Trauma Aware America

08/31/2026

Pain is often reduced to “pain is processed by the brain,” which is true, but also leaves out a vital part of the story. Without it, we can't fully understand our pain and therefore we can't know all the options for relief.

Pain week at Trauma Aware America September 6th-12th

Learn the Relational Neuroscience of chronic/recurrent pain, which can offer genuine relief.

This is how my symptoms went way down.

08/31/2026

"Finding An Appropriate Therapist"

From an IPNB perspective, the most important question is not "What techniques do they use?" It's "What kind of relationship do they create?" Healing happens through repeated experiences of safety, collaboration, and being understood, not through someone trying to fix you.

A practical checklist might look like this:

1. How they see people

They understand trauma as an adaptation to overwhelming experiences, not a sign that you are broken.

They are curious about your life, relationships, and experiences, not just your symptoms.

They avoid reducing you to a diagnosis.

They recognize that your body and mind influence each other.

2. How they work with you

They listen more than they lecture.

They ask permission before suggesting interventions.

They explain their reasoning instead of expecting you to simply trust them.

They welcome questions and disagreement.

They change course if something isn't helping.

They see you as the expert on your own lived experience.

3. How you feel during sessions

You feel heard, even when they see things differently.

You don't feel rushed, shamed, or pressured.

You leave with a greater sense of clarity rather than confusion.

You notice that your body can settle in their presence more often than not.

You don't feel like you have to convince them that your experiences are real.

4. Their understanding of relationships

They recognize that healing happens in relationships, not in isolation.

They help you strengthen healthy connections outside of therapy.

They understand that trust develops over time and isn't something they can demand.

5. How they respond to setbacks

They see setbacks as information, not failure.

They stay curious instead of blaming you.

They help you notice what made something harder or easier.

6. Things to be cautious about

They insist they already know what's wrong with you after one or two sessions.

They dismiss your lived experience because it doesn't fit their theory.

They rely heavily on labels while paying little attention to context.

They pressure you into treatments you don't want without genuine collaboration.

They become defensive when you ask questions.

They act as though their credentials matter more than your experience.

One especially revealing question is:

"When a person's symptoms developed in the context of chronic developmental trauma, how do you understand what those symptoms mean?"

Another is:

"What do you do if a client says an intervention doesn't feel safe or isn't helping?"

Their answers will tell you far more than a list of certifications. An IPNB-informed therapist is likely to talk about collaboration, curiosity, relationships, and helping you build experiences of safety and integration over time, rather than focusing primarily on symptom reduction or correcting what's "wrong" with you.

08/31/2026

Welcome to Trauma Aware America! This page is grounded in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB). We look at trauma, health, and human behavior through the lens of nervous systems, relationships, and safety. That is the framework you’ll find here.

If this approach speaks to you, you’re welcome.
If it doesn’t, this likely isn’t your space, and that’s okay.

HOW WE ENGAGE HERE

Neuroscience-Based Lens:

We speak from an understanding of nervous systems and relational safety. Pathologizing language, behavior-only explanations, and dismissive takes are out of alignment with this space.

No Psychiatry:

While the judicious use of medication is acknowledged as complex and sometimes helpful, this is not a space to promote or defend psychiatric systems or models. Many people here have been harmed, dismissed, or destabilized by psychiatry, and debates that recentralize that authority undermine the safety and purpose of this space. Comments defending psychiatry are off topic and will be removed.
I choose not to host material in *my space* that *actively undermines my regulation and safety.*

No Cognitive Therapies:

This page does not host defenses or promotion of cognitive-first therapies such as CBT, DBT, ACT, or related models. These approaches prioritize thought and behavior management over relational context, developmental history, and embodied experience, and many trauma survivors have found them invalidating or harmful.
This space centers recovery through attunement, context, and nervous system support, not cognitive correction or compliance.
Comments defending cognitive or behaviorist therapies are off-topic and will be removed.

No Partisan Politics:

We can talk about systems, structures, power, and culture. We do not promote or attack people along political party lines.

Civility is Required:

No name-calling, personal attacks, shaming, or contempt.
No demands that I or others meet your expectations.
This is a low-threat space by design.

Honor Lived Experience:

Do not correct, minimize, debate, or reinterpret someone’s lived experience. Curiosity and respectful questions are welcome. Invalidation is not.

No Fixing Unless Asked:

This is not a problem-solving arena. You're not here to tell other people what's wrong with them, what they're doing wrong, or what they should be doing according to your beliefs. Lead with listening, reflection, and compassionate witnessing.

Repair Matters Here:

Missteps and ruptures happen. This is a place to slow down, take responsibility, and practice repair. Defensiveness and escalation will be moderated.

No Spam or Self-Promotion:

This includes services, products, or repetitive agenda-posting.

Education, Not Therapy:

This page offers education and conversation, not clinical care.

Boundaries Protect the Space:

I reserve the right to moderate, remove comments, or block accounts to maintain safety and integrity.

What We Encourage:

Kindness.
Thoughtful engagement.
Empathy.
Supportive presence.
Learning together.

This is a community built for safety and connection.
You belong here if you’re willing to engage with care.

08/31/2026

The good news for people who grew up in a dysfunctional family is that they can learn better ways of parenting.

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

One of the cool things we can do on the Discord platform that we cannot do here is Empathy Circles: a safe space where each person can share their feelings while others listen with empathy and without interrupting.

We can have small group encounters with boundaries, and practice safe connection through empathetic witnessing.

So find the Trauma Aware America Community at Discord and let's do this healing thing together!
My desire for thoughtful, informed conversations about trauma, human development, relationships, pain, and the brain and body prompted me to try it at Discord. The platform offers a lot of flexibility for building real community and learning together.

I hope you will consider joining, because this is a place for actual conversation, where discussions can be organized, searched, and returned to instead of disappearing into a Facebook black hole.

You can join the TAA community at Discord with this link: https://discord.gg/B5xa3anhP

I hope to see you there soon!

08/31/2026

Some news outlets are picking up on Facebook's extortion program. Evidently it targeted news outlets first. Facebook is pushing out legitimate news. As well as legitimate creators who have made it lots of money over the years.

I'm planning my slow exit because I know it will end badly if I don't.

Find me on Substack and YouTube. I will be working more in those platforms.