.png)
Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Holding Space with Dr. Christopher Barker is a psychology podcast focused on how unresolved complex trauma shapes daily life — from childhood through adulthood.
Complex trauma isn’t only about major events. It develops through chronic stress, attachment wounds, emotional neglect, and relational instability. Over time, these survival adaptations can show up as ADHD-like symptoms in children, emotional dysregulation, workplace conflict, burnout, leadership struggles, relationship challenges, and intergenerational family patterns.
Through the lens of EMDR therapy, attachment theory, neuroscience, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Barker explains how the nervous system learns to survive — and how healing becomes possible.
Each episode offers research-based insight and practical tools for regulating triggers, improving relationships, and moving from survival mode to intentional living.
Understanding your story is the beginning. Healing transforms how you live it.
Welcome to Holding Space.
https://substack.com/@christopherbarkerphd
Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Understanding Trauma Therapy: EMDR, Internal Family Systems & DBT
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this episode, we explore different therapeutic approaches to trauma, focusing on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—a widely recognized treatment for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other trauma-related disorders. We discuss how EMDR works, the science behind it, and why proper training is essential for therapists who practice it.
Additionally, we introduce Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapeutic model that helps individuals understand their inner world by recognizing different parts of the self, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a technique originally developed for borderline personality disorder but widely used for distress tolerance and emotional regulation.
Tune in to learn how these therapies can aid in trauma recovery, the importance of professional guidance, and practical ways to manage distress.
Holding Space For You