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The Complex Trauma Podcast

Sarah Herstich
Mental Health
Trauma
Complex Trauma
Disordered Eating
Complex PTSD
Body Image
Trauma Recovery
Self-Care
EMDR
Nervous System Healing
EMDR Therapy
Nervous System
Trauma Therapy
Emotional Neglect
Eating Disorders
Dissociation
Eating Disorder Recovery
Therapy
Childhood Emotional Neglect
Depression

A podcast for anyone healing from complex PTSD, childhood emotional neglect, and the patterns you've been carrying without knowing what to call them.

Hosted by EMDR and somatic trauma therapist Sarah Herstich, each episode gets into nervous system healing, trauma responses, and what it actually takes to stop living in survival mode.

If you've spent years people-pleasing, apologizing for existing... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes135Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessEducationSelf-ImprovementMental Health

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Artwork for The Complex Trauma Podcast

Latest Episodes

Do you feel guilty every time you need something, even from people who love you? Do you find it easy to show up for everyone else but nearly impossible to let someone show up for you?

If so, this episode is for you.

In episode 135, I explore the be... more

Many complex trauma survivors struggle to trust their memories, emotions, perceptions, and reactions. 

In this episode, we're exploring why being disbelieved can feel so painful, how emotional neglect and attachment wounds can teach us to question o... more

Emotional loneliness is one of the most common and least talked about experiences in complex trauma recovery. It's not about the number of people in your life. It's about whether your nervous system has learned to let them in. And for a lot of surviv... more

Sleep is one of the most common struggles in the CPTSD community, and one of the least understood. If you've tried the routines, the supplements, the magnesium, the blue light glasses, and you're still lying awake at midnight or waking up at 3am feel... more

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Therapist Uncensored PodcastSue Marriott LCSW, CGP & Ann Kelley PhD

Recent Guests

Katie Fries
Licensed clinical social worker and registered play therapist
All of You Therapy, Center City, Philadelphia
Episode: When Being Seen Can Feel Unsafe in Therapy for CPTSD with Katie Fries
Emily Pagone
Licensed clinical professional counselor; founder and CEO of Authentic Growth Wellness Group; host of The Inner Critic Podcast
Authentic Growth Wellness Group
Episode: The Inner Critic, IFS, and Complex Trauma with Emily Pagone
Libby Ward
Creator, speaker, advocate for women and mothers
BBC/GMA features; Hello Sunshine Collective member
Episode: Complex Trauma, Motherhood, and Cycle Breaking with Libby Ward
Rachael Garner
Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDR-certified therapist, and certified sex therapist; specializes in complex trauma
Independent practice in Jackson, Mississippi; EMDR consultant in training
Episode: How Complex Trauma Shows Up in Your Sex Life— with Rachael Garner
Dr. Danica Harris
Somatic-experiencing practitioner, counseling psychologist, and complex trauma expert.
Empowered Healing Dallas
Episode: Childhood Emotional Neglect with Dr. Danica Harris
Joe Sanok
Host of the Practice of the Practice podcast and author of the book 'Thursday is the New Friday', which explores how to work smarter, not longer.
Practice of the Practice
Episode: Betrayal Trauma and Learning to Trust Again with Joe Sanok
Dr. Janina Fisher
Licensed Clinical Psychologist and International Expert on Trauma Treatment
Former Instructor at Harvard Medical School
Episode: Understanding Dissociative Parts with Dr. Janina Fisher
Cassidy DuHadway
Trauma therapist, EMDR approved trainer, and author of "Becoming Me, Unraveling and Healing the Sacred Wounds of Religious Trauma"
Purple Sky Counseling
Episode: Religious Trauma is Complex Trauma with Cassidy DuHadway
Thomas Zimmerman
Mental health therapist and consultant specializing in EMDR therapy for complex trauma
Reclaim Therapy
Episode: The Beauty and the Work of Complex Trauma Recovery with Thomas Zimmerman

Host

Sarah Herstich
Host of the program, trauma and EMDR-focused therapist

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 82 ratings
  • Ahhh-mazing!

    I have never felt so seen!

    You can hear the kindness and compassion in her voice but that is over shadowed by her wealth of knowledge and the ability to explain why we feel the way we feel, how trauma shows up and and how to see it in a different light. Sarah is a true gem!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Intuitive RD
    United States3 months ago
  • Really helpful! But talks so quickly

    I find this podcast very helpful- I just wish Sarah would speak significantly more slowly. She is explaining a lot in a very short period of time- and particularly when you’re discussing how to regulate a disregulated system- it requires some time and patience and breath between words and sentences and concepts.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    KaitT2060
    Canada3 months ago
  • My New Safe Place

    Discovered Sarah on TikTok and immediately felt safe and seen. Came over here for more of the same and added education on cptsd and the plethora of challenges living with it.. This place calms my nervous system- you can hear the kindness and authenticity in the voices here… Grateful to have found it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C & L mom
    United States6 months ago
  • High quality listen

    Sarah really loves her know but is also so relatable the way she breaks it down. Must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dswimm
    United States6 months ago
  • 🫶Compassionate, Kind and Helpful

    I love the way Sarah and her team talk about some tough topics in such a compassionate and kind way. They know their stuff!! Definitely recommending this to all my clients and their parents (teen therapist here 👋)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mallory Grimste
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are viewed as credible, with real-world application for healing from trauma.
The show is praised for warmth and accessibility, especially for clients and clinicians alike.
Many note the content is practical and actionable, not just theoretical.
Listeners describe the host as compassionate and knowledgeable, with clear expertise in trauma.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why You Freeze or Shut Down When Things Get Hard
Q: Why do I go blank instead of getting upset?
The host explains that blanking can be a dorsal vagal shutdown response, a protective strategy that reduces pain and energy use when threat feels inescapable. Grounding alone may not help during shutdown because the thinking brain is offline; instead, very small, safe activations can help nudge the system back toward regulation, and understanding that this is a learned, adaptive response reduces shame.
How Complex Trauma Shows Up in Your Sex Life— with Rachael Garner
Q: What keeps coming up for clients around sexual desire, and how do you help them disentangle trauma from biological arousal and interest?
She explains the distinction between subjective arousal and physiological arousal, the role of external and internal cues, and the need to slow things down, reframe beliefs about sex, and gradually reintroduce safe, non-demanding experiences to rebuild desire.
How Complex Trauma Shows Up in Your Sex Life— with Rachael Garner
Q: To start, could you share how you got into sex therapy and complex trauma work, and what drew you to this niche?
Rachael describes starting as a sex therapist right after grad school, her cultural upbringing around sex, and how EMDR training led her to focus on complex trauma rather than single-incident cases, seeking specialized training to better support clients with intricate trauma histories.
3 Dissociation Questions Everyone's Asking (Answered)
Q: Why do I feel nothing when I talk about my trauma?
The absence of emotion during trauma narratives is common and is a sign that the nervous system is still processing the traumatic experience behind a protective wall.
3 Dissociation Questions Everyone's Asking (Answered)
Q: How do I know if it's dissociation or I'm just zoning out?
Zoning out is passive and can be easily returned from, while dissociation is triggered by an activation in the nervous system causing a protective distance from the experience.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Complex Trauma Podcast

What is The Complex Trauma Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, trauma-focused show that centers nervous-system regulation, attachment, and healing from CPTSD and childhood emotional neglect. Across episodes, the host and guests explore how early environments shape parts of the self, the role of somatic and EMDR approaches, and relational safety as a foundation for recovery. Topics span inner critic work, dissociation, sex and intimacy after trauma, parenting, and healing within therapy relationships. Notable strengths include a clear emphasis on slow, body-based healing, concrete practical steps, and a compassionate, non-judgmental tone that supports listeners in carving safer, more connected lives. This program is likely to appeal to clinicians seeking applied perspectives and to individu... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Complex Trauma Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Complex Trauma Podcast:

1. Trauma Rewired
2. Complex Trauma Recovery
3. Therapy Chat
4. Adult Child
5. Therapist Uncensored Podcast

How many episodes of The Complex Trauma Podcast are there?

The Complex Trauma Podcast launched 3 years ago and published 135 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Complex Trauma Podcast?

Recent guests on The Complex Trauma Podcast include:

1. Katie Fries
2. Emily Pagone
3. Libby Ward
4. Rachael Garner
5. Dr. Danica Harris
6. Joe Sanok
7. Dr. Janina Fisher
8. Cassidy DuHadway

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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