Episode 235: Why Talk Therapy Alone Falls Short for Healing [featuring Dr. Colleen Cira]

As mental health professionals, we are overdue for a change in how we approach healing and support. In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Dr. Colleen Cira—a nationally recognized trauma expert, group practice owner, and more—about the limitations of traditional one-on-one talk therapy and the urgent need for more community-focused solutions.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

1. The Traditional Model Leaves People Out: One-on-one talk therapy is valuable, but it’s rooted in a medical model that assumes a “sick person/expert fixer” dynamic. This leaves many clients—and even therapists—feeling disconnected and unsupported.
2. Community is Essential for Healing: Dr. Colleen Cira emphasized that lasting change and resilience come when people find belonging and connection, not just intellectual insight. Group work, community events, and workshops can be more accessible and impactful for many clients.
3. Vulnerability and Relatability Matter: Both Patrick and Dr. Cira touched on the power of therapists showing up as real, imperfect humans. Modeling authenticity helps clients feel seen and safe—and avoids burnout for clinicians.

More about Dr. Colleen Cira:

Dr. Colleen Cira is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Nationally Recognized Trauma Expert, and the Founder and Executive Director of both Cira Center for Behavioral Health, PC (CCBH) and Cira Center Consulting, LLC (CCC).

Dr. Cira received both her Masters and Doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and has been practicing in the field since 2001. She is a highly sought-after national neurodivergent and trauma expert who has appeared in dozens of publications, podcasts, live news, and radio, including NBC, ABC, US News and World Report, The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Suntimes, Fast Company, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo! Lifestyle, Slate, and Bustle, among others. Dr. Cira was also named one of the “Top 100 Women in Chicago Making a Difference” by Today’s Chicago Woman. Dr. Cira is a trauma and anxiety expert, clinical supervisor, writer, speaker, consultant, activist, wife, and mommy.

1. Website: ciracenter.org
2. Instagram: @drcolleencira
3. Facebook: Colleen Duffy Cira

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