a moment of clarity

All things trauma healing …

One of my passions as a trauma therapist is educating others on how life experiences shape the nervous system, influence patterns of behavior, and impact our sense of self. In this blog, I share tools, concepts, and mind-body practices that support trauma recovery, emotional resilience, and deep, embodied healing.

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EMDR for Complex PTSD: A Somatic and Parts-Based Approach to Deep Healing
IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay

EMDR for Complex PTSD: A Somatic and Parts-Based Approach to Deep Healing

[5-min read] Explore how EMDR therapy can support healing from complex PTSD (CPTSD)—especially when combined with somatic therapy and parts work. Learn how EMDR helps reprocess core trauma, shift negative beliefs, and regulate the nervous system. If you're searching for a trauma therapist near me, this guide breaks down what to expect and how healing truly is possible.

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Trauma Therapy Happens in Phases—And Slower Really Is Faster

Trauma Therapy Happens in Phases—And Slower Really Is Faster

[6-min read] Learn how trauma therapy works using a 3-phase approach rooted in Somatic Experiencing (SE), IFS therapy, and EMDR. Discover why slower is faster when healing from trauma, and what real trauma-informed therapy looks like—whether you're seeking parts work, inner child healing, or a trauma therapist near you.

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Inner Child Healing: Reclaiming the Parts of You That Needed More
IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay

Inner Child Healing: Reclaiming the Parts of You That Needed More

[5-min read] Inner child healing is a trauma-informed therapy approach that uses IFS therapy, parts work, and inner child therapy to help you heal emotional wounds from childhood. Learn how reconnecting with your inner child can transform patterns rooted in trauma—and how working with an IFS therapist near you can support deep, lasting healing.

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Healing Trauma Through Parts Work: How IFS Therapy Helps You Reclaim Your Inner World
IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay IFS & Parts Work Clara Mackinlay

Healing Trauma Through Parts Work: How IFS Therapy Helps You Reclaim Your Inner World

[5-min read] Discover how IFS therapy—also known as parts work or parts therapy—helps with inner child healing and resolving trauma by working with your internal parts. Learn how to identify your Managers, Exiles, and Firefighters, and connect with your core Self for lasting transformation. If you’re searching for an IFS therapist near me or want to understand how trauma and IFS are connected, this guide breaks it down simply and compassionately.

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Trauma, Healing, and Becoming a Therapist: My Mental Health Story
From the Chair Clara Mackinlay From the Chair Clara Mackinlay

Trauma, Healing, and Becoming a Therapist: My Mental Health Story

[8-min read] I didn’t become a therapist because life was easy—I became one because I had to fight like hell to survive it. This is the story of how trauma cracked me open, how healing pieced me back together, and how I now help others do the same. Plus, some fun facts about me and lots of pictures—I think it’s only fair you know some things about me too!

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What No One Tells You About Trauma
Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

What No One Tells You About Trauma

[5-min read] Trauma isn’t what happened to you—it’s what happened inside of you as a result. If you’ve ever felt stuck, shut down, anxious, or chronically overwhelmed, your nervous system might be holding onto more than you realize. This blog unpacks what trauma really is, why it gets stored in the body, and how somatic therapy helps you heal it at the root.

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Why Talking About Trauma Won’t Heal It—And Here’s What Does.
EMDR, Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay EMDR, Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

Why Talking About Trauma Won’t Heal It—And Here’s What Does.

[6-min read] You can’t think your way out of trauma—because trauma doesn’t live in the mind, it lives in the body. If you’ve been talking about the same wounds in therapy for years without feeling real change, this blog explains why that is—and what actually works when it comes to healing trauma at the root.

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Why Working with a Somatic Trauma Specialist Matters
EMDR, Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay EMDR, Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

Why Working with a Somatic Trauma Specialist Matters

[9-min read] Not all therapists are trained to treat trauma—because trauma healing isn’t just about being ‘trauma-informed.’ It requires specialized training, body-based approaches, and a deep understanding of how trauma lives in the nervous system. This blog explains why working with a somatic trauma specialist matters, what to look for, and how real healing actually happens.

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How to Make the Most of Somatic Therapy Sessions
Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

How to Make the Most of Somatic Therapy Sessions

[9-min read] Somatic therapy isn’t just about slowing down—it’s about unlocking the body’s wisdom to heal trauma at the root. This blog offers five powerful tips to help you get the most out of your somatic therapy sessions, from what to expect early on to how to care for yourself afterward. Whether you’re brand new or just want to deepen your practice, this is your guide to making each session truly transformative.

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Trauma: The Reason Why Meditation is so F*cking hard
Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay

Trauma: The Reason Why Meditation is so F*cking hard

[7-min read] If meditation makes you feel anxious, numb, or like you’re about to crawl out of your skin—you’re not doing it wrong, you’re likely carrying trauma. This blog explores why traditional meditation can be so hard for trauma survivors and how to make it work for your nervous system with somatic, trauma-sensitive practices that actually help you feel safe and grounded.

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How Trauma Impacts Your Body—And How Somatic Experiencing® Can Help
Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

How Trauma Impacts Your Body—And How Somatic Experiencing® Can Help

[6-min read] Unresolved trauma doesn’t just affect your emotions—it impacts your entire body. Chronic illness, inflammation, fatigue, and pain can all be signs that your nervous system is stuck in survival mode. This blog explores how trauma disrupts your physiology and how Somatic Experiencing® can gently restore balance and healing from the inside out.

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“Big T” vs. “Little t” Trauma: The Spectrum of Experiences
Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing, Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

“Big T” vs. “Little t” Trauma: The Spectrum of Experiences

[6-min read] Not all trauma looks the same—some wounds are loud and obvious, while others are quiet and cumulative. This blog breaks down the difference between ‘Big T’ and ‘Little t’ trauma, how both impact the nervous system, and why Somatic Experiencing® is a powerful healing tool for every point on the trauma spectrum.

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Somatic Experiencing: Therapy for Nervous System Regulation
Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay Somatic Experiencing Clara Mackinlay

Somatic Experiencing: Therapy for Nervous System Regulation

[4-min read] If talk therapy hasn’t brought the relief you’re looking for, your body might be holding the key. Somatic Experiencing® is a gentle, body-based approach that helps regulate the nervous system, release stored trauma, and restore your natural capacity for calm and resilience. This blog explains how it works—and why it might be the missing piece in your healing journey.

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How Does a Regulated Nervous System Look & Feel?
Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay

How Does a Regulated Nervous System Look & Feel?

[4-min read] We often talk about what dysregulation feels like—but what about when your nervous system is actually working the way it’s meant to? This blog explores what nervous system regulation looks and feels like in your body, mind, relationships, and worldview—so you can start to recognize true safety, presence, and balance from the inside out.

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Dear Yoga: A Love Letter
From the Chair Clara Mackinlay From the Chair Clara Mackinlay

Dear Yoga: A Love Letter

[3-min read] Yoga has been more than a practice—it’s been a teacher, a mirror, and a lifeline. This open letter is a love note to the lessons, healing, and transformation that yoga has offered through grief, growth, and grace.

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Is Your Whole Personality a Trauma Response?
Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay Trauma Healing Clara Mackinlay

Is Your Whole Personality a Trauma Response?

[6-min read] If anxiety, overthinking, people-pleasing, or chronic exhaustion feel like your entire personality—you’re not broken, you’re likely dysregulated. This blog unpacks how trauma and chronic stress shape your identity, behaviors, and worldview through the nervous system—and what to do about it.

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