The term PTSD, short for “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder,” implies that trauma happened in the past (and is over now).
But for so many people, trauma is not a thing of the past - it’s an ongoing, collective, and systemic experience.
In this educational conversation, Dr. Diana Ali & I unpack this question: How do we heal, when trauma is still happening in the present? How do we regulate our nervous systems… even if the environment/circumstances around us remain unsafe?
Topics:
- There are many trauma therapy modalities - how do we decide which one to use? | 04:12
- How do we heal if the trauma isn't over? (& an alternative to the term “PTSD”) | 05:47
- The limitations of Western psychotherapy & why a decolonial approach to therapy matters | 08:20
- How body-based approaches to therapy can support survivors of ongoing trauma - like war, genocide, and systemic oppression | 12:53
- Intro to Havening: resourcing the nervous system through physical touch | 16:08
- Intro to Ashira Active Meditation: intentionally guiding the nervous system through different states of activation (fight, flight, & freeze) in order to release stuck energy & complete processing | 32:10
- The neuroscience behind ancient, collective, community-based healing practices 42:38
🌿 RESOURCES
>> Dr. Samah Jabr’s work on decolonial mental health: www.drsamahjabr.com
>> Chronic traumatic stress disorder: www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/14/mental-health-palestine-children
>> Ashira Darwish’s work on Ashira Active Meditation: www.ashirapremrachana.com
>> Havening Techniques: www.havening.org
🌿 About the Guest
Dr. Diana Ali (she/her) is a clinical psychologist with 20+ years of experience working with survivors of complex trauma. She uses a variety of trauma therapies including EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, the DBT-PTSD protocol, Brainspotting, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), Havening techniques, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Diana is certified in Ashira Darwish’s “Ashira Active Meditation” Protocol, a community-based intervention involving a series of somatic release practices that were developed for working with survivors of ongoing, chronic trauma. She has been honored to be able to offer Ashira Active Meditation workshops to Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
🌿 Connect with Diana
>> Therapy in CO & CA: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/diana-ali-ventura-ca/757844
🌿 About the Host
Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves.
🌿 Connect with Liz
>> Join my email newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters
>> IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist
