Cari Stubbs is a trauma-informed therapist with her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As a counselor, she is passionate about working with individuals and couples in their journey toward healing from trauma, depression, anxiety, life-changes, and other mental health barriers. Her desire is to empower others to unearth their authentic and whole self through curiosity, awareness, and action. Cari typically pulls from an integrated approach with traditional talk therapy, trauma-informed therapy, person-centered, and strength-based approaches as my foundations. She is trained in both EMDR and ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention therapy), the gold standard for OCD. Her husband, Trey Stubbs, was my very first guest on this show!
In this episode, Cari and I discuss the concepts of EMDR, a trauma-informed therapy: what it is, what is involved, and how it can be a healing treatment for those affected by trauma. We discuss some of the complexities of validation with trauma and how we can best support others who have experienced trauma in their lives. We define some basic terms and Cari shares about what she does to take care of herself when working in a highly emotionally-charged career.
For more information about Cari or if you are interested in scheduling a session with her, you can email her at cari@sojourncounselingco.com or visit her website at sojourncounselingco.com/cari. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content! If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 988 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are from Colorado and are interested in scheduling a session, please reach out at sojourncounselingco.com/josh or josh@sojourncounselingco.com. New episodes every Wednesday (with exceptions!) while the show is in season!
Takeaways
EMDR therapy is a leading treatment for trauma, helping individuals process and rewire traumatic memories.
The preparation phase of EMDR is crucial, focusing on building trust, creating safety, and developing resources.
The reprocessing phase of EMDR involves activating traumatic memories and negative core beliefs to facilitate healing and integration.
EMDR can be effective for a range of issues beyond trauma, including OCD, grief, and poor sleep.
It is important to approach trauma with compassion and validation, recognizing the impact it can have on individuals' lives.
Self-care and support are essential for therapists working with trauma, as it can be emotionally and physically demanding.
Trauma should not be used as a buzzword, and it is important to understand and respect the experiences of those who have gone through trauma.
Privilege and external support can influence the impact of trauma and the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms.
Supporting others who have experienced trauma requires empathy, validation, and boundaries.
Radical self-compassion is key in healing from trauma and developing a nurturing inner voice.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
04:08 Transition to Therapy
08:56 Discussion on Trauma and EMDR
19:19 Preparation and Process of EMDR
27:33 Limitations and Considerations of EMDR
32:20 EMDR with Children and Adolescents
38:04 Other Areas of Interest
43:42 Trauma as a Buzzword
51:21 Defining Trauma and Privilege
52:19 Supporting Others and Self-Compassion
54:18 Words of Wisdom: Radical Self-Compassion
55:09 Radical Self-Compassion
55:39 Resources for Self-Compassion
55:49 Exploring Negative Beliefs
56:33 The Life-Changing Practice of Self-Compassion
