Recovering from Complex PTSD with Elizabeth Ferreira

Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is the result of the slow accumulation of many small traumatic experiences over time. On our most popular Being Well episode to date, Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson explored the details of CPTSD with Pete Walker, and on today’s episode, Forrest is joined by his partner Elizabeth Ferreira to discuss the topic through a more personal lens. Elizabeth shares her CPTSD origin story, what CPTSD feels like, and how to create a compassionate environment with or without a therapist so you can safely process grief, experience out repressed emotions, and learn to express your needs.
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About our Guest: Elizabeth is a recent graduate of the Somatic Psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and is currently earning hours toward her MFT license. She creates content on YouTube and Instagram focused on CPTSD, PMDD, and becoming a more whole version of who you are.
Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.
Key Topics:
0:00: Introduction
2:15: Elizabeth’s story
5:20: Trauma in the broader family system
8:40: A “normal” story
11:50: Loneliness, and the parts of us we leave behind
15:00: Repressed emotions
17:10: Adverse childhood experiences
20:35: Stepping out of adverse environments
25:15: Trauma work as grief work
29:10: Symptoms of Complex PTSD
34:50: How do you need to be comforted?
37:30: Creating the sense of safety
40:30: Somatic interventions
45:30: Being witnessed
47:10: Claiming your needs
50:10: Facing the dreaded experience
53:50: Accuracy vs. sensitivity
57:05: Hidden parts
1:00:00: Start by joining
1:04:20: Recap
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