CMI: Critical Memory Integration — A New Approach To Trauma
Release Date: 08/10/2025
How Anxiety Interferes With Being Successful Academically & In Life
A Quest for Well-Being
— Over the past 7 years or so, Sheryl Roessler has seen a huge uptick in students with anxiety (sometimes mixed with depression). She has always had clients who deal with anxiety, but our world has changed dramatically. Sheryl first saw indications of this with the broad use of cell phones and social media –TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and in the past, Facebook. It began with feelings of missing out or seeing people who looked a certain way and wanting to be like them. As the outside world has become closer to us, and news travels faster, events that would not have been known are now...
info_outline
CMI: Critical Memory Integration — A New Approach To Trauma
A Quest for Well-Being
— Critical Memory Integration (CMI™) is an experiential psychotherapy that uses memory reconsolidation to help individuals integrate even the most distressing of experiences into their existing mental framework. Unlike conventional therapies, CMI™ facilitates integration through direct experience rather than conversation or explanation, resulting in a more efficient process. The person is guided to tune into signals of bodily sensations and emotions, uncovering the root causes of patterns and responses. The process fosters deeper connections to capacities for growth...
info_outline
Healing Through Connection: Awakening the Joy of Being
A Quest for Well-Being
— “The inner journey is a mystery, so we lean into the exploration with a sense of experimentation, of playfulness, of openness, trusting we have the answers inside of us.” Valeria interviews Dr. Loi — She is a somatic psychologist, coach ("midlife midwife"), mother, workshop presenter, guided meditation leader and Ecstatic Dance facilitator. Dr. Loi integrates her years of clinical training with her movement and awareness-based practices, grounding them into connection with the earth to facilitate a deeper understanding of presence, embodiment and reverence. Dr. Loi...
info_outline
The Deep Resilience Of The Human Spirit
A Quest for Well-Being
Patrick’s book, Tears Run Dry: A Story of Courage in the Face of Poverty, Tribalism and Racism is a gripping memoir that chronicle Dr. Kalenzi’s extraordinary journey from war-torn Uganda to achieving the American dream. More than a personal story, this powerful book represents the global struggles of refugees, the silent strength of immigrants, and the deep resilience of the human spirit. With wisdom, vulnerability, and hope, Patrick shares the life lessons, cultural insights, and defining moments that shaped his path—from surviving systemic injustice to becoming a community leader and...
info_outline
10 Health Benefits For Trusting Your Intuition
A Quest for Well-Being
— How do you feel when you hear the word “psychic”? Spine-chilling goose-bumps or a thrilling allure? A burning desire to discover more or an impulse to run? Fascination or fear? We all have intuition, perhaps even psychic ability. So why don’t we use it? Fear of the unknown, fear of losing control, fear of meeting our dark side or the fear instilled in humankind during the Spanish Inquisition that still sits in our cellular memory and hold power over out otherwise unlimited minds? Natasha Rosewood brings the word “psychic” out of the witch’s closet and into the light of...
info_outline
Transforming Fears Into a Life of Freedom & Happiness
A Quest for Well-Being
— Do you ever feel like you're juggling a million things, constantly reacting to life's demands, and struggling to find peace? In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get lost in thoughts, emotions, and external pressures, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. But what if there were a simpler way to navigate the chaos? What if you could access calm and clarity, not by adding more to your to-do list, but by reconnecting with the wisdom within? The key is to shift from resisting life to embracing it. This means listening to your body's wisdom, honoring your emotions, acknowledging...
info_outline
Choose Holistic Healing and Self-love
A Quest for Well-Being
— “In the gentle ebb and flow of life, we often seek to make a difference in the lives of others, hoping to touch them with a spark of our spirit. But sometimes, in the midst of giving, we find ourselves on an unexpected journey of receiving. Over the past month, a beautiful realization has blossomed in my heart: as I've reached out to heal others, I’ve been healing myself in profound ways. Energy healing, a cornerstone of my life’s work, has always been a path of connection for me—connecting to the divine energy of the universe, to the unique vibrancy of each client, and to...
info_outline
What I Have Learned About Living By Facing Dying
A Quest for Well-Being
— Every year, 18 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer. If you, or your loved one, is one of them, you know exactly how overwhelming, scary, and confusing it is to navigate the journey through diagnosis, treatment, prognoses, and all their accompanying emotions. Entrepreneur, business leader, IRONMAN triathlete, and five-time cancer survivor Bill C. Potts has waged a 20-year battle against the disease. In his valuable patient and caregiver guide, he shares his personal cancer story, and those of others, outlining everything you need to know to take on this fight. With empathy...
info_outline
Well-Being Post Natural Disaster
A Quest for Well-Being
— It has been our personal walk along the trail of life through challenges to our health and well-being that have cultivated and developed the programs and services we offer. What matters most has become self-evident. Being well, living well, and doing well are the areas in which Sol Sanctuary has evolved its focus. We know from personal experience what carries us through and what creates lasting health, well-being, and supports a quality of life that is meaningful and fulfilling. When we choose to practice ways of being that improve the quality of life in our day to day, then we are...
info_outline
Connecting to the Power of the Great Mother
A Quest for Well-Being
— We are not here on Earth to be alone, but to be part of a living community, a web of life in which all is sacred. Ceremonies and rituals are powerful tools that promote and sustain healthy changes as we move though life's passages. They help you release old patterns, call in healing energies, bring empowerment to new intentions, honor rites of passage, and connect you with a deeper sense of support and guidance from Spirit in your life. Sandra work with you to create ceremonies that best support your intentions, and to honor your life transitions in a meaningful and sacred way. As a...
info_outline— Critical Memory Integration (CMI™) is an experiential psychotherapy that uses memory reconsolidation to help individuals integrate even the most distressing of experiences into their existing mental framework.
Unlike conventional therapies, CMI™ facilitates integration through direct experience rather than conversation or explanation, resulting in a more efficient process. The person is guided to tune into signals of bodily sensations and emotions, uncovering the root causes of patterns and responses. The process fosters deeper connections to capacities for growth and adaptiveness, leading to a renewed sense of self, and sustainable change.
Valeria interviews Estefana Johnson — She Is A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Trauma Therapist And The Director Of Clinical Training At ARISE Alliance, Is Leading The launch of a Powerful New Therapy Model Called Critical Memory Integration (CMI™)
She began her career in 2001 as a Behavioral Health Technician, briefly stepping away in 2005 to teach in Japan. Her diverse background spans multiple roles and settings, including residential treatment for at-risk youth and medical social work, giving her a well-rounded perspective on mental health care.
As the Director of Clinical Training for ARISE Alliance Institute, Estefana Johnson oversees the professional development and training of clinicians on Critical Memory Integration (CMI™). Her role involves designing and implementing comprehensive training curricula for mental health professionals to enhance clinical skills, particularly in trauma-focused care, PTSD treatment, and therapeutic interventions. Estefana also develops and delivers trauma-informed programming tailored to the needs of at-risk populations, bringing these services directly into community-based settings to ensure accessible, responsive care where it’s needed most.
She is currently a practicing clinician and Dosing Session Monitor at Lighthouse Psychiatry and TMS in Gilbert, Arizona, contributing both to clinical care and research trials exploring the therapeutic use of psychedelics.
Estefana’s work in community mental health, coupled with her personal experiences as a first-generation child of immigrants, has deeply influenced her therapeutic approach. Passionate about supporting foster and adoptive children, Estefana serves as Lead Volunteer, Board Member, and Clinical Director for ASA Now, a nonprofit organization that provides critical assistance, support, and advocacy for foster and adoptive children and their families. Her role with ASA extends to Shade Tree Academy, a therapeutic school designed for children impacted by foster care and adoption who have not thrived in traditional school settings. There, she provides trauma-informed staff training and has contributed to program development to support healing-centered education.
With a commitment to education, advocacy, and compassionate care, Johnson continues to make a lasting impact in the mental health field and in the communities she serves.
To learn more about Estefana Johnson and her work, please visit: https://arisealliance.org/