A flagship moment on this theme
"And thinking through that, for me, I always think about how if we are in a trauma state, state of some kind, we're operating from our limbic brain, our much more emotional brain. Right. And I do think that we see a lot more emotional responses right now politically."
Rachel connects the political moment to trauma neuroscience — grounding the conversation in clinical theory her audience will recognize and find credible, and opening a direct line to trauma-informed practice.
Where this comes up substantially
3 episodes
Managing Election Anxiety | Jason Nicholsen of Within Reach Therapy
Both Jason and Rachel name the accumulated stress of 2016, 2020, and the pandemic as a form of national trauma, with Rachel connecting it to limbic-system activation — a frame clinicians can use to validate clients whose anxiety feels larger than its immediate trigger.
Grief Counseling in a Natural Setting | Kaili Van Waveren of ThorpeWood
Kaili describes a structured program combining grief theory with sustained activism support, helping participants name and process emotions so they can remain engaged with climate work without burning out or going numb.
The Intersection of Purpose, Success, and Mental Health | Dr. Ajita Robinson of The Book, The Gift of Grief
Dr. Robinson's book The Gift of Grief, symbolic non-death loss, cumulative grief, and grief as a clinical specialty are discussed at length as the personal origin of her entrepreneurial pivot.
Looking to go deeper in your own work?
These TSTI trainings build on conversations from the episodes above.