In this episode of The Workroom Podcast, Yara Mazen sits down with Trevor Rocca to explore trauma, the nervous system, and the healing power of EMDR therapy.

✨ Key insights you’ll hear in this conversation:

The three states of the nervous system: protection, connection, and disconnection

Why trauma isn’t the event itself but how we experience and respond to it

How unhealed pain can affect others if we don’t take responsibility

The role of community and support in healing

What EMDR is and how it helps reprocess painful memories as safe

🎥 Watch the full conversation and discover how understanding your nervous system can guide you toward healing and resilience.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring conversations on growth, healing, and purpose.

YouTube Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction and the Importance of Reflection & Isolation
01:55 – Co-regulation and the Science of Oxytocin vs. Vasopressin
03:02 – Re-establishing Connections and Authentic Socializing
04:40 – Reacting to Trauma vs. Responding with Awareness
05:36 – Creating Safety in Relationships (The “Ventral Superheroes”)
07:08 – Intuition vs. Trauma: Definitions and Distinctions
08:22 – Trauma and the Disruption of Time Perception (Bruce Perry’s Model)
10:20 – The 6-Week Regulation Period: Mindfulness, Breathwork, and Nature
11:53 – Changing the Therapeutic Narrative: Presence and Physical Support
13:17 – Neuroplasticity and the Path to Self-Mastery
14:55 – Finding Hope through Grounding and Regulation
16:40 – Holistic Approaches and the Role of Medication (Melatonin)
18:14 – Actors and Trauma: Embodying Characters and Staying Safe
19:21 – Neurogenesis and Physical Strategies for Nervous System Depletion
21:30 – Digestion, Weight Change, and Nervous System Regulation
24:40 – Stress and Appetite: Shifting States of Survival
26:43 – Measuring Cortisol and the HPA Axis Feedback Loop
29:10 – Dopamine, Pleasure, and the Traumatized Brain
31:18 – Distinguishing Between Acute Stress and Prolonged Depression
33:31 – Personal Training, Overwork, and the State of Collapse
35:24 – Self-Compassion and the “Inner Critic”
38:36 – The Necessity of Patience and Trust in the Healing Journey
41:25 – Psycho-educational Therapy and Integrating Knowledge
44:40 – EMDR Explained: A Memory-Based Therapy
47:24 – Researching Self-Healing Through Regulation Alone
49:19 – Therapy as a Peer Connection: Face-to-Face vs. Online
51:24 – Managing Empathy While Working with High-Stress Communities
54:40 – Coping with Global Trauma and News Consumption
56:03 – Case Study: Using Art and Music to Process Trauma
01:02:44 – Dan Siegel’s Window of Tolerance: Chaos vs. Rigidity
01:07:07 – Epigenetics: Passing Trauma and Resilience Through Generations
01:09:19 – Helicopter Parenting and Creating Safety for Children
01:10:57 – Rupture and Repair in Relationships
01:13:05 – Closing Remarks and Recommended Reading Lists