How Our Understanding of Trauma Shapes Us with Lisa Ferentz MSW, LCSW-C, DAPA

In this episode, Lisa helps us deep dive into trauma bonding and how prior trauma tends to come up for people in the present.

lisa ferentz, msw, lcsw-c, dapa

For the safety of our listeners, we want to note that the following episode may contain information that some may find triggering and/or may not be suitable for younger audiences. Listening discretion is advised.

August 31st, 2021

Episode Notes

Lisa Ferentz is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma. She has been in private practice for over 36 years and is the Founder of The Ferentz Institute. In this episode, Lisa helps us deep dive into how prevalent trauma really is, and how it can manifest in the present where we least expect it. We also hear Lisa’s advice on what to watch for when prior trauma may be bubbling below the surface, and how to better cope with our unique experiences.

Memorable Moments:

  • 4:12: I realized how inspiring traumatized clients actually are because of their resiliency and their refusal to give up and the creative coping strategies that they actually tap into in order to navigate their challenges and their suffering. They have been the teachers of my heart for all these years.
  • 5:08: It [trauma] is unbelievably prevalent. If you look at the research, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men by the time they’re 18 have experienced some form of sexual trauma. We know millions of people walk around having lived in families where there perhaps was addiction or mental illness, physical violence, witnessing domestic violence, neglect. Unfortunately, it touches millions of people.
  • 6:52: Anything that is subjectively experienced as threatening; anything that subjectively leaves you feeling like your privacy, your boundaries, your body in some way are being violated; anything that feels to you subjectively like a profound a breach of trust, that’s in part how we would define what traumatizes a person.
  • 8:12: It’s very common for people to not connect the dots between past experiences and the current symptoms or struggles that have manifested for them.
  • 9:01: Unfortunately, there are many many ways that people can creatively self-medicate.

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This podcast is hosted by Allison Walsh and Dr. Angela Phillips. It is produced by Allison Walsh, Ashley Tate, and Nicole LaNeve. For more information or if you’re interested in being a guest on this podcast, please visit www.therecoveryvillage.com/dearmindyoumatter.

Show Contributors
lisa ferentz, msw, lcsw-c, dapa

Lisa Ferentz MSW, LCSW-C, DAPA

Lisa is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for over 36 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, the UK and Ireland. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member at several Universities, and is the Founder of “The Ferentz Institute,” now in its fourteenth year of providing continuing education to mental health professionals Lisa also hosted a weekly radio talk show, writes blogs and articles for websites on trauma, attachment, self-harm and self-care, teaches on many webinars, and is a contributor to Psychologytoday.com. You can follow Lisa’s work on her website, theferentzinstitute.comFacebookLinkedIn and Twitter.

Lisa is the author of “Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Trauma Survivors: A Clinician’s Guide,” now in its second edition, “Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing,” and “Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons From the Therapist’s Couch.”  In 2009 voted the “Social Worker of Year” by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work.