Alisa on Trauma Therapy, EMDR, and Healing Without Re-Traumatization

Trigger Notice

This episode includes discussions of trauma and past suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S., or visit https://findahelpline.com for global resources.

What if healing trauma didn’t require reliving every painful detail? In this powerful conversation, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with trauma therapist Alisa Gracheva to discuss EMDR, self-awareness, and how real healing occurs without retraumatization.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads — a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health) and 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast) with over 3.5 million downloads and counting — continues its mission to spark unfiltered conversations about the human mind.

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave us written or voice feedback here: https://castfeedback.com/67521f0bde0b101c7b10442a

 

Mental Health Quote

“You don’t have to relive the pain to heal it — you just have to feel safe enough to let it go.”
— Alisa Gracheva

Episode Description

Trauma healing doesn’t have to mean reopening every wound — and in this deeply grounding episode, Alisa Gracheva explains why. Joining G-Rex and Dirty Skittles, Alisa shares her journey from surviving early trauma and immigration upheaval to becoming a licensed trauma therapist specializing in EMDR and nervous-system–informed care.

Together, they unpack one of the biggest myths about trauma therapy: that you have to relive every painful detail to heal. Alisa explains how trauma lives in the body, not just the mind, and why safety, pacing, and self-awareness matter more than storytelling alone. The conversation weaves through personal healing, therapy, “speed dating,” seasonal depression, grounding practices, and the reality of holding space for others without losing yourself.

Alisa also shares the hardest lessons she’s faced — including financial loss, burnout, and learning to ask for help — while offering listeners a compassionate framework for change: self-awareness, willingness, and readiness. From boundaries and daily rituals to art, nature, and spirituality, this episode is a reminder that healing is not a destination — it’s a relationship with yourself.

If you’ve ever felt broken by trauma, exhausted by therapy that didn’t fit, or afraid that healing would hurt more than staying the same, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and permission to do it differently.

Keywords: Alisa Gracheva, trauma therapy, EMDR, healing trauma, nervous system regulation, mental health podcast, PTSD recovery, self-awareness, grounding techniques, therapy without retraumatization, spiritual healing, emotional wellness

Meet Our Guest — Alisa Gracheva

Alisa Gracheva is a licensed trauma therapist, EMDR practitioner, and author dedicated to helping people heal without re-traumatization. Blending evidence-based trauma therapy with spiritual awareness, Alisa supports clients in reconnecting with safety, self-trust, and wholeness after trauma.

Website: https://since.life/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisa_art/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisa-gracheva-61081670/
Book: Walking with Spirit: A Sacred Path to Wholeness

Key Takeaways

• You don’t have to relive trauma in detail to heal it.
• Trauma lives in the body — healing must involve the nervous system.
• Finding the right therapist matters more than sticking with the first one.
• Self-awareness is the first step toward real change.
• Boundaries are essential for helpers, healers, and caregivers.
• Healing is a lifelong relationship, not a finish line.

 

Actionable Items

• If therapy hasn’t worked before, give yourself permission to try a different approach.
• Add one grounding practice to your day (stretching, nature, breathwork, or art).
• Ask yourself: “What would safety feel like right now?” — and honor that answer.

 

References Mentioned

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy
• Man’s Search for Meaning — Viktor Frankl
• The Myth of Normal — Dr. Gabor Maté
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — https://988lifeline.org
• Global Crisis Resources — https://findahelpline.com

 

Important Chapters

• 00:02 – Alisa’s journey into trauma therapy
• 07:30 – Why reliving trauma isn’t required for healing
• 12:00 – EMDR and trauma stored in the body
• 19:00 – Self-awareness, readiness, and willingness to change
• 28:00 – Grounding, nature, and nervous system regulation
• 38:00 – Boundaries, burnout, and caregiver self-care
• 45:00 – Advice to her younger self and hardest life lessons

Closing CTA

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#MentalHealthPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Grex #DirtySkittles #Podmatch
#TraumaHealing #EMDRTherapy #NervousSystemHealing #PTSDRecovery
#TherapyWorks #EmotionalWellness #SpiritualHealing #GroundingPractices
#SelfAwareness #HealingJourney #MentalHealthSupport

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If You Need Support, Reach Out

If you or someone you know is facing mental health challenges, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a crisis hotline in your area. Remember, it’s OK not to be OK—talking to someone can make all the difference.

• United States: Call or Text 988 — 988lifeline.org
• Canada: Call or Text 988 — 988.ca
• Worldwide: Find a Helpline
• Mental Health Resources and Tools: The Help Hub

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