The Pain You Don’t Talk About Shows Up Anyway
In this episode, host Philip Briscoe is joined by Dr. Brian Livesay, a trauma therapist and Director of Clinical Research at Arise Alliance, to explore how men can heal from unspoken trauma; not by suppressing or avoiding it, but by facing it differently.
Drawing from his personal story of loss, military service, and years working with veterans and first responders, Brian introduces a groundbreaking approach to healing called Critical Memory Integration (CMI). This method helps people re-engage with their most painful memories from a place of safety, strength, and agency, transforming how those experiences live within them.
Together, the host and Brian unpack why so many men stay silent about pain, how disconnection shows up in everyday life, and what it truly means to face one’s demons without being destroyed by them.
Listeners will learn:
- Why men often disconnect emotionally and how it affects relationships, work, and health.
- What Critical Memory Integration is and how it helps rewire trauma at its source.
- How unprocessed memories can show up as anger, anxiety, or emotional shutdown.
- Why facing pain is a path to strength, not weakness.
- Practical first steps for reconnecting with oneself and others, even when feeling stuck.
Why listen:
For anyone who has felt haunted by something they can’t quite name or sensed that their emotions are running the show, this episode offers a roadmap back to calm, clarity, and connection. Brian’s insight bridges science, story, and soul…reminding listeners that courage isn’t the absence of pain, but the willingness to walk through it.
To learn more about Brian and his work with Critical Memory Integration, visit https://criticalmemoryintegration.com/
To learn more about the Mid-life Men: Mental Health Podcast, please visit http://www.mid-lifemen.com/