Move Beyond Emotional Pain With New Trauma Insights

Today on UnDoing We, host Mardi Winder sits down with Estefana Johnson, a seasoned mental health clinician with over 20 years of experience working in trauma and mental health care. In this conversation, Estefana Johnson shares her journey from an unexpected start in behavioral health to becoming the Director of Clinical Training at Arise Alliance Institute, where she explores innovative and holistic approaches to healing. Together, they dive deep into the complex relationship between trauma and loss, exploring how unresolved experiences can shape our lives and even echo across generations through something called "generational data." Estefana Johnson breaks down the science behind how our brains hold onto past events, why trauma isn’t just about what happens to us but how we process it, and introduces listeners to the principles of Critical Memory Integration (CMI), a powerful method for internal healing and self-discovery. If you’ve ever wondered how trauma can linger, why we may feel stuck in old patterns, or how to start looking within for answers and real freedom, this episode is a must-listen. Get ready for practical insights, real talk about healing, and a hopeful message about the power we each hold to transform our lives. About the Host Mardi Winder is a certified divorce transition and high-conflict divorce coach, credentialed mediator, and international speaker. With over 30 years of experience, she helps people navigate conflict, manage divorce challenges, and create positive transitions. She is the best-selling author of From I Do to I’m Done and The Other Side of Divorce. Connect with Mardi: Email: [e-mail] Website: divorcecoach4women.com About the Guest Estefana Johnson, LCSW, brings over 20 years of experience in trauma and mental health care. She began her career as a Behavioral Health Technician in 2001 and later taught in Japan before moving into roles in residential treatment, medical social work, and clinical leadership. As Director of Clinical Training at ARISE Alliance Institute, she develops and delivers curricula in trauma-focused care and interventions like Critical Memory Integration (CMI™), while also practicing clinically at Lighthouse Psychiatry & TMS in Gilbert, Arizona. Estefana is actively involved in research on therapeutic uses of psychedelics and is passionate about advancing innovative, healing-centered approaches. A first-generation child of immigrants, she is committed to supporting foster and adoptive youth, leading programs that provide education and care rooted in resilience and recovery. To connect with Estefana: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estefanajohnsonlcsw/