The Turtle Shell Therapy Institute

Ted Wynfield returns to continue our discussion on the current research and the common misconceptions regarding ethical non-monogamous (ENM) and polyamorous relationships. The conversation delves into the complexity of jealousy and other emotions, and the importance of understanding and working through these emotions. Ted also discusses the hierarchy vs non-hierarchy dynamic in polyamory and how t...

Karen Doyle Buckwalter comes back to the institute to talk with James about attachment and trauma. Karen goes into how they interface with each other and clarifies misinformation that is out their about both topics www.karendoylebuckwalter.com Facebook: @karendoylebuckwalter Twitter: @kbuckwalter Instagram: @karendoylebuckwalter LinkedIn: Karen Doyle Buckwalter

James sits down with Ted Wynfield, a Licensed Professional Counselor, to discuss his specialty area in working with polyamorous and consensually non-monogamous relationships.  Ted discusses the stigmas and stereotypes around polyamory and where they stem from, as well as what non-monogamous relationships actually look like by discussing the Mono-paradigm and the Poly-paradigm as two models of rela...

Crystal Fegenbush is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addictions Counselor, Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy Supervisor, Colorado’s First Certified Emotionally Focused Therapy therapist of color and co-founder of Solid Foundation Individual and Couples Therapy.  Crystal  joins James to discuss her work and the importance of culturally competent therapy. Solid Foundation Individual...

Alicia Patterson is Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in somatic counseling and women's pelvic health. Alicia sits down with James to discuss her work and the need for trauma informed women's health care in the medical and mental health systems https://www.alicianpatterson.com

Stacie Later, Certified Social Worker, sits down with James to discuss her work with suicidality and addiction.  Stacie shares her experience on how to support someone living with addiction and/or suicidality, how they intersect, and discusses how we as a society can untangle the stigma in these two areas https://alliancecounselingutah.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stacielater_csw/

James discusses the avoidant attachment style by going through the prompts and exercises of section 3 of his book, The Attachment Theory Journal He explains how avoidance can develop, how it can manifest, and ways someone living with avoidance can reconnect with themselves and find a new way to connect with others.

Lukas Schafer joins James at the institute to discuss his group practice and how he utilizes Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) to support his client's healing. EFIT was developed from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence based modality for family and romantic relationships. Lukas explains how utilizing the principals of EFT to help people understand their relationship wit...

James sits down with Karen Doyle Buckwalter to discuss her expertise on how attachment impacts caregivers and how building awareness and doing your own work can help stop negative generational patterns.  Karen also discusses the research behind the Adult Attachment Interview and how it's a helpful tool for clinicians working with adults and families impacted by insecure attachment patterns.&n...

Samantha Sprinkle, Reiki Master Practitioner, Massage Therapist, Wild Women Project circle leader, and founder of Mystic Massage Wellbeing, joins James to discuss how Mystic Massage Wellbeing came to be as well as how she integrates the ancient practice of Reiki with craniosacral therapy and different modalities of massage.  James and Samantha go into research and talk about how these treatme...

James focuses on the anxious attachment style and the different protections a person with anxious attachment might develop to get their needs met in a relationship. James discusses what anxiety is and reviews section 2 of his guided journal, The Attachment Theory Journal , to help explain strategies to better understand your anxiety and find new ways to relate to yourself and others.

Kirby Culbertson, certified Yoga therapist and teacher, visits with James to discuss what Yoga Therapy is and how it can help you reach your goals of mental and physical wellness.  Utilizing ancient Yogic practices and teachings, this therapy helps address pain and exhaustion, as well as assist in working through emotions and getting more in touch with yourself. Incorporating Yoga practices a...

James talks about how our attachment style can impact our relationships with and associations of emotions and feeling states.  James goes into strategies and exercises he discusses in his guided journal, The Attachment Theory Journal, that are informed by EMDR protocols he uses with his clients to help build better understanding to help them on their journey towards mental wellness 

Kelly Smyth-Dent, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and EMDRIA approved EMDR Consultant and Trainer, joins James at the institute to talk about her work and various ways EMDR can help individuals and groups at any age work through a full spectrum of traumatic experiences.   scalingupemdr.com  emdria.org  Scaling Up EMDR Facebook Page EMDR Intensives Facebook Page for EMDR Clinici...

James talks more about how our attachment styles are formed and how they impact how we experience the world, by explaining why therapists are always asking about your past.  James walks you through some helpful exercises while explaining how compassion for our past self can help us become "unstuck" and create the positive change we want to  see in ourselves

Attachment Theory is a topic that James will continue to discuss in future episodes but this episode gives a brief overview of the primary attachment styles, the traits of each style, how they develop, and how attachment can be fluid

Liliana Baylon, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist approved Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Synergetic Play Therapist Supervisor, EMDRIA approved EMDR consultant, public speaker, and trainer, sits down with James to share her expertise around play and family therapy.  Liliana shares what families can expect in a sess...

James talks about the amygdala, the part of our brain that triggers our survival responses- Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn.  James also talks about how mindfulness strategies and meditation can help us through and even prevent going into our amygdala

Send James a message or use the Q&A feature on Spotify to send questions and ideas for future episodes.  What would you like to learn more about to help you feel more comfortable inside and outside of your shell?  James can be reached at turtleshelltherapy@gmail.com or you can find him on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook with the handle @turtleshelltherapy 

James talks about the helpful purposes of emotions and how mindfulness can support understanding our emotions and how to use them to respond rather than react.  James also discusses the importance of boundaries and the science behind shame and compassion.

Welcome to The Turtle Shell Institute! In this first episode, James will be introducing the podcast, what to expect in the coming episodes, his background, and a general overview of EMDR therapy