Jeff Friedman
Jeff Friedman
Estefana: Critical Memory Inegration
Estefana: Critical Memory Inegration
Estefana: Critical Memory Inegration
Monday 21st July 2025
Explore Critical Memory Integration with Estefana Johnson and Jeff Friedman, discussing new approaches to trauma and mental health care.
Explicit
36 minutes
informative
reflective
hopeful
challenging
About this podcast
Author:
Jeff Friedman
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery from Trauma
Healing from Sexual Trauma
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Healing Relationships
Creative Recovery Journeys
Links:
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Episodes:
69 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Navigating Trauma with Critical Memory Integration
Episode Overview
- Estefana Johnson discusses the creation of Critical Memory Integration.
- The importance of cultural context in therapy.
- Challenges with current mental health modalities.
- The role of emotional validation and curiosity in therapy.
- CMI's approach to resilience and embracing emotions.
Sometimes you need to fall apart. That's how people, I try to fall apart at least once a month for good self-care reasons.
In this engaging episode, Jeff Friedman, Ph.D., LCSW, interviews Estefana Johnson, LCSW, a leading figure in the development of Critical Memory Integration (CMI), a pioneering methodology designed to enhance trauma treatment. Estefana opens up about her journey in the mental health field, spanning over two decades, and describes the collaborative efforts of a diverse team at Arise Alliance in Phoenix, Arizona.
Their goal was to address unanswered questions in trauma care and develop a more individualized approach that respects the unique experiences of each client. Estefana emphasizes the limitations of traditional mental health modalities, particularly for diverse populations. She shares her personal insights as a first-generation Hispanic clinician, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive approaches. She criticizes the 'one-size-fits-all' mentality prevalent in the field, advocating for a more personalized methodology that validates the client's emotions and experiences.
One of the core tenets of CMI is to shift the focus from pathologizing behaviors to understanding the context behind them. Estefana explains how CMI encourages therapists to be curious about why individuals function in certain ways rather than labeling these behaviors as errors. This method not only validates clients' feelings but also seeks to guide them beyond validation, providing tools to maintain meaningful relationships while preserving personal integrity.
Throughout the discussion, Estefana reflects on the concept of complex trauma and collective trauma, using examples such as communities in constant states of adversity. She argues that shared experiences of trauma can build resilience, although they still significantly impact individual and collective identities. The episode concludes with insights into how CMI helps individuals process emotions and bodily responses to trauma, allowing them to embrace vulnerability and fall apart as a form of self-care.
Estefana's approach encourages clients to connect deeply with their emotions, fostering presence and enjoyment of life's beauty amidst chaos. This conversation offers a hopeful perspective on advancing trauma therapy through innovative and culturally attuned methodologies.