Dealing with Trauma from the Bottom Up | #16

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'", host and former drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard to discuss a highly effective form of therapy known as “Somatic Experiencing” with licensed professional, speaker, author, and coach, Jen Guidry.

Jen reached the highest level of career success in the Mortgage world, having achieved a 7 figure income, and constantly in high demand. Everything was great… until she was diagnosed with cancer. The near-death experience totally rocked her world, and it forced her to realize that she was working in a space that wasn’t fulfilling. She wanted to help people.

As she explains, after surviving several high-intensity Panic Attacks while driving her vehicle, Jen was introduced by a friend to Somatic Experiencing– which at its core is a form of therapy intended to target the body and the way that the body physically manifests trauma. From there, she went down a deep rabbit hole, eventually becoming a licensed specialist in the area, writing books, and now coaching many people on the benefits every single day.

It’s an amazing and highly balanced conversation. Ryan walks us through his personal experience with Somatic Experiencing and how it was effective for him in a way that traditional talk therapy was not, and Duck represents us, the audience, as a mediator of the discussion to ensure that those of us who aren’t quite as familiar with the practice understand exactly what it’s about. It’s a fantastic discussion, and another can’t-miss episode of the “Harder to Breathe” Podcast.

0:00:00 Introduction & Revisiting Former Podcasts

0:04:27 Relating Talk Radio to Podcasts

0:07:48 Balancing the Subjectivity within Therapy

0:11:56 Ryan’s Experience as a Recovery Center Volunteer

0:14:33 Today’s Guest: Jen Guidry

—

0:18:51 Jen Guidry Joins the Podcast

0:20:10 Making the Choice to Change Careers Mid-Life

0:24:14 Jen’s Personal Connection to her Work

0:24:32 Dropping Stress & Burnout as a “Badge of Honor”

0:29:33 Dealing with vs. Escaping Something Painful

0:31:17 Can a Well-Balanced Person Become Successful?

0:35:27 Duck’s Cancer Scare

0:37:52 Regulating the Nervous System

0:45:17 The Process: What is Somatic Experiencing?

0:50:27 Ryan’s Experience with Somatic Experiencing

0:56:47 Traditional Therapy vs. Coaching

1:00:27 Jen’s Preference for Specialization

1:04:52 Growing Up the Child of an Alcoholic

1:09:47 Working with Jen Guidry

1:13:17 Wrap Up & Conclusion