Trauma, Neurodivergence & Compassion with Dr Louise Taylor
Release Date: 02/06/2025
Khonmadi: Feeling the Heartbeat of Mother Earth, with Dr Ruby Gibson
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes, Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this magical conversation, Dr. Ruby shares the launch of The Khonmadi Project, which was inspired by a dream. She has since discovered that Khonmadi is known to different indigenous cultures worldwide, as a term that relates to healing Mother Earth. Dr. Ruby also shares her personal and professional journey, which began at age 13. Learning about the emotional roots of physical pain, led her from massage therapy to somatic healing, and the creation of Somatic Archaeologyⓒ which considers the body a "walking library" of...
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Healing the Trauma of the Heart with Tiph Fedor
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. The spiritual journey and process of trauma healing are presented as aligned experiences that unfold together as we progress through healing into wholeness. This conversation begins with Tiph’s healing journey. A highly sensitive, empathetic child, growing up in a family where emotions were suppressed was a painful experience that led her to heroin addiction— described as a "magic bullet," it numbed Tiph’s emotions but made her life a ‘grim’ period of survival. She goes on to share how she overcame her addiction, and the...
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Finding Chronic Pain Relief in Parts Work with Terry Baranski
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Compassionate Inquiry® (CI) both aim to reconnect individuals with their core Self. Learn how understanding parts' reality' roles, and feeling into the somatic flow of Self facilitates healing. In this conversation, Terry illuminates the IFS approach, including the nature of Self, how our how parts manifest chronic pain and why addressing these internal conflicts is essential for healing. Having been trained in both CI and IFS, Terry adeptly distinguishes the two approaches’ areas of...
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Claiming Your Power in Perimenopause with Inés Zabalaga
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes & J’aime Rothbard. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. In this social-myth-busting expose, perimenopause is presented as a force that both transforms and empowers women' s relationships with their bodies, self-worth, sexuality and desirability. In this fluid conversation, three women explore multiple perspectives and experiences of menopause and trauma. Inés invites listeners to use their menopause experiences to redefine their relationships with their bodies, to reclaim pleasure, sensuality and sexuality. Their experiences contradict the outdated belief that...
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Gift with Shawn Ginwright - 2 minute listen
The Gifts of Trauma
This week's gift comes by way of Dr Shawn Ginwritght, who weighs in on how we can become solid influences for young people emerging though the challenges we as a culture and global community face in these times. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode or a gift, as over the next few months our guests have created some beautiful gifts for us to share with you! Our wish is that you may use these simple practices to deepen your integration of what was shared by Shawn Ginwright on The Gifts of Trauma Podcast. Dr G's Books:
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Moving from “What’s Wrong?” To “What’s Right?” with Dr Shawn Ginwright
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J'aime Rothbard. Young peoples' transformational stories advocate for an expansion of the current Trauma-Informed approach to include the Healing-Centered focus on empowerment, agency & holistic well-being. In this paradigm shifting conversation, Shawn shares stories of young people who transformed their lives through community support and aspirational goals. Their experiences demonstrate how being recognized as agents in their own healing process, empowered young people to dream and envision futures beyond their trauma. To support this...
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Gift Episode with Sat Dharam Kaur
The Gifts of Trauma
Sat Dharam Kaur offers these simple practices you can use to help you connect with your body and create a space in which you can deepen your experience of your own bodily, nature and spiritual connection, through presence, truth, love and divinity. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode or a gift, as over the next few months our guests have created some beautiful gifts for us to share with you! Our wish is that you may use these simple practices to deepen your integration of what was shared by Sat Dharam on The Gifts of Trauma Podcast.
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I’m All I Wanted to Be. Now What? With Sat Dharam Kaur
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J’aime Rothbard. This conversation opens with Sat Dharam sharing her realization that her original life goals have been achieved, and asking herself, “What’s next?” She goes on to look forward and explore the possibilities. A therapist’s state is known to influence the client's experience and expand the potential for healing. That’s why Compassionate Inquiry® brings empathetic presence into therapeutic contexts. But if current psychological and spiritual understandings were expanded to include environmental consciousness and creative expression,...
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What Happens in Women’s Circles with Tanya Lynn
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted and Produced by J’aime Rothbard In this lively conversation, Tanya reveals why women gather in Circles and the personal growth that can happen when they do. She shares her long Circling history and what recently motivated her to train in Somatic Experiencing and integrate it into her Circle Work. Tanya also demystifies: - Sisterhood - The Mother Wound, Sister Wound and Witch Wounds - The Role of Circles - The Roles of Perimenopause and Menopause - The Wild Woman - The Council of Queens - The Grandmother Clan Join us to learn what happens in Woman’s Circles. You might...
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Longing to Belong with Cristina Bâra
The Gifts of Trauma
Hosted and Produced by J’aime Rothbard The gentle conversation flows from Cristina’s personal journey to her professional role within the Compassionate Inquiry® organization to the approach’s impact on individual and group development. She highlights how Compassionate Inquiry® groups foster a sense of community and mutual support by inviting individuals to explore their emotions and experiences in the safe facilitated spaces that are essential for meaningful personal exploration. Cristina also explains: - Why the self-discovery and healing path often require us to experience our...
info_outlineHosted by Kevin Young & Rosemary Davies-Janes, Produced by J’aime Rothbard.
This lively conversation explores many facets of neurodiversity and how individuals with different neurological wiring engage with the world. Our guest shares her personal (neurodivergent) challenges and triumphs navigating relationships, motherhood, academia, employment, misogynistic and patriarchal cultures, bullying, systemic violence and ecological activism.
Listen in as our hosts and guest discuss:
- How trauma, and the traumatic life experiences generated by societal and systemic issues, can affect neurodivergent individuals, and may, in fact, contribute to neurodivergence
- The pros and cons of formal versus self-diagnosis. Dr Taylor cautions that a formal diagnosis can lead to societal stigma and distancing, rather than the expected social support and understanding
- The different meanings of the terms: Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
- How connecting with one’s authenticity and embracing creativity as a form of self-expression has the potential to lead neurodivergent people to greater fulfillment in life
- The importance of finding supportive communities and individuals who understand neurodiversity
- The need for more compassionate and trauma-informed approaches in services and institutions supporting neurodivergent people
Overall, our guest advocates for greater awareness, acceptance, empathy, support and understanding of neurodivergence, while also recognizing its social and economic complexities and challenges.
About Dr Louise Taylor
A Neurodivergent Therapist and Researcher, Louise believes we must embody our work and live in such a way that we make our lives art.
She received an ASD diagnosis in 2020, and a Dyslexia diagnosis in the final months of her PhD. Passionate about connecting people with the natural world for health and wellbeing purposes, her doctorate, from Queen's University Belfast, is in Nature and Mental Health.
Louise combines her research work with her therapy practice, which blends counselling, consulting and coaching and serves mainly neurodivergent clients. She also works with academics to highlight the importance of mental health, wellness, and equity, and is committed to supporting activists on the frontlines of climate justice and environmental struggles, whether in the Sperrin Mountains, or Uganda.
Louise lives in rural Tyrone in the North of Ireland with her children, dogs and ever-increasing plant collection. Happiest when eating good food, dancing to wonderful music, writing, lounging and laughing with loved ones, she also enjoys slow days spent wandering on beaches and in forests.
Promotional Link: The Portal
To minimize the trauma experiences of infants entering this world, Compassionate Inquiry® offers The Portal, a 28-week trauma-informed online training for perinatal health professionals such as; midwives, obstetricians, nurses and doulas, who want to empower those they serve to trust their innate ability to birth, bond with and nurture their child. Access course details here. Registration closes on February 23.
Resources:
Websites: Louise’s Professional Website
Louise’s Psychology Today Profile
Relevant Links:
Psychology Today Articles
Reflecting on the Traumas of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, with Stephen Brown
The Cleveland Clinic: Neurodiversity Overview
Neurodivergent Climate Activist Article
Roger Hallam
Autism & Friendships Article
Assessments Article
Meltdowns & Shutdowns Article
Masking & ASD Article
Louise Hay Affirmations
The Make-up of Neuro-Diversity
Videos: Empathy & Autism
What is Neurodiversity?
Books: The Myth of Normal
Education: PhD from Queen's University Belfast in Nature and Mental Health
Foundation Degree in Counselling from the University of Ulster in C.B.T.,
Psychoanalysis, and Person Centred Therapy
Certificate in Life Coaching
City and Guilds 7407 Teacher Training Qualification
MA in Women's Studies and Feminist Research
BA in Sociology, 2i Honours
Training: Reclaiming Pleasure: Embodied Joy in Trauma Recovery and Social Change.
Creative Expression/Emancipatory Thinking/Artist's Way Facilitator
Cruse Bereavement Training
Spirituality in Counselling Training
Extensive Domestic Abuse Training
Extensive Youth Work training
Mental Health First Aid training
Quotes: 2010 interview Quotes: Dr. Gabor Maté on the Stress-Disease Connection, Addiction,
Attention Deficit Disorder and the Destruction of American Childhood
“The child’s brain development depends on the presence of non-stressed, emotionally
available parents. In this country, that’s less and less available. Hence, you’ve got
burgeoning rates of autism. It’s gone up 20- or 30-fold in the last 30 or 40 years.”
“…autism is a whole spectrum of disorders, but the essential quality of it is an emotional
disconnect. These children are living in a mind of their own. They don’t respond
appropriately to emotional cues. They withdraw. They act out in an aggressive and
sometimes just unpredictable fashion. They don’t know how to — there’s no sense —
there’s no clear sense of an emotional connection and peace inside them.”