

Natajsa Wagner is a trauma psychotherapist and trainer. In this episode, Natajsa talks about the different types of trauma, and shares with us how she works with trauma. Natajsa talks about ensuring that clients have a base in safety and stabilisation, before progressing into processing memories and meaning making.

We discuss various trauma-related topics such as:

- Posttraumatic growth (PTG)

- The non-linear trajectory of trauma recovery

- The differences between PTSD and CPTSD

- When corporal punishment (physical punishment such as caning, often inflicted by parents and teachers) is traumatic and when it is not

- The cultural aspect of interpreting the corporal punishment

- Attachment patterns

- The Blue Knot Foundation (National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma)

- Ego Dissolution & Identity Shifts from PTG

- Structural Dissociation and Parts Work

- Multiple Personality Disorders (DID: Dissociative Identity Disorder)

 

Check out The Blue Knot Foundation: https://blueknot.org.au/ or call them at  1300 657 380

 

Natajsa can be reached through her website and social media:

https://www.natajsawagner.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NatajsaWagnerPsychotherapy/

 

For informative and humorous content, follow her on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/natajsa_wagner/

 

 

 

Wise Words from a Couple’s Counsellor and Sexologist

Isiah McKimmie is a renowned couple's counsellor and sexologist in Australia. Apart from her work, Isiah also lectures, works with a crisis hotline, and writes for news.com.au's Relationship Rehab column. Isiah has multiple degrees and postgrad qualifications in the field of intimacy, and had shared some profound insights on the various challenges we face, as psychosexual beings. 

 

Our conversation touches on: 

- common concerns she encounters with clients

- mismatched desires in couples, and the emotions felt as a result

- Isiah's general 3 Tiered Approach: Connection, Communication, and Sexual Intimacy

- reluctance, anxiety, shame & taboo

- sex education & sexual exercises

- Isiah's journey into education & career in human intimacy

- sexual expectations in mature couples

- changes in sexuality over the course of our lives

- other forms of intimacy and deep relational needs

- recovering from infidelity

- relationship challenges in couple's going through IVF

 

Isiah can be reached through her website and social media: 

https://isiah-mckimmie.com

https://www.instagram.com/isiahmckimmie.sexologist/?hl=en 

 

Isiah also has a blog and podcast. Her resources are well worth checking out: 

https://isiah-mckimmie.com/blog-podcast/