Pat Ogden PhD is a pioneer when it comes to somatic trauma therapy. Her work has touched many people including me. Even if you don't think you have any trauma, you likely have some living in your body that your partner will activate. In this episode, Pat has some great guidance to normalize and assist you in taking small steps that will greatly benefit you and your partner as you wade through the daily triggers of long-term relationship. SHOWNOTES What got Pat into studying human beings and trauma [10:00] How Pat helped women who had difficulty experiencing sexual pleasure [13:00] What is trauma? [17:00] Why we see the ‘freeze response’ in people who were abused as children [19:00] How childhood neglect can show up as trauma in adults [20:00] What’s happening in the bodies of a couple who fights all the time? [22:00] The pursuer and withdrawer dynamic in relationship [26:00] Can we rewire our nervous systems together as a couple? [28:00] The significance of the therapist-client bond [33:00] What couples can do at home to work with their automatic nervous system responses [37:00] Is there harm in retelling a traumatic story? [43:00] Pat’s advice on embodying the self [49:00]