Can Releasing Emotional Pain Lessen Physical Pain? — Content Warning: The following includes descriptions of physical and emotional pain. It is recommended that readers not use any of the techniques in this article without the guidance of a trained mental health professional. This article is not medical advice. If you are in pain, speak with your doctor. …

What does it take to dismantle stigma? — Imagine you live in a world where talking about dental hygiene is a cardinal taboo. Every day you expend enormous emotional energy making sure your toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss are out of sight at all times. You see it as your job in life to make sure no one…

What does it take for men to change? — When I first saw the film Billy Elliot (2000) many years ago, I saw it as a charming story of a boy learning how to be true to himself. After watching it again more recently, I saw something else: the story of what it takes for an old school male…

A master lesson in film craft — When I first saw the film Billy Elliot (2000) many years ago, I found myself seamlessly engaged in the story: a working-class boy in an English coal-mining town struggles to follow an unlikely dream — becoming a ballet dancer. From the opening scene of Billy jumping on his bed to…

Making the implicit, explicit through play — Imagine a bookshelf in your therapist’s office, filled not with books, but with small figures of every possible description: human figures of all different kinds; everyday man-made objects such as cars, houses, and household items; animals of every kind, including insects, dinosaurs, mythical figures; and natural objects of every kind…

A survivor’s journey to empowering survivors — The first hint I had that Aly Raisman’s documentary Darkness to Light would be unusual was when I found that it came with a 15-page viewer guide. Developed in partnership with Darkness to Light, a non-profit that empowers adults to prevent child sexual abuse, the guide summarizes key points covered…

An Open Letter From a Trauma Therapist to His Dentist — Dear Dr. Cohen, As a trauma therapist who works with clients with medical trauma, I wanted to share with you a unique experience I had when I saw you last. That morning I had had a session with a client with an extensive history of dental trauma. …

A curriculum for therapists — As a trauma therapist as well as a life-long fan of film, I’ve always wanted to teach a trauma course to other therapists using films as the curriculum. As I’ve watched movies over the years, I kept track of films that depicted different aspects of trauma and trauma recovery with…

Knowledge is empowering — Content Warning: This article discusses trauma symptoms and trauma treatment. It is recommended that readers not use any of the techniques in this article without the guidance of a trained mental health professional. I can’t think of a more vulnerable moment than walking through the door of a therapist’s office…