Episode 35
How can somatic therapy help us move from embodying our wounding to embodying our wisdom? Join Michaela Carlin in conversation with Dr. Carista Luminare, a psychotherapist who has spent over 40 years exploring this very question using her unique, holistic approach. Carista shares about how she works with the most common wounds that show up in her practice – unworthiness, shame, abandonment, and feeling insecure and unsafe in relationship – and the importance of expressing authentic emotions in real-time to help release stored trauma in the body.
Carista and Michaela also touch on the potential of working with plant medicines in the healing process, the roots of addiction, adaptive vs. maladaptive ‘parts’, and the role of early conditioning in shaping our lives. The interview wraps up with an exploration of Carista's comprehensive assessment methods with her clients, a deeper look into the concept of 'big T' and 'small t' traumas, and the overarching notion of healing as a journey of self-discovery.
Carista Luminare, Ph.D., has more than 40 years experience as a counselor, consultant and educator to individuals, couples and families. In her private counseling practice, she integrates her lifelong research on how our early bonding patterns profoundly impact our self-identity and adult relationship dynamics. She uses her unique attachment approach to rewire relationships from insecure to secure love and well-being.
Episode Highlights
Carista Luminare's extensive experience and holistic approach to healing trauma
Identifying the roots of distress and helping clients find healing by reparenting their inner child and replacing belief systems
The role of shadow work in reaching higher levels of self-awareness
How trauma can express in relationships as self-abandonment and difficulty in identifying needs
Different forms and levels of intensity of trauma
Releasing suppressed fear through somatic work
The complexities of addressing sexual abuse and the importance of trusting one's memories and sensations
Insights into adaptive and maladaptive ‘parts’ in individuals
The importance of safe containment and integration when using plant medicines for healing
Addiction as and expression of suppressed parts of the self that are in pain
Carista’s comprehensive first session with clients where she seeks to understand the origins of primary thought and behavior patterns
‘Big T’ and “little t’ trauma and the impacts of each
Discovering one's true self and replacing negative self-identities with positive ones as an integral part of the healing process
Carista Luminare’s Links
Website: www.confusedaboutlove.com
Website: www.luminaryleadership.net
Website: www.trueself.net
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Spiritual Teacher: Eckhart Tolle
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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.
You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape