The Trauma Therapist

Juliane Maxwald is a licensed psychoanalyst, AASECT-certified sex therapist, and the author of the upcoming book Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality (Routledge, Dec 2025).  She specializes in exploring how trauma shapes adult sexual expression—manifesting as dissociation, shame, compulsive patterns, shutdown, or fear of intimacy—and how healing can emerge throug...

Cassandra helps people heal intergenerational trauma through somatic and ancestral practices. Through blending shadow work, inner child healing, and ritual, they guide clients into deeper liberation and authentic empowerment, so they can embody purpose and positively impact the world around them. In this Episode:  instagram.com/healinglineages Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreak...

Karen C.L. Anderson is a master-certified life coach and author who specializes in helping women understand and relate to shame differently so they no longer hurt themselves (and others) with it.  She is the author of several books including " You Are Not Your Mother: Releasing Generational Trauma & Shame " and " Difficult Mothers, Adult Daughters: A Guide for Separation, Liberation & Insp...

Arkadiy Volkov is a Registered Psychotherapist and the founder of Feel Your Way Therapy , a private practice in Toronto specializing in trauma-informed care. After a decade-long career as a lawyer, Arkadiy made a personal and professional transformation, shifting into psychotherapy to help people heal from anxiety, trauma, and relationship challenges. At Feel Your Way Therapy, Arkadiy leads a team...

Tomilyn (“Tomi”) Ward, LPC, is the founder of My Wellness Center and My Wellness Retreats in Pittsburgh whose goal is to help individuals and families heal from past events and navigate life’s challenges.  She counsels clients through milestones such as pregnancy and adoption, supports veterans living with PTSD, and guides young adults exploring their sexual identity. In This Episode My Wellness C...

Dr. Robert Rhoton is the Chief Clinical Officer of the Arizona Trauma Institute and President of the Trauma Institute International. A Diplomate of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, he has spent decades advancing the understanding and treatment of developmental and family trauma.  Dr. Rhoton has supervised outpatient clinics, juvenile justice and substance abuse programs, day tr...

Andrea Leeb is the author of Such a Pretty Picture , a debut memoir about childhood trauma, dissociation, and the long road to healing. Abused before the age of five and raised in a home of denial and silence, Andrea grew up to look “fine”—a successful attorney, wife, and high-functioning perfectionist. But when she was assaulted in her 30s, the façade cracked, and repressed memories, panic, and P...

Melissa Williams is the creator of the YouTube channel Lostat50Something and the originator of the “Backwards Confession,” a powerful practice of entering a confessional not to seek absolution, but to name the harm caused by certain church doctrines and actions — and then to offer forgiveness as an act of reclaiming personal power and peace.  This deeply personal ritual has become the foundation f...

Calvin Armerding is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor based in South Carolina, specializing in Adlerian psychology. He regularly leads workshops, offers retreats, and gives keynotes on topics such as grief, couples counseling, and trauma. His recent work explores trauma as what Alfred Adler described as an “exogenous factor” — an external event that collides with an individual’s interna...

Gabriela Rosa is the founder and CEO of The Rosa Institute, the world’s first entirely virtual and holistic fertility clinic. She is a Harvard-trained fertility specialist who has spent decades not only treating the biological side of reproductive health but also holding space for the psychological pain that comes with it. Her clinical insights are matched by her deep empathy for what her patients...

Dennis Church, 76, has been a photographer for 50 years and has used the quiet act of photographing the world around him to navigate childhood trauma, addiction, and shame.  His forthcoming book, DIRT FRESH (Fall Line Press, Atlanta), is part visual memoir and part emotional x-ray—a project rooted in finding light, humor, and color in the mundane. Having survived much, Dennis has made pictures thr...

Will Monlux lives with stage 4 cancer, but his story is defined by more than a diagnosis. It’s shaped by the people and communities who stood beside him, the moments of connection that gave him strength, and the belief that meaning can be found even in life’s most uncertain chapters. As Chief Advocacy Officer at WondrLink, he works to help patients with life-threatening illnesses access potentiall...

Hakeem Bourne McFarlane is a creator, author, and motivational speaker whose raw truth and relentless tenacity have inspired thousands to stop living on autopilot and start choosing themselves. He’s the mind behind Choose Yourself To Be Chosen and the founder of the Choose Yourself Movement, a community built for people who are ready to face their excuses head-on, tear down what isn’t working, and...

Claire Hogan is an ever-curious storyteller with a vivid imagination. Her deepest passion lies in spiritual transformation and the mystery of personal growth. Her journey into energy work began after deeply transformative sessions with a Sound Reiki® practitioner in 2012 and a Theta Healing Meditation Technique® practitioner in 2016. What followed was years of study, training, and personal practic...

Joan Coletto is a heart-centered hypnotherapist, spiritual practitioner, and the creator of Heart Shift, a powerful fusion of hypnotherapy and spiritual practice that helps people release emotional pain and limiting beliefs so they can live with more peace, joy, and purpose.  Known for her compassionate presence and deep insight, Joan has guided countless individuals to the root of their struggles...

Francesca Raoelison has spoken at Brown University, Harvard, Princeton, UNICEF, the Preventing Child Abuse in America Conference, and the Clinton Global Initiative, addressing the global crisis of emotional trauma among youth. She is the founder of Omena, a survivor-led movement dedicated to educating and mobilizing young people to identify and end emotional abuse. Active in 13 countries with 315...

Andy Chaleff is an award-winning author, speaker, and mentor whose work explores the intersection of grief, love, and transformation.  His deeply personal books challenge readers to embrace vulnerability and live with greater authenticity. With a background in psychology and decades of experience guiding others through personal growth, Chaleff’s writing is both raw and revelatory. His previous boo...

Adriene Caldwell has done more than survive—she has thrived. A former foster youth who beat the odds, Adriene is part of the less than 3% who go on to attend college, despite statistics showing that 20% of the U.S. prison population once passed through the foster care system. She doesn’t sugarcoat life’s harsh realities, but instead offers something far more powerful: hope. Hope that trauma will e...

Jessica Pride, Co-Founder, is a sexual assault attorney and Managing Partner of The Pride Law Firm with over 20 years advocating for survivors of child sexual abuse, sexual assault, and workplace harassment. She has been named Consumer Advocate of the Year and secured the largest settlement in U.S. history for incarcerated survivors—$117 million.  Verna Griffin-Tabor, Co-Founder, has over 40 years...

Samantha Potthoff, M.A., LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of Therapy Collective of California  Samantha specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, attachment issues, and grief, with a unique approach that integrates neuroscience with evidence-informed psychotherapy to address the profound interconnection between mental and physical health.   Samantha's unique appro...

Cheri Bergeron is an author, blogger, public speaker, trained life coach, and founder of the nonprofit Cheri's Choice, guiding women through alternative paths to motherhood. Following a successful career in IT, Cheri now helps single women weigh their options, navigate fertility challenges, and build families on their own terms. Her personal fertility journey included becoming a mother without a p...

Paola DiFlorio is an Oscar and Emmy–nominated filmmaker and co-founder of Counterpoint Films with her husband, author and filmmaker Peter Rader. Their breakthrough documentary Awake: The Life of Yogananda became one of the top-grossing indie docs of 2014–15 and set their mission to create media that “awakens the human spirit.” Since then, they’ve developed and consulted on numerous projects explor...

MJ Renshaw is a breathwork facilitator, podcast host, author, and founder of The Being Method, a science-backed spiritual education platform that teaches students to heal and reconnect with their bodies through breathwork.  After her own journey overcoming childhood trauma, MJ launched The Being Method in 2020, quickly establishing it as uniquely comprehensive, blending breathwork science, trauma-...

Richard Taite is the founder and Executive Chairman of Carrara Treatment Wellness & Spa , Executive Chairman of 1 Method Treatment Centers, and the former founder of Cliffside Malibu, which he sold in 2018. A leading figure in the addiction treatment industry for over a decade, Richard has built a career dedicated to helping people reclaim their lives from substance use and mental health chall...

Mark Astor is the co-founder of Astor Simovitch Law, a firm dedicated to helping families in crisis when a loved one is struggling with substance use, mental health issues, or repeated recovery failures. With over 30 years of legal experience, Mark leads a trauma-informed practice that combines legal advocacy with clinical collaboration—supporting not only individuals in crisis but also empowering...