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!

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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.

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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".

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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.

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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

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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".

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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.

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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 enlightening episode of Beyond Trauma, Lara Land is joined by Dr. Alex Dimitriu, a double board-certified expert in psychiatry and sleep medicine, to explore the powerful intersection between trauma, mental health, and sleep. Together, they unpack how trauma disrupts our ability to rest and regulate, why sleep is often the first casualty in a dysregulated nervous system, and how healing the mind and body requires a truly integrated approach.

Whether you’re dealing with disrupted sleep, chronic fatigue, or just want to understand your brain and body better, this episode offers a powerful blend of science, psychology, and practical tools for getting truly restorative rest.

• Why wake-up time matters more than bedtime
• What to do when you wake up at 3 a.m. and can't fall back asleep
• How coffee timing and sleep pressure shape energy and rest
• The truth about sleep trackers—and when to ignore them
• How trauma and mental health disorders impact sleep quality
• When to consider medications or ketamine therapy
• Tips for building an effective nighttime and morning routine
• How visualization and meditation can support deeper rest

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. Dimitriu brings a deep respect for science and spirituality into his work. As a consultation psychiatrist, he specializes in the complex interplay between the mind and body. His workhas been nationally recognized by The New York Times, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Psychology Today, NBC News among other media. He also serves as a medical reviewer for Business Insider, the Sleep Foundation and as a contributing author to The Encyclopedia of Sleep Medicine. From Meditation to Medication, his goal is to share the knowledge and experience he has gained through his work. He aims to help people achieve peace, presence, and happiness by discovering the right combination of psychological and biological interventions tailored to their individual needs.

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Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik

This episode is a re-air from the podcast Xanyland: Comedians on the Coach, hosted by my friend and fellow therapist, Alicia Racine Fink.

In this conversation, Alicia explores comedian, boxer, writer, dancer and illustrator, Gracie Canaan's decade-long mental health quest. In this raw and uplifting episode, Gracie shares how she invites all her parts- manic, depressed, creative, and messy in. Alicia and Gracie share actionable tips for managing mania including phone lockboxes, tracking, caffeine management, and social networks.

I learned so much and laughed while listening to this show and wanted to share it with my listeners. Xanyland host, Alicia Racine was in conversation with me on Beyond Trauma in episode 55 | Disordered Eating, Performance, & Exposure Response Prevention.

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Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik

In celebration of Pride Month, in recognition of the heightened risks for the transgender community, and because this is one of my favorite conversations to air on Beyond Trauma, I'm re-airing this talk with Jacoby Ballard. We discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• processing our feelings and finding our way to forgiveness
• what it means to "call in"
• the importance of self-love in social justice spaces
• yoga and Buddhist practices for dispelling anger
• parenting
• what queer folks can teach us all
• and so much more

Jacoby is a social justice educator and yoga teacher who leads workshops and trainings on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a yoga teacher with 25 years of experience, he leads workshops, retreats, conferences, and trainings. Since 2006, Jacoby has taught Queer and Trans Yoga, recieving Yoga Journal's Game Changer Award in 2014 and Good Karma Award in 2016. Jacoby now offers Queer & Trans Centered Prenatal Yoga online. Jacoby has taught in schools, hospitals, business offices, prisons, recovery centers, and cancer centers. His first boo, A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation was released in 2022.

Website | Instagram

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Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik

In this solo episode, I share some of my favorite moments and guests of my third year of podcasting, as well as some "backstage" insider info. I reflect on and expose my latest wellness practices and some shifts in my priorities. I also reveal what you can expect next on the Beyond Trauma Podcast!

Beyond Trauma is a labor of love! If you value the insights you encounter on this platform, please show some love by writing an iTunes review, letting friends know about the podcast, or sending a small donation!

As always, you can find me at www.laraland.us or on Instagram at @laralandyoga

Can kindness actually make us healthier? In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Trauma, Dr. Kelli Harding, physician, public health expert, and author of The Rabbit Effect, shares groundbreaking research on how our social world—especially our capacity for kindness—shapes our physical health outcomes.

Dr. Harding helps us redefine kindness, not as a soft extra, but as a scientifically supported force that can lower risk factors, improve recovery time, and even extend our healthspan. We explore what it means to build connection, the impact of social isolation, and how small acts of generosity, like a heartfelt hug or recalling a moment of kindness, can transform our well-being.

Here's what you can expect to learn:

• The compelling story behind The Rabbit Effect
• Ways to take control of your health and others, starting right now.
• The definition of kindness and its role in healing
• Scientific evidence linking kindness to better physical health
• The impact of social connection on disease risk and recovery
• How does life purpose contribute to longevity
• What’s within our sphere of control to create healthier lives
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Follow Dr. Harding: Website | Instagram

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Intro & Outro Music by Daniel Zaitchik