Medical Trauma Support

What happens after you survive the ICU? For Vanessa Abraham — a speech pathologist, author, and ICU survivor — the real trauma began after she came home. In this powerful episode, we talk about: Vanessa’s sudden illness that left her paralyzed and unable to speak The grief, identity loss, and depression she faced after ICU The emotional cost of being a caregiver and navigating life after medical t...

Medical trauma is real — and you are not alone. In this podcast, we talk about the emotional and nervous system impact of medical procedures, ICU stays, chronic illness, and caregiving. Whether you’re healing from your own experience or supporting someone else, these conversations will help you feel seen, supported, and less alone. Hosted by Sarah from Medical Trauma Support, each episode offers g...

In this deeply personal and validating episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , host Sarah Stasica welcomes psychologist Rachel Allen for a heartfelt conversation about healing from medical trauma—both as a professional and as someone with lived experience. Rachel shares her journey through a traumatic birth and her role as a caregiver during her husband’s cancer diagnosis, highlighting the...

In this powerful episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , Sarah Stasica is joined by leadership and wellness consultant Kelsey Wesley for an honest conversation about the emotional complexities of childhood medical trauma. Kelsey shares her lived experience of undergoing multiple childhood surgeries and how those early medical experiences significantly impacted her. Together, Kelsey and Sar...

In this powerful episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , I’m joined by Dana Hammerstrom, a journalism student at USC, who shares her deeply personal story of being diagnosed with scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, as a child. Dana opens up about the medical trauma she experienced — from frightening medical experiences and painful treatments to the emotional impact of being a young chi...

In this heartfelt episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , host Sarah Stasica speaks with dancer and choreographer Allison Thomas about her powerful healing journey after the devastating loss of her infant. Together, they explore the deep layers of medical trauma, infant loss, and the complex emotions of grief, and how movement—especially dance—became a transformative outlet for Allison&#39...

In this powerful episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , Sarah Stasica is joined by Emily Guarnotta, clinical psychologist and founder of Phoenix Health, for an honest conversation about the often-unspoken emotional and medical trauma of infertility. Emily shares her personal experience with postpartum depression and how it led her to create a supportive space for others navigating inferti...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , host Sarah Stasica welcomes Leah Levitan, certified lymphatic therapist and founder of Lymph Love Club , for an empowering conversation about lymphatic system health and its vital role in healing after medical trauma . Leah shares her personal story of how her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis led her to explore the world of lymphatic drainage...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, we explore the wisdom of the body with Devon Hornby, a manual therapist and Chinese medicine practitioner at Tao Health Clinic in Austin, TX. We discuss how somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed healing can help rebuild trust and safety within the body. Learn why there is no wrong place to start your healing journey...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah Stasica and Jenn Wooten discuss the profound impact of medical trauma on the nervous system and the importance of understanding this relationship for healing. There is so much wisdom in the body but it takes nervous system capacity to be able to turn toward the body. When we can increase our nervous system capacity, it allows us to turn...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, I speak with Dr. Sasha McBain about medical trauma and the emotions that often go along with it. We particularly focus on anger because it is such a common experience for those of us who have experienced medical trauma. We discuss Sasha's journey into this field, the psychological impact of medical experiences, and the importance of addres...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Kim Humphrey, an Austin based speech therapist, yoga teacher, sound healer and all around magic person, about her personal journey through medical trauma and how it led her to healing practices that she now shares with others. Kim shares her medical trauma experiences and the emotional toll of her medical jo...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, I welcome back Christen Mullane to discuss her new book, Medical Stress and Trauma: A Mindfulness-Based Approach To Reclaiming Safety And Empowerment. Our conversation explores the themes of safety, empowerment, and the importance of understanding medical stress for patients, caregivers, and providers. Christen shares insights on how her workb...

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast , I’m joined by Shelley Freeman, MS, LCMHC, to explore three transformative pathways to heal from birth trauma: building a supportive community, engaging in somatic practices, and exploring therapy. Together, we discuss the power of connecting with others who truly understand your experience, how somatic practices can help regulate your nervous...

In this engaging conversation with Shelley Freeman, we delve into the often-overlooked postpartum period following birth trauma. We explore the emotional toll of trauma and shame and how they contribute to postpartum mood disorders. We also emphasize the vital need for “mothering the mother”—providing compassionate, gentle care to support recovery and emotional well-being. Whether your birth exper...

Join us for episode one of a three part series on birth trauma. I talk with Shelley, a therapist who works with moms, about the prevalence of birth trauma, some factors that increase the likelihood of birth trauma and how healing is possible. Click here to learn more about the four week birth trauma group. Shelley's website. Shelley's IG page Medical Trauma Support on Instagram. Medical Trauma Sup...

In this episode, Susan shares her medical trauma healing journey. She has so many beautiful strategies that I think could be helpful to the many people who are really struggling with medical trauma. We discuss Somatic Experiencing, re-entering the medical system after trauma, the importance of support and gratitude filled medication rituals. One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this c...

I was so lucky to get to talk with Erin Bradshaw of Healthcare Revolution Collective and talk about how just being able to name medical trauma is an important part of healing. We also discuss protective factors to prevent medical trauma and how important it is to validate someone's experience of trauma. We also offer ideas for how to support yourself and others in the medical system. You can find...

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family enters a world of fear, overwhelm, and uncertainty. In this powerful episode, I talk with Ellie, a pediatric oncology social worker, about what emotional support really looks like for parents and caregivers during their child’s cancer treatment. We explore the vital role of caregiver support in pediatric cancer care, how social workers help...

Deborah shares her medical trauma story and how her near death experience impacted her journey to healing and how she lives her life. This was such a beautiful experience that really felt like it was all about the importance of love and sharing love and how that can be so incredibly healing. Deborah has also started a support group in Canada for people with ostomy bags. Click here if you would lik...

In this powerful episode, Matt Maxwell interviews Sarah Stasica, founder of Medical Trauma Support , about her personal journey through medical trauma as a mother—and how it led her to create a healing space for others navigating similar paths. Sarah shares how her child’s medical diagnosis and the overwhelming experience of medical procedures revealed the deep emotional and somatic impact of medi...

In this heartfelt episode, I talk with a mother whose child has undergone multiple surgeries starting at just eight months old. She shares the emotional toll of navigating pediatric medical interventions and the crucial (but often overlooked) need for parental support during these experiences. We explore how hard it is to care for yourself while you're also advocating for your child, managing...

In this episode I speak with Nic Schmoyer-Edmiston, Ph. D., NCC an asistant professor in the department of counseling at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, about Integrated Behavioral Healthcare and the Enduring Somatic Threat Model and how these two topics can significantly reduce and medical trauma! You will hear a concrete call to action to help move us more towards a supportive inte...

It was so moving to talk with Matt Maxwell about his experience of medical trauma and how he processed it and found hope and beauty. Matt is a professional life coach, a meditation teacher, and author of How to Hold a Cockroach: A book for those who are free and don't know it . He shares his experience with cancer as a teenager and his transformative healing journey. You can find out more about Ma...

In this episode, I speak with Jessica Jessee, founder of Operation Bliss , a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families whose children are facing difficult medical journeys. Jessica shares how Operation Bliss provides joy, comfort, and practical support to families navigating hospital stays, chronic illness, and medical trauma. We talk about what it means to walk alongside families du...