The Healing Process starts in the Discomfort (Dealing with the Emotional Detox from Trauma and Substance Use) with David Fraijo

[Episode 83 of The Intentional Clinician Podcast]

David Fraijo is interviewed by Paul Krauss MA LPC (part 1 of their conversation). David and Paul talk about David’s healing process as he confronts his own emotions and habits. Through a healing circle and honest dialogues, David discusses his personal journey toward emotional healing and recovery from self-hatred, eventually changing his life and working to help others.

“If I would have killed myself back then…I would have been murdering the wrong identity.” – David Fraijo

“You’re not the person you were when you were using [alcohol and drugs], and you’re not the person you have the potential to become.”

David Fraijo was born and raised in Arizona. He is a healer, an author, a public speaker, and a long-time leader of a healing circle. David worked in the swimming pool deck industry for many years before realizing that he needed to undertake his own healing work and enter into recovery from codependency, childhood trauma, and substance abuse. David feels that by focusing on his own healing, he can have a positive impact on others that he encounters.

David states “My only client is myself…if I work on myself, I can help others…but I am not going to try to fix anybody.”

Learn about David’s book: Emotional Detox: Redefining Self- Moving through trauma to a new identity

Learn about David’s current work by emailing him: [email protected]

Watch David’s DEBX talk: https://debxtalks.com/video.php?id=86&debid=7

ALSO DISCUSSED: Trauma, Healing Circles, Recovery, Sarcasm, writing a book, going into a treatment center, adult children of trauma, self-medicating, family system, how friends can be an extension of the family system, fitting in, getting uncomfortable on purpose, 12-step programs, giving away your power, survival techniques, relationship with the self and others, ceremony, what is resolution?, suicide, what it is like being a minority in a high school, cause and effect, dishonest society, the language of your subgroup, survival strategies, culture, alcoholism, marketing, low self-esteem, joking with telemarketers, afraid of acknowledging death, existentialism, being honest in the business world, retirement, creating artwork such as rattles, marketing comfort and indulging (what is the trade-off), red-lining, institutional and systemic racism, the war on drugs, people pleasing as a coping skills, projection, integrating mental health into the education system, capitalizing on the healthcare problem, the business of therapy, collectivism v. individualism, learning about intergenerational trauma, hippie movement, rigidity and chaos, psychiatric hospitalization, treatment, positive structure, financial barriers to health care, porcupine family, trying to change people, the death of David’s daughter, listening—not hearing, feeling emotions as a powerful act, recovery from substance overuse, machismo, toxic masculinity, addiction: Giving one’s self up to a powerful habit, male psychology, etc.

Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant , host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, and Counseling Supervisor. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline (in progress) as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post and Wired Magazine. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433. 

If you are looking for EMDRIA consulting groups, Paul Krauss MA LPC is now hosting weekly online and in-person groups.  For details, click here.

For general behavioral and mental health consulting for you or your organization.

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Learn more about the Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids

Learn more about Counseling and Therapy services at Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids

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