Dr. Rick and Forrest Hanson explore the stress responses with the fawn response. The fawn response is an appeasement strategy, where we try to manage stressful situations by giving others what they want. Rick and I start by discussing common symptoms, including people pleasing, self-abandonment, difficulty saying no, weak boundaries, and chronic self-sacrifice. We talk about the roots of the fawn response and its connection to complex PTSD before exploring people pleasing in detail. In the second half of the episode we focus on practical tools for developing healthy boundaries, self-acceptance, and a stronger sense of self.

The reddit channel dedicated to CPTSD

Geneviève has been my therapist for over 10 years — and if that tells you anything, it's that she's the real thing. A clinical social worker and psychoanalytic psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience, she leads Blue Door Therapy in Sydney, blending evidence-based methods with Buddhist wisdom. She works with individuals, couples, and groups — in person in Paddington or online — and brings a rare patience and flexibility to the work, always looking for new tools when needed. She speaks French, and has a quiet gift for creating safety even in the hardest of memories.

Diana Chapman offers a masterclass in changing the way you respond to challenges, understanding where you are in the drama triangle so you can eliminate drama, and the power of the whole body yes. You’ll walk away from this episode a better leader, partner, and parent.

So many of us share the feeling that modern life takes an unnecessarily heavy toll on our well-being, but few have illuminated the reasons behind this as insightfully as Dr. Gabor Maté — the renowned author, trauma expert, and retired physician.

Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma. 50-70% of people will experience a trauma in their life, but how do you heal from these devastating experiences? If the Body Keeps the Score, according to Bessel van der Kolk this is how you get even with trauma. Bessel van der Kolk is Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and President of the Trauma Research Foundation. He is the author of the global bestselling book ‘The Body Keeps The Score’. In this conversation, Bessel and Steven discuss topics such as, how to heal from childhood trauma, the benefits of EMDR therapy, the link between screens and loneliness, and how trauma physically changes your brain.