How Psychodrama Heals Trauma

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, touted by Oprah Winfrey as one of the most important studies of our time, has successfully made the connection between emotional and psychological childhood trauma and physical health problems later in life. In other words, what begins in the mind alters the body’s… Read More

ACoA’s and Children of Trauma: 7 Things to Be Grateful For

By Tian Dayton Ph.D. How many times have I heard people share that they “do not regret the past”? “Whatever brought me into recovery,” says Sharon M., “has helped me to make such positive life changes that I truly feel appreciated more than resentful, much more in fact. I even… Read More

Childhood Abuse, Complex Trauma, and Epigenetics

By Fabiana Franco, Ph.D. Epigenetics refers to the study of a natural phenomenon and to the phenomenon itself. Epigenetics is the study of the mechanisms that turn on and… Read More

Experiential Therapy for Trauma Treatment

By Tian Dayton, Ph.D. Understanding trauma requires us to feel the stories of our lives to heal them. Traumatic recovery is all about not feeling. Even asking someone about their trauma can be befuddling, if not disturbing, for the client who has learned to put their head down, turn off… Read More

The Nature of Traumatic Memory: Why Our Memories Terrifying Events are Spotty

As a psychologist who works with trauma, I am very much aware of how difficult it can be to recall details of a traumatic experience. Even the question, “can you tell me about your trauma?” can be befuddling, if not somewhat disturbing, to one who has experienced it... Read More

The Legacy of Loss and Grief

“Grief is like the ocean, it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All one can do is learn to swim” - Vicki Harrison “Grief is like the ocean, it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All one can do is learn to swim” - Vicki Harrison Loss and grief are two inescapable emotions that humans must experience at some point in their lives. The ability to cope with these emotions varies in accordance with the different stages of a person’s life. Read More

How Workshops Aid in Healing, Recovery, and Emotional Growth

By Georgia Fourlas, DSW, MSW, LCSW, LISAC, CSAT-SClinical Director of Workshops, Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows For those who are looking to overcome negative behaviors, or even simply identify the source of some of their emotional suffering, intensive workshops can be a springboard to recovery and renewal. Workshops… Read More

The Trauma Timeline: A Journaling Exercise for Understanding the Impact of Relational Trauma

“The essence of psychological trauma is the loss of faith that there is order and continuity in life. Trauma occurs when one loses the sense of having a safe place to retreat within or outside of oneself to deal with frightening emotions or experiences.”… Read More

Why Chris Cornell’s Death is So Devastating to People in Recovery

When grunge rock—a term that those who played “grunge rock” hated—arrived on our radios in the mid-90s, it felt to many fans like music had finally gotten “real” again. The Big Pop of the 80s seemed to repeatedly emphasize style over substance and sales over artistry. So, when songs by… Read More

Peeling Away the Layers of Trauma: Survivors II

By: Dr. Georgia Fourlas, LCSW, LISAC, CSATClinical Director of Workshops, Rio Retreat Center at The Meadows There is an undeniable link between childhood trauma and the ability to cope with adult trauma. Traumatic experiences seem to build upon one another and not in a good way. Read More