Trauma Expert Reveals How Trauma Sabotages Your Mind & What You Can Do To Rebuild Your Brain w/ Andrew Sozomenou

Getting Mental

About This Episode:

In this episode Andrew explains how trauma can disrupt these connections and lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD. The guest introduces EMDR therapy as a way to process trauma and integrate different parts of oneself. Andrew emphasises the significance of working with these parts and building a compassionate relationship with them. The episode highlights the impact of trauma on mental and physical well-being and the importance of addressing it through therapy.

About The Guest:

Andrew is a Senior Registered Psychologist and co-Director of the READ Clinic, the largest Psychology Practice on the Central Coast of NSW. He has over 25 years-experience and is known for working with individuals who have previously struggled to achieve results in therapy. Andrew is passionate about treating individuals who have experienced trauma: including Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Trauma, Trauma that stems from events experienced as an adult or in childhood, including adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and attachment trauma. He also has experience in working with Dissociative Identity Disorder, Functional Neurological Disorder, Personality Disorders, and treatment resistant Depression and Anxiety. He predominantly works with adults with complex presentations, but has previously worked with children, adolescents, families and couples from diverse backgrounds.

Andrew is a trauma informed therapist who works from a broad therapeutic base specialising in: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR); Parts Work – Internal Family Systems (IFS); Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); and Schema Therapy.

See more about Andrew here:

https://thereadclinic.com/practitioners/andrew-sozomenou/

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Introduction and discussion on the innate need for attachment and connection

00:03:26 The impact of trauma on attachment and connection

00:06:06 The role of trauma in exacerbating neurodevelopmental disorders

00:10:17 The impact of trauma on relationships and self-worth

00:19:03 Introduction to EMDR therapy

00:30:51 The process of storing traumatic memories as episodic memory

00:36:40 The importance of integrating and working with different parts

00:43:52 The impact of trauma on habits and the need for parts work

00:46:27 The effectiveness of parts work in resolving trauma

00:50:14 The role of parts work in creating change and integration

00:51:02 The book "No Bad Parts" as a resource for understanding parts

00:51:24 Combining parts work with trauma work for more effective therapy

00:52:17 Resolving trauma has a massive impact on calming the system

00:52:42 Exploring different approaches to healing, such as chiropractic care

00:53:14 Personal experience and preference in trauma treatment approaches

00:53:42 Physical manifestations of trauma and the importance of medical investigations

00:54:39 Medical work first, then trauma work for physical symptoms

00:55:00 Personal journey of feeling lonely and disconnected

00:55:28 EMDR and parts work as the most impactful therapies

00:56:48 Documenting the healing journey and trying different approaches

00:57:09 Contacting The Read Clinic for therapy services

00:57:38 Conclusion and gratitude for the conversation