Posts by shelbymilhoan
What is Trauma? Part II: Beyond the Event
Trauma is less about the event itself and more about the lasting imprint it leaves on the body, especially the nervous system. Two people can live through the same experience, like a natural disaster, and walk away with very different outcomes.
Read MoreWhat Is Trauma? Part I
Trauma isn’t just the event itself. It’s about the impact of the event and the experience it has on your nervous system, your relationships, and the way you move through the world.
Read MoreSigns of Spiritual Abuse—Part Two
If you’ve ever felt like your thoughts, feelings, or identity were unwelcome in your religious environment—or that questioning authority meant risking everything—this might help you name your experience.
Read MoreSigns of Spiritual Abuse—Part One
Recognizing Coercion, Control, and Emotional Harm in High-Control Religious Environments Over the past few years of doing Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and working with clients who’ve had difficult childhoods, I began noticing a recurring theme. As we explored their life experiences, some shared deeply painful stories tied to religion. What I heard was shocking: core…
Read MoreFrom Empathetic Distress to Compassion: Lessening Burnout in a Troubled World
Amid strenuous relationships and strife in the US with the current political climate, there has been a call for empathy and compassion. Most of us agree that empathy is essential, but what happens when too much empathy makes us feel stuck and disconnected? Empathy and its Benefits Empathy is a mental construct and subsequent behavior…
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