Episode 218 - Healing Trauma With Critical Memory Integration

In this episode, Mardi Winder sits down with Estefana Johnson, a seasoned mental health clinician and director of clinical training at Arise Alliance Institute, to explore the complex connections between trauma, loss, and the process of healing. Through stories from her own unexpected path into behavioral health and clear explanations, Estefana shares a perspective on trauma that centers on unresolved loss, whether it is the loss of agency, safety, hope, or meaningful relationships.

Together, they discuss how trauma manifests when the brain cannot process challenging experiences and how people often find themselves stuck, responding to past pain rather than present reality. Estefana Johnson explains how this can create recurring patterns that shape responses to everyday situations, both at home and at work. She introduces listeners to Critical Memory Integration (CMI), an approach designed to guide individuals beyond managing symptoms toward real resolution by helping them understand the deeper signals their bodies and emotions send, and make sense of experiences that feel overwhelming or inaccessible.

The conversation also explores the concept of generational trauma, or as Estefana Johnson prefers, "generational data," and how our bodies can inherit survival adaptations from previous generations. Listeners are encouraged to be compassionate with themselves, seek support when facing discomfort, and realize that the search for clarity and healing begins with honest self-inquiry. Estefana Johnson leaves us with a hopeful message: the power to move forward and heal is within each of us, waiting to be discovered.

About the Guest:

Estefana Johnson, LCSW, brings over 20 years of experience in trauma and mental health care. She began her career as a Behavioral Health Technician in 2001 and later taught in Japan before moving into roles in residential treatment, medical social work, and clinical leadership.

As Director of Clinical Training at ARISE Alliance Institute, she develops and delivers curricula in trauma-focused care and interventions like Critical Memory Integration (CMI™), while also practicing clinically at Lighthouse Psychiatry & TMS in Gilbert, Arizona. Estefana is actively involved in research on therapeutic uses of psychedelics and is passionate about advancing innovative, healing-centered approaches. A first-generation child of immigrants, she is committed to supporting foster and adoptive youth, leading programs that provide education and care rooted in resilience and recovery.

To connect with Estefana:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estefanajohnsonlcsw/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariseallianceinstitute/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriseAllianceInstitute/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5MyzV9KBg0eJ0uY88N-zCw