Justin Sunseri

Stuck Not Broken

Health EN ↓ 354 episodes

Stuck Not Broken is the first podcast built on clearly teaching the Polyvagal Theory and applying it to your trauma recovery process. Justin Sunseri is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist that makes the science of connection easily understood and accessible to anyone. He created the Polyvagal Trauma Relief System and is the author of Trauma & The Polyvagal Paradigm.(Justin Sunseri, LMFT99147)

Author

Justin Sunseri

Category

Health

Podcast website

www.stucknotbroken.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

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Episodes

Applying Parental Co-Regulation 13.08.2019

Lots of co-regulation ground covered in this episode: Kids neurocepting danger cues your state vs your empathy your empathy vs your compassion face to face interaction self-regulation (for you, parent) DETAILED SHOW NOTES - http://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode26 JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/forum SUPPORT the podcast at - http://www.justinlmft.com/support Music & Sounds...

Avoiding Creating a Trauma in Your Kids & Approaching a Parent who is Stuck 09.08.2019

We answer two more questions from our Dear Listeners about parenting -  1. "How can parents avoid creating a trauma with their kids?" 2."How do you approach a parent who is stuck?" Support the podcast here - justinlmft.com/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/polyvagalpodcast/message Mentioned in this episode: Naming Your Stuckness Not sure which stuck state you're in? That's nor...

Understanding Parental Co-Regulation Before Kids' Self-Regulation 06.08.2019

Self-regulation is built upon co-regulation.  Kids aren't born able to self-regulate, but they are born ready to receive a parent's co-regulation. DETAILED SHOW NOTES - http://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode25 JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/forum CONTACT either of us at http://www.justinlmft.com/contact Music & Sounds by Benjo Beats - https://soundcloud.com/benjobeats ---...

Parental and Toddler Polyvagal State Shifts 02.08.2019

We answer two questions submitted by two of our amazing listeners: 1. How to best overcome a parental state shift? 2. Do toddlers experience defensive states more often than adults? Join us on Sunday nights on Instagram Live!  We go live around 915pm PST. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/polyvagalpodcast/message Mentioned in this episode: Naming Your Stuckness Not sure which stuck st...

We Don't Control Our Kids and How to Strengthen Their Vagal Brake 30.07.2019

Two big ideas discussed in this episode: 1. Strengthening the vagal brake as a fundamental purpose of parenting and why. 2. You don't control your kids.  And you can't.  And neither do we.  No one does. DETAILED SHOW NOTES - http://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode24 JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/forum CONTACT either of us at http://www.justinlmft.com/contact Music & Sounds...

The Role of Narratives in Surviving a Sexual Assault 29.07.2019

Taken from an Instagram Live on July 21, 2019.  we discuss the function of "Stories" or "Narratives" that a survivor of sexual assault may be living with.   Join us on Instagram every Sunday night around 915pm PST.  We answer questions and let people listen to a bit of what we're recording! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/polyvagalpodcast/message Mentioned in this episode: Naming Yo...

Therapy and the Polyvagal Theory 16.07.2019

We apply the polyvagal theory to the process of psychotherapy. DETAILED SHOW NOTES on - http://www.justinlmft.com/ blog JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/forum CONTACT either of us at http://www.justinlmft.com/contact Music & Sounds by Benjo Beats - https://soundcloud.com/benjobeats Placebo https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6003660/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/sc...

Bad Therapy 3 09.07.2019

Mercedes and I break down some real life examples of #badtherapy for the final time!  Plus we share our own bad therapy and a couple of good therapy examples too. more detailed show notes on justinlmft.com/post/episode22 TREATMENT ABANDONMENT -  https://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/09/ethics https://www.aamft.org/Legal_Ethics/Code_of_Ethics.aspx JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/...

Bad Therapy 2 02.07.2019

We look at more listener submissions of their #badtherapy experiences.  And believe it or not, there's many more we haven't gotten to. More detailed show notes on justinlmft.com/post/episode21 JOIN THE TRAUMA NERDS Forum - http://www.justinlmft.com/forum JUSTIN Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justinlmft/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Website - http://www.justinlmft.com Email - jus...

Bad Therapy 1 25.06.2019

We continue the Bad Therapy series, this time with real examples submitted to us by listeners and Instagram followers.  We dissect the therapeutic issues at play here, discuss what is and isn't therapy and share our own thoughts based on how we practice therapy.  More in-depth show notes are available here - http://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode20 JUSTIN Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/just...

Basic Therapy 18.06.2019

Welcome to the first installment of the Bad Therapy series.  We need to first understand some basics of what therapy is and how it works.  Clients are walking into sessions with a combination of hope and desperation - this is easily taken advantage of by a "therapist" that isn't up to snuff.  We want you to be able to enter your sessions with some clarity on what YOU want out of your time/money as...

Top-Down Thoughts to Climb the Polyvagal Ladder 11.06.2019

We tackle the issue directly - you're normal, you survived, your body is awesome and is probably working fine.  Plus a whole lot more.   More detailed show notes are available here - https://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode18 You can also join the discussion on the Trauma Nerds forum here -   https://www.justinlmft.com/forum/episode-discussion/18-top-down-thoughts-to-change-your-state   JUSTIN Inst...

Bottom-Up & Outside-In Ways to Change Your Polyvagal State 04.06.2019

Mercedes & I discuss how we personally use different bottom-up techniques to climb the polyvagal ladder and reach a more safe & social state - music, dance, play, breathing and more.  We also discuss what it means to "allow" the process to happen in simple day to day application. JUSTIN Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/justinlmft/ Website - http://www....

Climbing the Ladder with Listener Submissions! 28.05.2019

Full show notes are available on https://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode16 We got some Listener submissions for how they use the polyvagal theory to climb their ladders!  Thanks to Carla-Jo, Theresa and Emily!   JUSTIN Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justinlmft/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Website - http://www.justinlmft.com Email - justinlmft@gmail.com MERCEDES Twitter - https:...

15. Dr Stephen Porges Interview: Mental Disorders, Substance Use, Psychiatry & the Polyvagal Theory 21.05.2019

Full show notes are available on justinLMFT.com/post/episode15 I had the distinct pleasure of being able to talk in-depth with Dr Porges about the Polyvagal Theory and how it applies to various things, such as clinical disorders, the role of psychiatry, empathy vs compassion and much more.  It's a jam-packed 50 minutes.  Thanks to all my listeners that submitted questions for Dr Porges....

Teacher Self-Care & Being Ready to Teach 14.05.2019

This is part 5 of 5 of the Polyvagal Schools series. Full show notes are on justinlmft.com/blog.   We hear about students being "ready to learn," but what about teachers being "ready to teach"?  Mercedes and Justin look in depth at danger cues for teachers, specifically how to recognize what's happening internally on a cognitive, emotional, behavioral and physical level.   JUSTIN Twitter - https:/...

Relationships Over Academics 07.05.2019

  This is the Polyvagal Schools series,  part 4 of 5 -  A slew of trauma-informed ways for educators to improve relationships with their students.  After the relationship is improved, with safety being the priority, things like motivation and behavior will improve.   JUSTIN Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/justinlmft/ Website - http://www.justinlmft.co...

Classroom Structure - Consequences, Fidgets & Flexibility 30.04.2019

Polyvagal Schools episode part 3 of 5 - The Polyvagal Theory applied to the classroom structure.  We look at suspensions, fidgets, quiet zones in the classroom, suspensions, consequences  and a lot more.  Also, learn how my hands turned orange during a meeting at work! JUSTIN Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/justinlmft/ Website - http://www.justinlmft....

Classroom Danger Cues & What to Do About Them 23.04.2019

Part 2 of 5 of the Polyvagal School series - Danger cues in the classroom: the environment, the teacher and peers!  And we give you some unique ways to problem-solve around these. JUSTIN Twitter - https://twitter.com/justinlmft Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/justinlmft/ Website - http://www.justinlmft.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justinlmft/ Email - justinlmft@gmail.com MERCEDE...

10. Path of Transition & Cues of Danger in School 16.04.2019

Mercedes Corona, LMFT joins me to talk in depth about what the Path of Transition is and how it applies to the school environment.  Part 1 of our Polyvagal School Series! Polyvagal 101 Virtual Class - https://www.justinlmft.com/pvt101   Building Safety Anchors - https://www.justinlmft.com/bsa   Website - https://www.justinlmft.com   Intro/Outro music & Transition Sounds by...

9. Attachment, Generational Trauma & the Polyvagal Theory 09.04.2019

Attachment is integral to the mechanics of how generational trauma is actually passed on.  I take a look at this through the lens of the amazing polyvagal theory (but you probably know that by now). My Polyvagal 101 online course will teach you the Polyvagal Theory accurately and simply in under 2 hours and connect it to trauma. You'll have the knowledge necessary to reduce your self-shaming,...

8. Mixed States & the Polyvagal Theory 02.04.2019

I cover the other Fs that I've been seeing, like "flop," "friend" and "fawn."  Plus an in depth look into why I don't think these are primary autonomic responses to danger or life threat. And more, much  more. My Polyvagal 101 online course will teach you the Polyvagal Theory accurately and simply in under 2 hours and connect it to trauma. You'll have the knowledge necessary to reduce yo...

7. Play, Stillness & the Polyvagal Theory 26.03.2019

We've covered the primary states (Safe, Flight, Fight & Freeze), now let's look at a couple of state combos: play & stillness. My Polyvagal 101 online course will teach you the Polyvagal Theory accurately and simply in under 2 hours and connect it to trauma. You'll have the knowledge necessary to reduce your self-shaming, blaming and judging and be able to build yourself a new narrative th...

6. Vagal Brake, Co-Regulation & the Polyvagal Theory 19.03.2019

A look at the vagus, the vagal brake, the window of tolerance AND co-regulation. My Polyvagal 101 online course will teach you the Polyvagal Theory accurately and simply in under 2 hours and connect it to trauma. You'll have the knowledge necessary to reduce your self-shaming, blaming and judging and be able to build yourself a new narrative that is normalizing and validating. Click the link below...

5. Trauma, Shame & the Polyvagal Theory 12.03.2019

A way way in-depth look into how trauma works plus what shame and disgust have to do with it.  From Justin Sunseri, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 99147. My Polyvagal 101 online course will teach you the Polyvagal Theory accurately and simply in under 2 hours and connect it to trauma. You'll have the knowledge necessary to reduce your self-shaming, blaming and judging and be able to...

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