Today I'm sharing part of my personal journey with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), and what I've noticed about the trauma healing process working with people as a therapist. An earlier version of myself might cringe a bit, but this episode focuses on self-compassion, self-love, and other forms of tenderness as a key part of the healing journey. About Me: Elizabeth Ferreira is a somatic psychotherapist in her associateship in the Bay Area...
Mar 20, 2023•34 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Hi dear ones, in this episode I share a different way of thinking about attachment styles that I've found very helpful. I talk about what each of the four styles really means, societal narratives around attachment, the difference between blame and responsibility, and my own journey with my fearful attachment style. About Me: Elizabeth Ferreira is a somatic psychotherapist in her associateship in the Bay Area. Her approach to mental health is holistic, non-judgmental, and centered in the belief t...
Mar 06, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Welcome back to the podcast! I'm so excited to start a new season with an episode dedicated to my specialty: somatic psychology. One of the coolest parts of somatic therapy is how we can use it as a tool to access the unconscious mind. On this episode I talk about how we can enter the body, resistance and cognitive bypassing, and inviting in experiences we've pushed away. About Me: Elizabeth Ferreira is a somatic psychotherapist in her associateship in the Bay Area. Her approach to mental health...
Feb 27, 2023•26 min•Season 2Ep. 1
On today's episode I talk about how we can identify and use archetypes to resources ourselves and support our personal practice, and share my own experience working with the goddess Hekate. I explore the power of the myths we tell, Jungian psychology, the collective unconscious, and finding the parts within us that trauma can never touch. I also share how I've integrated archetypes into my magical practice, and my results after working with one archetype for a year. About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Fe...
Oct 06, 2022•52 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Hey everyone, welcome back to the podcast. Today I'm focusing on my experience with ADHD, and some of the practices and process that have supported me in coming to terms with my nature. This includes exploring my personal story with ADHD, differences between the ADHD brain and a "typical" brain, the process of receiving a diagnosis, masking, how a diagnosis can be healing in and of itself, disconfirming our negative beliefs, and accepting who we are. Topics: 0:00: Welcome 2:30: My story with ADH...
Sep 23, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 11
On today's episode I'm sharing some of the tools I use - psychological, holistic, and spiritual - to manage my PMDD. This includes accepting the ups and downs of the healing journey, supporting the body, using daily practices and intentions, and finding what works for you. Timestamps: 0:00: Introduction 2:50: The Hero's Journey 6:30: Fundamentals to managing PMDD 9:50: Daily practice, and setting intentions 18:20: Noticing the divine around us 22:30: The negativity bias, and helping the good sti...
Aug 08, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 10
This guided practice and meditation is aimed at anyone who's having a difficult time with their PMDD. That said, you might find it useful if you're experiencing any form of anxiety, depression, or intensely self-critical thoughts. About Elizabeth: Elizabeth Ferreira is a somatic psychotherapist in training. Her approach to mental health is holistic, non-judgmental, and centered in the belief that all beings have the capacity to heal, grow, and reduce suffering. Follow Me On: YouTube Instagram...
Aug 01, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 9
I've received a number of questions related to becoming a therapist, what it's like to sit with people, what I've learned from my graduate program, and whether I'd recommend it to other people. Today I'm exploring those questions through the lens of my own experience training to become a somatic psychotherapist. Topics: 0:00: Welcoming 1:20: The tree of therapy, and making your contribution. 3:00: Therapy as soul work. 5:00: Learning the language, and doing your own work. 8:50: Unpacking your ma...
Jul 29, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In today's episode we're talking about being with our fear. We explore how spiritual wounding and Western religions can disturb our spiritual needs, and how we can bring curiosity to both our feelings and our spiritual beliefs. I share my story of being raised in a Seventh Day Adventist community, how I learned to sit with the fears that had been programmed into me in childhood, and how I found the strength to move through those fears and find a spiritual path that brought me peace and purpose. ...
Jul 19, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Today we're talking about navigating relationships as, or with, someone who has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Relationships can be challenging under the best of circumstances, and PMDD includes symptoms that can make it uniquely difficult to find and stay in a fulfilling relationship. In this episode I talk about how we can do this through the lens of my own experiences. This includes: Self-acceptance, and compassion. Honesty to ourselves and others. Sharing the experience. Creating a ...
Jul 11, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Moving through the world is challenging enough under the best of circumstances, and can be even more difficult if you happen to be particularly sensitive. On today's episode, I talk about how empaths and highly sensitive people can navigate the world, and embrace the positive aspects of their unique nature. We explore: How high sensitivity can correlate with traumatic experiences. We can rewrite the stories we tell about ourselves. Designing practices that work for you. I hope this will help you...
Jul 04, 2022•40 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode I'm sharing some of the key practices I've use to manage my PMDD. One that's been particularly useful for me is consistently tracking my movement through different phases of my cycle, and I give a detailed explanation of how I do that. I also talk a bit about my personal story, and how we can change our relationship with our challenges - which then allows us to change our experience of them. Topics: 0:00: Welcome 2:30: What my PMDD looks like 8:00: What's PMDD? 16:00: Depression ...
Jun 29, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Learning how to resource and regulate yourself, particularly if you have any form of neurodivergence, can be really challenging. On today's episode I share lessons from Polyvagal Theory that have been very helpful for me and those I've worked with. We then transition into an exploration focused on finding and claiming what works for YOU, allowing those practices to be natural sources of joy and ease without getting caught up in the views and judgements of other people. Timestamps: 0:00: Welcome ...
Jun 24, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 3
I'm so excited for this! On the first episode of the podcast I shared practices that have helped me work with and calm a harsh inner critic. This is particularly important for people who struggle with depressive disorders like PMDD. I also explored how cultivating a spiritual practice can provide you a space of calm and relief, feeding the inner nurturer and allowing you to push back against the inner critic. Click here if you'd prefer to watch on YouTube! Timestamps 0:00: Welcome 2:50: PMDD and...
Jun 19, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Welcome to "My Therapist's a Witch!" On this podcast we'll be bringing together the best lessons from psychology with holistic approaches to mental health and healing. By bridging the gap between mental health and spirituality, and focusing on what works for YOU rather than what works for "most people," we can find new opportunities to heal from trauma, live in loving relationship, and reduce our suffering. My name's Elizabeth Ferreira, and I'm a somatic psychotherapist in training currently ear...
Jun 18, 2022•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
