In this episode of Beyond Trauma, Lara Land sits down with psychotherapist Carly Ann to unpack practical, compassionate strategies from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that help us shift negative thought patterns and calm anxious minds. From spirals of self-doubt and perfectionism to managing unmet needs and breaking free from judgment, this conversation is full of real-life tools you can start using today.

Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, or simply want more peace in your day, this episode will help you understand how your thoughts shape your feelings—and your behaviors. Carly shares her framework for working with common automatic thoughts like “I’m not good enough” or “I should be doing more,” and offers insights on how to respond with self-awareness instead of reactivity.

We explore:

• How to stop feeding unhelpful thoughts—even if you can't stop having them
• When affirmations help and when they actually backfire
• Why the first 30 minutes of your day matter more than you think
• How to recognize if your requests of others are truly “reasonable”
• CBT approaches for clinicians working with depressive clients
• How to interrupt thought-feeling-behavior loops and find more ease

Plus: our mutual love of Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy, and how we use it to beat procrastination and reset our mindset.

If you've ever asked yourself, "Why do I keep thinking like this?" or "How can I stop getting stuck in my head?"—this is the episode for you.

Follow Carly Ann on Instagram for more tips!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Your support keeps this podcast going! Please consider donating if you found this episode helpful.

Follow Lara at Website | Instagram | YouTube

Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik

In this heartfelt episode of Beyond Trauma, Lara Land welcomes renowned sex therapist Wendy Maltz to explore how couples can reconnect and reclaim their bond—especially after stress, trauma, or disconnection. Wendy offers compassionate insights and trauma-informed practices that help deepen connection, improve communication, and heal sexual wounds.

Whether you're partnered or on a journey of personal healing, this conversation is for anyone looking to build a more conscious and connected relationship—with themselves or with someone they love.

Learn how to:

• Navigate common stressors that quietly erode intimacy
• Talk about sex in ways that foster safety, clarity, and desire
• Create a shared “sex mission statement” with your partner
• Balance emotional closeness with autonomy in long-term relationships

Wendy also unpacks why foreplay starts long before the bedroom—and how the smallest shifts in how we greet, part, and show up for each other during the day can dramatically shift the energy between us. Plus, we explore the role of creativity in healing trauma, the myth of media-driven sexuality, and why reclaiming agency in sex is one of the most empowering things a survivor can do.

---------------------------------------------------------

This episode is brought to you by:

Cozy Earth temperature-regulating sheets and pajamas that naturally wick away heat and moisture from your body. Use code LaraLand (40% OFF)

Moonbrew a natural sleep aid that uses magnesium and superfoods so you can wind down. Get 30% off your first order with code "LARA30".

----------------------------------------------------------

Wendy Maltz, LCSW, DST, is an internationally recognized sex therapist, author, and speaker, with more than thirty-five years of experience treating sex and intimacy concerns. She authored many highly acclaimed sexuality books, including the recovery classic, The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, as well as Private Thoughts: Exploring the Power of Women’s Sexual Fantasies, and The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography. Wendy’s popular educational website, www.HealthySex.com, provides free articles, videos, and other resources to help people overcome sexual problems and develop skills for love-based sexual intimacy.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Your support keeps this podcast going! Please consider donating if you found this episode helpful.

Follow Lara at Website | Instagram | YouTube

Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik

What if your dreams were trying to show you what you’re not ready to say out loud? In this illuminating conversation, trauma therapist and dreamwork expert Dr. Leslie Ellis joins Lara Land to explore the powerful role dreams play in emotional healing. Together, they uncover how dreams give voice to suppressed feelings, internal conflicts, and unresolved trauma—and why they deserve a central place in therapy.

Leslie shares how to remember more of your dreams, decode their meaning without relying on external symbols, and tap into their wisdom through a gentle, body-based approach. From nightmares and recurring dreams to lucid dreaming and suicide risk, this episode is an invitation to rethink how you relate to the messages that come through while you sleep.

PLUS: Lara shares a personal dream, and Leslie helps her uncover its deeper meaning—live on air.

• Why dreams often reflect the feelings we’re avoiding in waking life
• How to start interpreting your dreams—without a dictionary
• What makes dreamwork a powerful tool in trauma recovery
• How nightmares connect to emotional overwhelm and suicide risk
• Tips for remembering more of your dreams
• What therapists should consider before bringing dreams into the room
• Leslie’s approach to blending somatic work, Focusing, and dream interpretation

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This episode is brought to you by:

Cozy Earth temperature-regulating sheets and pajamas that naturally wick away heat and moisture from your body. Use code LaraLand (40% OFF)

Moonbrew a natural sleep aid that uses magnesium and superfoods so you can wind down. Get 30% off your first order with code "LARA30".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Leslie Ellis is a leading expert in the use of experiential and somatic approaches in psychotherapy, in particular for working with dreams, nightmares, and the effects of trauma. She is the author of A Clinician's Guide to Dream Therapy (Routledge, 2025) and offers online training in embodied, experiential dreamwork and nightmare treatment. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology with a somatic specialization, and a Masters in counseling psychology with a focus on depth/Jungian approaches. She was a psychotherapist in private practice in Vancouver, BC for more than 25 years. She is a former adjunct faculty at Adler University, and past president of The International Focusin Institute, where she is currently a Certifying Coordinator.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your support keeps this podcast going! Please consider donating if you found this episode helpful.

Follow Lara at Website | Instagram | YouTube

Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik