Trauma, Healing & Authenticity: Reconnecting with Yourself with Estefana Johnson
True healing in mental health goes beyond managing symptoms—it requires understanding, reconnecting, and integrating the root experiences that shape who we are. In this episode of The Mental Health & Wellness Show, Dr. Tomi Mitchell sits down with licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist Estefana Johnson to explore how trauma-informed care and Critical Memory Integration (CMI) can transform lives.
Estefana shares insights from over two decades of clinical practice and her work training other clinicians, emphasizing the importance of personal experience, self-awareness, and empathy in effectively supporting clients. Together, they discuss how reconnecting with authentic memories and addressing the root causes of mental health challenges can empower individuals to reclaim agency over their lives and experience true wholeness.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why clinician self-awareness and lived experience enhance trauma-informed care and empathy
- How critical memory integration (CMI) restores authentic self and personal agency
- The benefits of holistic, individualized mental health approaches for lasting healing
- How culture, generational trauma, and personal narratives impact mental wellness
- Strategies to embrace discomfort, build resilience, and foster self-compassion
Estefana Johnson is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist who has dedicated over 20 years to supporting people through complex trauma and mental health challenges. As the Director of Clinical Training for ARISE Alliance Institute, she trains clinicians in trauma-informed care and CMI, emphasizing the importance of authentic, experience-based practice. Her approach empowers both practitioners and clients to recognize the power within themselves and to build healing from the inside out.
Join Dr. Tomi Mitchell and Estefana Johnson for a deep, empowering conversation about trauma, self-connection, and authentic healing. Whether you are a clinician, a caregiver, or someone seeking personal growth, this episode offers actionable insights and inspiration to transform mental health care and reclaim your sense of wholeness.