Critical Memory Integration and Overcoming Blocks to Healing.
In this podcast episode, Estefana Johnson is introduced by host Richard Zwicky as she shares the foundational concepts behind Critical Memory Integration (CMI)—an integrative framework that supports healing by focusing on internal experiences and nervous system regulation, rather than relying solely on cognitive approaches.
Estefana discusses the principles that inform CMI, including memory reconsolidation and the resolution of outdated attachment strategies. Drawing from her background in trauma therapy and psychedelic research, she also reflects on how CMI can complement other modalities when working with individuals facing complex or severe trauma.
The conversation highlights the central role of somatic awareness in the healing process and emphasizes the value of body-based therapies in helping clients move beyond long-standing blocks to recovery.
They cover different approaches to trauma therapy, including Trauma-Focused CBT and humanistic methods, emphasizing that safety, self-trust, and the therapeutic relationship are central to meaningful progress. Together, the speakers unpack how neglect and unresolved trauma shape our nervous systems and how community, agency, and neuroplasticity open the door to lasting transformation.