"I'm so concerned about that being a fracturing of our psyche, in which we only allow empowerment... Can we just have someone to stand with us in that space? So that the process, no matter what we choose, is a process of self connection." - Sarah Champie

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Sarah Champie (LCSW), a licensed trauma therapist and NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) practitioner who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating hereditary cancer, genetic testing, and preventative surgery decisions. Sarah is also the creator and host of the podcast Walking the Genetic Line.

Sarah draws on her own experience as a BRCA1 carrier and the childhood loss of her mother to ovarian cancer to illuminate what she calls the "portal moment" of receiving genetic testing results. Together, Emily Ruth and Sarah explore why empowerment-only narratives fall short, how NARM® survival styles shape our responses to medical urgency, and the critical gap in emotional care for those facing life-altering body decisions. Sarah makes a compelling case that healing in this space means holding agency and grief at the same time, honoring the complexity of identity shifts, projective memory, and the deep longing for connection that surfaces when mortality enters the room.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

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"NARM® opened a whole new world to me... it's not just something you put on. NARM is, for me, a way of life. It's not just something you throw at somebody." - Elizabeth Remic Simonian

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Elizabeth Remic Simonian, an integrative and somatic therapist based in Rotterdam, Somatic Experiencing practitioner, and trained jazz vocalist, for a deeply heartful conversation about how the NeuroAffective Relational Model® (NARM®) transformed not only her clinical work but her entire way of being in relationship with others.

Elizabeth traces her journey from conservatory-trained musician to trauma therapist, sharing the pivotal moments that called her toward depth and healing. She reflects on how encountering NARM for the first time revealed something she had never experienced in years of therapy: being asked what she actually wanted. From there, Elizabeth explores the profound shifts that unfolded as she began tracking her own efforting, reclaiming authenticity, and understanding that leaving yourself out of the equation is its own form of disconnection. She also shares how bringing NARM's relational presence into her music teaching created a palpable shift in her students' openness and creative freedom, and how singing with more embodiment and less shame changed her relationship with her own voice. The conversation closes with a tender example from Elizabeth's clinical practice, illustrating what it looks like to meet a client's vulnerability with genuine humanity rather than professional distance.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

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"Whatever your trauma is, just know that somehow, some way it could be used to help another human being."

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Frank Meeink, former white supremacist turned peer support specialist and recovery advocate, for a candid conversation about how honesty, humility, and service transformed his relationship with himself and others. Frank shares how decades of addiction, loss, and repeated relapse eventually led him to a moment of spiritual surrender, and how that turning point reshaped everything.

From his daily "God walks" and the personal mantra STAY (Stop Thinking About Yourself) to his work as an undercover recovery specialist connecting unhoused individuals with resources in downtown Los Angeles, Frank illustrates what it looks like to convert lived pain into genuine connection. The pair explores why saying "me too" can break through isolation, how letting go of resentments and the need to be the center of attention builds real self-esteem, and why highlighting someone's strengths alongside their struggles creates space for lasting change. Frank also reflects on the power of the "broken vessel" metaphor, the importance of sharing our stories only in service rather than performance, and why recovery is not about willpower but about surrendering to something greater and showing up for others each day.

We invite you to listen to the full episode and follow Transforming Trauma on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.

***

SPACE:

SPACE is an Inner Development Program of Support and Self-Discovery for Therapists on the Personal, Interpersonal, and Transpersonal Levels offered by the Complex Trauma Training Center. This experiential learning program offers an immersive group experience designed to cultivate space for self-care, community support, and deepening vitality in our professional role as therapists. Learn more about how to join.

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com

View upcoming trainings:

https://complextraumatrainingcenter.com/schedule/

***

The Complex Trauma Training Center (CTTC) is a professional organization providing clinical training, education, consultation, and mentorship for psychotherapists and mental health professionals working with individuals and communities impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Complex Trauma (C-PTSD). CTTC provides NARM® Therapist and NARM® Master Therapist Training programs, as well as ongoing monthly groups in support of those learning NARM. CTTC also offers the SPACE Inner Development Program for Therapists, providing a depth-oriented professional community for those seeking a supportive network of therapists focused on three levels of shared human experience: personal, interpersonal & transpersonal. The Transforming Trauma podcast embodies the spirit of CTTC – best described by its three keywords: depth, connection, and heart - and offers guidance to those interested in effective, transformational trauma-informed care.

***

We want to connect with you!

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

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https://www.instagram.com/complextraumatrainingcenter/

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/complex-trauma-training-center/

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