In this episode of The Therapist Thrival Guide, we're sitting down with Christy Gunter, LMSW to unpack the complexities of chronic trauma—what it is, how it impacts the brain and body, and what we can do to help clients heal.
Christy explains chronic trauma as repeated exposure to threat or harm. Over time, the brain and nervous system start to adapt in ways that were meant to protect us but can become unhelpful—or even harmful—in the long run. We talk through how chronic trauma differs from acute trauma, explore the wide range of trauma responses (yes, there’s more than just fight or flight—collapse and submit show up, too), and look at how these patterns shape behavior and show up in the therapy room.
We also dive into the nervous system’s role in trauma, the power of EMDR for processing it, and why breaking down maladaptive responses is such an important part of recovery. Christy and I both emphasize a holistic approach—because healing isn’t just about processing the trauma itself. It’s also about supporting clients in navigating daily life challenges, relationships, and triggers along the way.
Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction00:58 Understanding Chronic Trauma01:21 Defining Chronic Trauma04:07 Somatic Symptoms and Identifying Triggers09:06 Chronic Trauma's Impact on the Nervous System13:01 Therapeutic Approaches to Chronic Trauma16:20 Case Studies and Practical Applications19:36 Dual Diagnosis and Integrated Treatment21:21 Exploring EMDR and Art Therapy22:41 The Importance of Consent in Therapy23:22 Working with Different Age Groups24:51 Understanding Chronic Trauma27:43 Addressing Abandonment Issues32:06 Coupling Trauma with Sensory Triggers37:39 The Role of EMDR in Trauma Processing42:14 Concluding Thoughts and Listener Engagement
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from Ellie Mental Health. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. #therapy