Dr. John visits with Matt Quackenbush, a licensed clinician and trauma therapist with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Matt discusses his journey into the mental health profession, where he has developed a comprehensive and holistic approach to treating trauma, particularly among first responders, veterans, and individuals with substance abuse issues. He emphasizes the importance of addressing not just mental health but overall human health, incorporating non-traditional interventions like exercise and sleep wellness into his therapy practices.
Matt explains that trauma is often rooted in childhood experiences and can profoundly affect an individual's mental and physical health. He shares insights from his PhD research, which focuses on the gaps in care for first responders and veterans, highlighting the critical role of sleep and trauma-informed care. Matt also discusses effective therapeutic modalities, such as Internal Family Systems and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and the significance of understanding the client's background and specific needs to provide the most effective treatment.
The conversation also touches on the challenges of finding the right therapy and the importance of not ruminating in therapy but instead using body-based interventions to address trauma. Matt emphasizes the need for therapists to be well-trained in specific modalities and for clients to be proactive in their therapy, seeking out methods that resonate with their individual experiences. The episode concludes with a discussion on the integration of mind and body in therapy, the benefits of cold exposure, and the significance of connecting with nature for overall wellness.