In this episode of the Being Well Podcast, Somatic therapist Elizabeth Ferreira joins Forrest to discuss complex PTSD, dissociation, and working with challenging emotions. Forrest and Elizabeth start by exploring the relationship between Internal Family Systems and somatic therapy, including how we can apply a somatic lens to working with our parts. They then apply that framework to complex PTSD, cognitive bypassing, emotional numbing, hypervigilance, and other difficult experiences. Other topics include issues around comparing trauma, windows of tolerance, appreciating individual needs, and Elizabeth’s own journey of becoming a therapist while managing C-PTSD and ADHD.
About our Guest: Elizabeth is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working in California. She specializes in somatic approaches to trauma work.
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Key Topics:
- 0:00: Introduction
- 1:15: What is the crossover between IFS and somatic therapy?
- 12:25: When self-awareness doesn’t create change.
- 19:05: Dissociation, and tracking your window of presence
- 35:05: Emotional numbing, and how to feel your feelings again
- 41:05: Hypervigilance, and staying present without catastrophizing
- 48:40: How do I respond to those who minimize their trauma?
- 58:55: What’s helped you get what you want from life after trauma?
- 1:10:40: Recap
Forrest is now writing on Substack, check out his work there.
