Episode Summary:
Join us for a deep dive into the heart of experiential therapy with Caitlin Shiflett, where we unpack the profound role of defenses in our suffering, how anxiety serves as a biological response to emotions, and the journey of finding our true selves. Caitlin explains the foundations of Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP), how it targets defenses and anxieties, and the challenges therapists face as learners. We also discuss her upcoming self-compassion group, rooted in mindfulness and self-kindness, and the impact of integrating therapeutic learning with self-compassion.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Understanding Defenses in ISTDP

   • Exploring how defenses protect us from intense emotions and the role of experiential therapy in reducing suffering by targeting these defense mechanisms.
   • Why anxiety in ISTDP is seen as a nervous system response rather than a feeling.

2. Embracing the Hero's Journey in Learning

   • Caitlin’s own "hero’s journey" as a therapist and her journey through ISTDP training, which required vulnerability, resilience, and a confrontation with her own self-criticism.
   • How creative growth requires both commitment and self-compassion, moving beyond self-criticism to embrace learning through mistakes and practice.

3. The Role of Self-Compassion in Healing

   • Caitlin’s upcoming self-compassion group, inspired by Kristen Neff’s research, blends self-kindness with the power of taking action for oneself.
   • How group work fosters common humanity, helping participants to feel connected through shared struggles and building resilience against self-criticism and shame.

4. Navigating Vulnerability and Visibility in Private Practice

   • The realities of marketing and vulnerability on social media as a therapist, along with strategies to manage the challenges of feeling “invisible” online while promoting meaningful work.

Takeaways:

• Awareness of Defenses: Recognizing personal defense mechanisms can help reduce anxiety and open the door to emotional authenticity.
• Self-Compassion as a Path to Growth: Learning to integrate self-kindness and structured reflection enables more profound healing, particularly in group settings.
• Learning as a Process: The journey to mastery involves embracing vulnerability, acknowledging failures, and finding safety in the learning environment.
• Navigating Online Spaces as Therapists: Embrace patience and persistence, as sharing valuable content in small communities can still make a significant impact.

Upcoming Group:
Caitlin’s “Yin and Yang of Self-Compassion” group begins early 2025, offering a safe, trauma-informed environment for women focused on self-kindness and empowerment.

Follow Caitlin Shiflett:

• Instagram
• Working Within RVA

Meet Susanna Peace Lovell, who is an Advocate for Disability Families, Speaker, Autism Expert, Author, Certified Professional Life Coach, and Reiki Practitioner. Susanna lives in Los Angeles, CA with her daughter Arizona, who inspired her book Your True Self Is Enough: Lessons Learned on My Journey Parenting a Child with Autism. This episode is filled with wisdom from Susanna's life as a parent and her discovered passion as an advocate and healer in the world. Listen to this episode to get inspiration for how to get through a difficult time and turn it into the stuff of dreams. She encourages listeners to ask for what you need, because the universe does provide what we need when we clearly vocalize it.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Hear from Susanna about how Reiki impacted her healing journey.

2. Learn about Susanna's approach to finding joy among the hardships of life.

3. Discover how you can awaken to your life amid trauma and life not going as planned.

• Listen to previous episodes of Returning Home:

• • Episode 7 | Saying No to Parenthood: Reasons Behind Being Childless by Choice

• Sign up for Elise’s Newsletter and receive a FREE PDF to start your self-compassion journey!

• Connect with Elise on Instagram: @elisekindya

• Susanna Peace Lovell’s Website: www.susannapeacelovell.com

• Connect with Susanna on Instagram: @mamapeace

• Purchase her book on Amazon here: Your True Self Is Enough
  
  

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Have any questions or lightbulb moments? I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to hit me up on Instagram or send an email at elise@elisekindya.com.

Thank you so much for listening! For more episode updates, visit my website.

In this solo episode of Returning Home, hear about how I manifested facilitating a retreat in less than 5 hours!

And it's NOT what you think...

The term "manifesting" is all the rage right now, and I believe we are manifesting all the time. Whatever you have in your life currently, you "manifested" it, whether intentionally or not. Our words are spells that we use to speak our life into being. With enough belief, our thoughts become things. It has to feel true to you, right? (This isn't a statement about big social issues like racism, sexism or homophobia, but about circumstances that we choose to live in).

I love to pull intentionality into the practice of manifesting because then I know I am consciously choosing what's showing up in my life.

Listen to this episode to hear all about:

1. How I manifested facilitating a retreat for a staff of therapists in less than 5 hours!
2. My process for getting to the point I am at now in my career and my mindset.
3. What I think is the key piece to living the life you desire.

Resources:

• Listen to previous episodes of my podcast here: Returning Home
• Flow by Mihaly Cziksentmihalyi
• Visit my website: www.elisekindya.com
• Follow me on Instagram: @elisekindya
• Sign up for my newsletter
• Attend my next sound bath on July 20th