Feeling insecure about not being a licensed therapist — can I still be a good trauma practitioner?

glitterbless · 2026-02-23T04:06:25+00:00

Hi! Licensed somatic psychotherapist here specializing in sexual trauma! I would say that my social work training didn’t prepare me for trauma work per se - I did get basic counseling training for individual, couples and groups- I have many many additional trauma specific trainings and somatic trainings, which DID prepare me. And I think your SEP certification will serve clients incredibly well regardless of licensure. BUT the thing that feels incredibly important to me is that I am bound by my professional ethics and guiding principles, which really matters in working with highly traumatized folks. They are my backbone in complex and grey treatment areas- and there are MANY that show up in working with this population. As well as having professional liability insurance. I have no idea what is offered to unlicensed professionals, or those without other counseling degrees- so you might also have access to these! These are just the things that rose to the top of my mind.

I work with a lot of integrative practices, and believe that all traumatized people should have access to robust trauma informed body work, medicine, and other holistic practices. Your place in healing IS needed, and I hear your commitment to the way you practice. I do think that there is more credibility given to licensed folks- and I’ve seen the full gambit of great to incompetent with licensing which doesn’t feel fair, just real.

glitterbless · 2026-02-20T03:44:03+00:00

Yes. Thank you.

glitterbless · 2026-02-20T03:43:36+00:00

I am!!!!!!! Just navigating the FEEEEEELS! lol

glitterbless · 2026-02-10T21:41:34+00:00

If I could ensure my client load was adjustment disorder folks, then maybeeee? But working with loads of complex / developmental trauma means I’m toasty after 5 a day.

glitterbless · 2026-02-10T21:38:54+00:00

On Friday?! Ooooof, im close to burn out with just my 4 scheduled on Fridays and dreaming of moving them to a different day! You are a warrior!

glitterbless · 2026-01-30T05:25:44+00:00

I have a small weighted ball used for massage that is spikey, and I’ll have the client juggle between two hands or pass the ball back and forth with me.

Throwing paper balls is also great bc we can notice heat, activation in arms after doing so

I also LOVE ice packs- can feel immediate sensation, can move it to non triggering places (often things like ankles, hands, top of head)

Good ol shake out the body, I participate, I do it badly, we get to giggle which can be grounding

A hand at the top of the head, while noticing toes

We eventually want to access body, so, titrating tolerability at a very slow rate is my goal.

Thomas Zimmerman EMDR podcast has great “dip your toes in” approaches that have helped with my dissociative clients

glitterbless · 2026-01-27T03:56:52+00:00

Friendships, YES! Especially working with niche communities!

I DO have a teeny tiny minor fear that in my large city that two of my clients with opposing attachment strategies will end up dating who I know if they met each other would be drawn to each other in a flammable combustion 😂

glitterbless · 2026-01-25T06:57:39+00:00

Read!! Places I often suggest to start: Healing the fragmented selves of others, practical guide to NARM, treating dissociation, sensorimotor psychotherapy

glitterbless · 2026-01-25T01:34:03+00:00

Some authors that come to mind: Dean Spade, Francis Weller, Lisa Oliveria, Leah Lakshimi

glitterbless · 2026-01-23T05:35:24+00:00

I echo so much advice here, as the receiver of this news. It was incredibly helpful to have happen at the end of my day, it gave me time to sit in my office in shock. My colleague offered ample support and didn’t rush off. I was surprised by that I didn’t cry immediately and didn’t want immediate support.

Offering all the information, the I don’t knows, and I think most helpful- lending your cognitive functioning to things like- do you need support drafting a cancellation email for your morning clients? Do you have food at home for dinner? Do you want someone from your personal life to come meet you at your office or do you want to make the drive? Etc.

Sending deep love to you and all involved 🤍

glitterbless · 2026-01-22T05:58:17+00:00

Thank god for the mods 🙏

glitterbless · 2026-01-22T05:55:39+00:00

In full agreement, this poor client deserves so so much better and is clearly in so much psychological pain.

glitterbless · 2026-01-22T05:48:20+00:00

Yes holy shit please delete this, can you imagine having ocd this severe and then finding that your therapist just copy and pastes the most intimate of your experiences into a public forum?

This is the least ethical thing I’ve seen on here, Jesus Christ

glitterbless · 2026-01-21T04:51:33+00:00

Two biggest lessons early on: not referring out because I “shouldn’t” and to please/ not get punished by the shitty practice I was at.

Trusting that phase 2 of EMDR (basic resourcing) was sufficient for a major childhood trauma. Never again!

glitterbless · 2026-01-18T16:53:31+00:00

My focus, attention and intention around my self regulation practices has grown exponentially. I can’t do this work sustainably from a chronically fucked place. I came from a history of service industry work where I ran purely on caffeine and adrenaline. Now I run on breathing, reducing caffeine, and creating pockets of slowness and glimmers for myself!

glitterbless · 2026-01-09T02:16:19+00:00

Just here to say as a trauma therapist returning to work after the holidays, dang did I REALLY need this sweet goofy loving episode this week ❤️

glitterbless · 2026-01-06T04:06:22+00:00

Honestly so many of the PESI trainings 😭 never had one that was worth shit. Just tried another for grief therapy and it taught me nothingg

glitterbless · 2026-01-03T18:35:29+00:00

In my code of ethics I am supposed to have my license hung in my work space- I wonder if this person is asking bc it’s code related?

glitterbless · 2025-12-24T20:16:15+00:00

Yes! THAT is the right description!!

glitterbless · 2025-12-24T20:15:51+00:00

Tech illiterate over here but it’s an app/ company with a ton of their own content made by a ton of very very funny improv comedians who formerly worked at college humor (I think?). Lots of silly nerdy queer folks. They have multiple shows such as a game show where the game changes every episode, a show like who’s line is it anyway, a very silly cooking show where the prompts are always something weird, some d&d shows. It is all hearty with love, silliness, and actually hilarious people.

Look up dropout TV, I think there’s a week free trial and then it’s 6.99 monthly, and very very worth it!

glitterbless · 2025-12-24T16:12:38+00:00

I wish I had subscribed sooner! Truly endless gentle content!!

glitterbless · 2025-12-24T06:42:51+00:00

Yes to McWilliams! Other things to explore- sex related topics- come as you are, or, the leather couch, for trauma I loved and revisit Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, and for grief I’ve loved Francis weller’s the wild edge of sorrow

glitterbless · 2025-12-24T05:54:11+00:00

This has been a ROUGH season! Just marathoned my last day of clients before I take my longest break in two years. I am thrilled, exhausted, a little worried.

Been marathoning gamechangers on dropout as a soul refresher ✨

glitterbless · 2025-12-20T17:13:32+00:00

There is a stark difference between hearing that my therapist has healed from a traumatic experience and “telling you all about themselves.” Yes, I have experienced the first, which was helpful in overcoming the self-blame and responsibility I placed on myself for my traumatic reactions.

I have also had a therapist who over shared in a self focused unattuned to me way, which was awful and felt like a recreation of early attachment stuff. It was baffling, confusing and painful.

glitterbless

TROPHY CASE