Monisha Mitchell, LCSW

09/25/2025

You’ll learn: • How trauma impacts the mind and body • Evidenced-based best practices to treat trauma • Key insights from The Body Keeps the Score Plus: Q&A in a supportive space

09/25/2025

Understanding Complex Trauma: What It Is and How Healing Happens

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Introduction

Complex trauma is more common than many people realize, yet it’s often misunderstood. Unlike a single traumatic event, complex trauma develops from repeated or prolonged experiences of stress, fear, or harm — often beginning in childhood. Whether you’re a survivor, a loved one, or someone simply looking to understand, knowing what complex trauma is can be the first step toward healing.

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What Is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma (sometimes called C-PTSD) refers to repeated traumatic experiences that occur over time, often in situations where escape feels impossible. This type of trauma affects not only the body and brain but also how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us.

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Complex PTSD and the DSM

While Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is not currently a formal diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

In clinical practice, many therapists and trauma specialists still use the term because it accurately captures the experiences and symptoms of clients with prolonged or repeated trauma, even though they may officially be diagnosed with PTSD or another related condition.

Understanding this distinction helps reduce confusion and validates the very real experiences of those living with complex trauma, even if the label isn’t universally standardized in the DSM.

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How Complex Trauma Impacts the Brain and Body

Trauma isn’t “just in your head.” It lives in the nervous system, shaping how the brain and body respond to stress. Common effects include:
• Hypervigilance: Always being on alert, even when safe
• Dissociation: Feeling disconnected from your thoughts, emotions, or body
• Emotional dysregulation: Difficulty managing emotions like fear, anger, or sadness
• Relationship challenges: Struggling to trust or connect with others

Neuroscience shows that trauma changes the wiring of the brain, particularly in areas responsible for safety, memory, and regulation — but the brain can also re-wire itself with consistent, compassionate healing.

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Signs You May Be Experiencing the Adverse Effects of Complex Trauma
• Persistent anxiety or fear
• Feeling emotionally numb or detached
• Patterns of unhealthy relationships
• Difficulty feeling safe, even in safe situations
• Physical symptoms like fatigue, tension, or digestive issues

Many of my clients also report ear ringing, jaw or fist clenching, constipation, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and tingling in extremities without a clear medical explanation.

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The Path to Healing

Healing from complex trauma is a journey — and it’s absolutely possible. Effective approaches often include, but not limited to:
• Somatic therapies: Helping the body release stored trauma and regulate the nervous system
• Internal Family Systems (IFS): Understanding and integrating different “parts” of the self including exiles (the parts of a person that protect that person by “holding” the traumatic memories)
• Safe relationships: Building trust and connection over time
And healing necessitates caring for ones basic needs (sleep, movement and nutrition).

Remember, healing is not linear. It’s about progress, not perfection.

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Final Thoughts

If you recognize yourself in these descriptions, know this: what happened to you is not your fault, and you are not broken. With the right support, your brain and body can learn to feel safe again. Therapy can provide the tools and compassionate connection needed to begin that journey.

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References
• Courtois, C. A., & Ford, J. D. (2013). Treating Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach. Guilford Press.
• Ford, J. D., & Courtois, C. A. (2020). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Scientific and Professional Dimensions. Academic Press.
• Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books.
• Levine, P. A. (2010). In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. North Atlantic Books.
• Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model. Sounds True.
• van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
• World Health Organization. (2019). International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). WHO.

09/24/2025

How the Body Keeps Score:
Understanding Trauma & Healing

This two hour seminar is designed to provide accessible, research-based information on how trauma affects both the mind and body. It is especially valuable for loved ones of individuals who have experienced trauma and wish to better understand, support, and walk alongside them.

As a Therapist for over 20 years, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, my work is informed by my instructor and author of The Body Keeps the Score Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. During this seminar, we will explore key insights from this foundational work and evidence-based practices for healing.

This event is open to anyone seeking knowledge, compassion, and a deeper understanding of trauma and healing. I would be honored to have you join me.

Please register here:

How the Body Keeps Score: Understading Trauma & Healing | Monisha Mitchell, LC
*link in comments

Includes a copy of the book
The Body Keeps the Score

Please use the QR Code to pay or Monisha Mitchell LCSW LLC via Zelle
Note: Once registered and paid you will receive an email confirmation.

09/24/2025

How the Body Keeps Score: Understanding Trauma & Healing

This seminar is designed to provide accessible, research-based information on how trauma affects both the mind and body. It is especially valuable for loved ones of individuals who have experienced trauma and wish to better understand, support, and walk alongside them.

As a Therapist for over 20 years, and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, my work is informed by my instructor and author of The Body Keeps the Score Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. During this seminar, we will explore key insights from this foundational work and evidence-based practices for healing.

This event is open to anyone seeking knowledge, compassion, and a deeper understanding of trauma and healing. I would be honored to have you join me.

Please register here:

https://www.monishamitchelllcsw.com/event-details-registration/how-the-body-keeps-score-understading-trauma-healing

Includes a copy of The Body Keeps the Score

Please use the QR Code to pay or Monisha Mitchell LCSW LLC via Zelle
Note: Once registered and paid you will receive an email confirmation.

09/15/2025

Did you know September is su***de prevention month?

Did you know 20.4% of teens seriously considered attempting su***de and about 9.5% reported attempting su***de in the past year.
I was thirteen when a classmate tried to kill herself by overdose. She lived. I was fifteen when a friend committed su***de by firearm. She died.

Did you know su***de accounts for a substantial portion of perinatal deaths, with one study finding it responsible for 5.3% of deaths in pregnant or postpartum women?
As an adult suffering from post partum depression, I was driving and thought “man I’d like to drive into that pole and die.” Luckily as a Therapist, I had no intent to act and knew it was post partum depression. I called my P*P immediately and picked up a rx before I even got home. I felt better within a week and was off the rx in 90 days (though that isn’t necessarily a typical treatment duration). A few years later a mom in my mom’s group died by su***de post partum leaving two small children.

Did you know that 45%–50% of people who die by su***de visited a primary care provider (P*P) within the month before their death?
As an administrator at a FQHC, in a community devastated by repeated su***des, I led a su***de prevention initiative that trained 2000 medical professionals, including P*Ps, in ASIST (the gold standard for su***de prevention.) This was after a coworkers husband died by su***de.

Did you know that an average of 51% of all healthcare professionals (including psychiatrists, psychologists, and others) experience a patient su***de?
As a Therapist I’ve worked with countless individual struggling with suicidality and thank God I’ve not lost one person to su***de. I consider that a tremendous blessing considering the high acuity of my patients. When I worked in Psych ER years ago, I assessed a patient who was on her ninth attempt. Months later I learned her 10th attempt, she was successful.

I’m sharing the statistics because the numbers are staggering and represent just how many people are suffering. I am sharing my stories, personal and professional, because each statistic is a story, a person. Talking about it doesn’t cause harm but not talking about it does. Sharing our experiences gives permission for people struggling to share. When we share our isolated dark experiences and expose them to the light we help people in the midst of the darkness see a shimmer of hope that they are not alone.

09/05/2025

Thank God It’s Friday, truly

The week has asked a lot of us — the meetings and meal prep, the emails and errands, and all the ripping and running. Fridays carry a certain exhale, don’t they? By the time Friday rolls around, I find myself saying, thank God it’s Friday, truly. 🙌 And not just because the weekend is near, but because Friday is my reminder to pour back into myself. 💚

Over time, I’ve learned that the best way I can prepare for the week ahead is to sprinkle little moments of nourishment into my Friday. Nothing heavy, nothing rigid — just simple, life-giving practices that leave me feeling replenished. 🌱

Soul Sprinkles…

Here are a few gentle practices that feed my soul and are easy to slip into the day:
📖 Quiet reflection — a verse, a prayer, or a quick journal entry
💧 A mindful glass of water (hydration as self-kindness!)
🚶‍♀️ A light walk, stretching, or even dancing in my living room
☀️ Porch time — soaking in fresh air, listening to the birds, counting butterflies
📱 Reaching out to one loved one — because connection is nourishment too

A Gentle Rhythm

These aren’t tasks to check off; they’re sprinkles. A devotion here, a walk there, a glass of water in the middle of the day. By Friday evening, I’m not depleted — I’m replenished.

When I take time to nourish my mind, body, and soul, I’m reminded that caring for myself isn’t selfish. It’s sacred. And honestly, it’s the best way I know to say: thank God it’s Friday!

09/03/2025

Wellness Wednesday:
Tending the Garden Within 🌱

Imagine your inner world as a garden — rich soil, waiting to nurture what you plant. Every thought, every habit, every small act of self-care is a seed. Some grow into vibrant blooms of joy, resilience, and peace. Others — if left unattended — become tangled weeds of stress, self-doubt, and exhaustion.

This week, let’s explore what it means to tend the garden within.

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Nourish What You Want to Grow

Just as a thriving garden needs sunlight and water, your well-being needs consistent nourishment.
• Start your mornings with stillness — a moment of prayer, meditation, or deep breathing.
• Make time for movement that feels good, whether it’s a stretch, a walk, or dancing in your kitchen.
• Speak to yourself with kindness, even on hard days.

The energy you feed yourself shows up in the blooms of your mental and emotional health.

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Pull the Weeds

Weeds don’t need an invitation; they creep in quietly. In life, those weeds might look like overcommitting, negative self-talk, or ignoring your body’s signals to rest.
Pause. Notice what’s draining your soil. And remember — it’s okay to gently pull out what no longer serves your growth.

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Celebrate Every Bloom

Healing and growth don’t happen overnight. Just as flowers take time to blossom, your inner work unfolds slowly. Celebrate the small wins — a moment of calm in a chaotic day, saying no when you need rest, or simply showing up for yourself.

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Your Wellness Reflection

Take a quiet moment today to reflect:
• What am I planting with my thoughts and actions this week?
• Which areas of my garden need more care?
• How can I create space for rest, joy, and growth?

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Your inner garden is sacred, and tending to it is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. This week, give yourself permission to water your roots, pull your weeds, and bloom where you are planted. 🌸

08/27/2025

If You’re Going to Overthink… 🌱

If you’re going to overthink, try overthinking all the ways things could go right.
If your mind is going to race, let it race toward hope.

🌱 Consider the opportunities that could surprise you.
🌱 Recall the moments that could take your breath away.
🌱 Ponder the ways life could exceed every expectation you’ve ever held.

Your thoughts are like seeds. When you direct them toward the light and nurture them, you cultivate a space for good things to grow. 🌿
monishamitchelllcsw.com

08/25/2025

Monday Motivation
What does it look like to prioritize mental health?
It looks like walking away from years of training and preparation because you are listening to your body and honoring your mind. This, like many that have followed, was a seminal moment in reducing the stigma of mental health.

https://youtu.be/ovD6MUbk8Rc?si=CzFvCbDIAUYJ0LFOyees e n

After the end of the Games, Simone Biles reflected on her Tokyo 2020 experience after earning the bronze medal in the balance beam final. See what the Americ...

08/23/2025

Mark your calendars for this FREE su***de prevention class for youth ages 14+

Our youth play a critical role in helping identifying other youth in trouble. Just like CPR can save the life of a person in cardiac arrest, QPR training can help prevent su***de.

Please register in advance

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548ACAF2AA2F4C61-58004171-qprsu***de

08/14/2025

I will see 11 clients today.
And by the end of the day I am energized (no you heard me right lol)
How?

First, I set myself up for success by knowing how I work best. I am very much a creature of habit. I work well when I know what to anticipate (to the extent possible). On Thursday most people have a reoccurring appointment so I know who I am seeing. I’m prepared-Monday is my prep day so I’m not stirring about things the night before. Knowing how we work best and then working in that manner removes an unseen barrier. It’s a choice to work in the way our system works.

Second I get in a rhythm. I guess it’s a therapy rhythm lol by the end of the day I am in flow. I reflected on jobs I have enjoyed and looked for the commonality-10 and 12 hour days like working at Psy ER. I try to incorporate the things I’ve appreciated that have helped me be productive into the way I work today.

Also, I consider it my job to ensure I have capacity. I intentionally pour into my cup (the prior evening and in the am) so that I am pouring into others from abundance. That means last night I went to sleep early, woke early, had a protein packed breakfast, lots of quiet time (and little screen time:) and now I’m hopping on the elliptical for a total of ten minutes (because ten minutes is better than zero minutes). I ’m not perfect by any means so I show myself a lot of grace. I’m transparent when I get off track. I am serious about living out what I teach so I can genuinely say not easy but it’s doable.

Finally and most importantly (for me), as much as I pour into myself, to guide people towards healing I need THE Healer to pour into me. That is my faith tradition and I don’t evangelize to clients. I allow God to work in me so I can work with them.
Welcome to my world!

04/16/2025

So, let’s chat about therapy and why it’s super helpful, especially when it feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Whether you’re dealing with a breakup, job stress, life transition or feeling a bit overwhelmed, talking it out can really make a difference.

First, therapy is judgment free zone. You get a safe space to unpack all those thoughts swirling around in your head. Therapy also provides tools to help you cope. As a therapist I share techniques for managing stress and anxiety, suggest ways to change negative thought patterns, and guide you towards finding that balance we all crave. And let’s not forget about perspective! Sometimes, we get so caught up in our own heads that we can’t see things clearly. A fresh set of eyes can help you look at challenges from a different angle and untangle the web of thoughts.

If you’re feeling like the world’s getting a little too heavy, therapy could be just what you need. It’s a way to invest in yourself and your mental well-being!
monishamitchelllcsw.com