In this episode of the Trauma and the Brain Podcast, Chantell Tilly-Anderson and licensed professional counselor Matt Lasslo explore regret through a trauma lens. They unpack the difference between regret, guilt, and shame, and talk about how trauma can turn “I wish I’d done that differently” into “there’s something wrong with me.” Matt explains why the brain clings to should have / would have / could have thinking, the “Back to the Future” alternate-timeline fantasy, and the painful experience of mourning the unrealized self — the version of us who never got the chance to exist. Together, they look at how shame gets installed, why survivors often feel they “deserve” to suffer, and how blame, control, and shame get tangled up. The episode closes with practical ways to bring regret back into the present: recognizing victimization without blaming yourself, identifying unmet needs, using mindfulness to return to the here-and-now, and turning regret into action that moves you toward the life you want today.
In this episode of the Trauma in the Brain podcast, hosts Chantell Tilly Anderson and Matt Lasslo delve into the complex topic of grief. They explore personal experiences with loss, the psychological and neurological impacts of grief, and how it shapes our relationships and perceptions of safety. The conversation emphasizes the importance of processing grief individually, understanding the difference between grief and trauma, and the necessity of radical self-acceptance in navigating the emotional landscape of loss. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they provide a comprehensive look at how grief can be both a painful and transformative experience.
In episode four of the Trauma and the Brain Podcast, Chantell Tilly Anderson and licensed professional counselor Matt Lasslo expand on the question, “What is trauma?” by examining how it manifests across a lifetime.
They tease apart trauma as a life event versus trauma as the body’s response—diving into fight, flight, and freeze, dissociation, and why some experiences get “stuck” instead of integrating into long-term memory.
Matt breaks down the core PTSD symptom clusters—intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, avoidance and “conscious justifications,” and negative shifts in mood and thinking—with real-life examples of how fear, shame, and intrusive thoughts can quietly shape relationships, work, and day-to-day choices.
From there, the conversation zooms out to the lifespan of trauma: how childhood and adult trauma often impact us differently, what the ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study actually found, and how unresolved trauma can affect physical health over time—sleep, pain, digestion, blood pressure, even vulnerability to illness.
They also touch on medical and psychiatric trauma, including what it can feel like to hand over control of your life to a hospital system.
The episode closes with first steps toward healing: acknowledging trauma instead of minimizing it, paying attention to the body’s signals (like held breath and chronic tension), using grounded, believable affirmations, and learning to set and honor healthy boundaries—both as a trauma survivor and as someone supporting one.
Chantell Tilly Anderson and LPC Matt Lasslo dive into forgiveness—why it’s so loaded after trauma, what it is (and isn’t), and how to approach it safely. Matt frames forgiveness as three things: an effort (it takes real work), an act (something you do that changes your body), and an experience (you feel a release—like taking off heavy armor). They bust common myths, including: “forgiveness says what they did was okay,” “I have to let them back in,” “it’s not self-respecting,” and “I don’t need it to heal.” Safety comes first; you never have to re-enter unsafe situations to forgive. They contrast resolution (the person makes it right) with closure (you choose to let go even without repair), and discuss boundaries, accountability, and why you can forgive and still press charges or keep distance.
They explore barriers—language like “unforgivable,” defensiveness, and waiting to heal before forgiving—and offer a reframing: forgiveness helps start healing by putting the event in the past. Research-backed benefits include reduced anxiety/depression, lower blood pressure, better sleep, and overall stress relief. For anyone not ready, they suggest asking, “Why does it feel impossible?”—the answer often points to a myth you can work through. The episode closes with a powerful message: forgiveness is a self-directed way to reclaim power, health, and freedom—one step, one rep, one choice at a time.
In this episode of Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson is joined by licensed counselor Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ) to unpack the impact of political violence on our minds and bodies.
From graphic headlines to videos on our social feeds, violence in the public sphere doesn’t just affect those directly involved—it ripples outward, shaping our collective nervous system. Together, we explore how exposure to violence, even secondhand, can trigger fight-or-flight responses, re-traumatization, and heightened anxiety.
This conversation covers:
Political violence is unsettling, divisive, and deeply human in its impact. By understanding how it affects the brain and body, we can begin to process our reactions with compassion—for ourselves, for our communities, and for the nation we share.
Trauma and the Brain Podcast: strengthening minds with trauma-informed tools, one rep at a time.
In the debut episode of Trauma and the Brain Podcast, host Chantell Tilly Anderson asks a fundamental question: what does trauma really mean?
With guest Matt Lasslo, LPC (AZ), a licensed professional counselor with more than 13 years of clinical experience, we break down how trauma is defined—not just as an event, but as the body’s ongoing response when fight or flight isn’t enough.
Together we explore:
This opening conversation sets the foundation for the podcast: clear, compassionate, and practical trauma education. If you’ve ever wondered whether your struggles are connected to trauma—or how to better support others—this episode is for you.
Trauma and the Brain: strengthening minds with trauma-informed tools, one rep at a time.
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