Show Notes
Hey there, welcome back to The AnxietyRX Podcast! I’m Dr. Russ, and today I’ve got a special guest, Chelsea Horton, who’s an amazing expert in body-based therapy. We’re going to chat about something really important: the connection between anxiety, trauma, and creative expression.
We often think of therapy as just sitting and talking, but Chelsea and I explore why that’s not always enough.
We’ll dig into how movement and play can really help us work through trauma. Chelsea also shares why hands-on learning is so crucial in therapy.
We talk about the need to reconnect with our bodies, create a safe space, and empower ourselves in the healing process. It’s all about taking a holistic approach—mixing mind, body, and creativity for deal healing.
So, grab a comfy seat and join us for this enlightening conversation!
Thank you for listening and you can find me on IG: @theanxietymd if you have any questions.
PS. If you would like to join the MBRX family of 4000+ anxiety WARRIORS who are shifting from coping with their anxiety to actually HEALING it, click the link below: https://www.theanxietymd.com/MBRX
______________________________
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Introduction
03:16 - Chelsea's Background
04:32 - Experiencing Trauma
05:03 - Movement and Trauma Processing
06:29 - Play and Safety in Healing
08:46 - Choice and Agency in Healing
10:05 - Evolving from Childhood Trauma
11:55 - Overcoming Inertia
14:47 - The Alarm-Anxiety Cycle
16:38 - Building Trust with the Inner Child
18:43 - Neuroscience of Trauma
19:10 - Understanding Body Connection
20:16 - Mind-Body Disconnect
21:23 - The Role of Neuroscience
22:30 - Living in the Moment
23:17 - Grounding Techniques
24:18 - Familiarity and Security
27:06 - Healing Through Discomfort
28:45 - Coping Mechanisms and Anxiety
29:47 - Understanding the Body's Role
30:31 - Creating Expression Through Movement
32:07 - Rewiring Emotional Pathways
34:08 - Science vs. Healing
35:02 - Embodiment and Creativity
37:41 - Connecting with the Inner Child
41:01 - Relational Patterns in Trauma
43:59 - Concerns About Trauma Practices
45:17 - The Limitations of Academic Training
46:15 - Importance of Repetition in Healing
47:02 - Criticism of the Term 'Empath'
47:58 - Cognitive vs. Experiential Healing
48:04 - Skills-Based Approach in Somatic Practice
49:10 - Concerns About Rapid Trauma Transformation
50:05 - The Long Process of Unlearning
51:50 - Importance of a Year-Long Program
56:19 - The Role of Community in Healing
More from Anxiety Rx
What if worrying is just your mind’s way of trying to stop you from worrying? In this episode, I pull apart the myth that positive thinking can cure anxiety. The alarm in the body and the worries in the mind feed each other in a loop that never ends. Childhood separation leaves a mark when you aren’t seen, heard, or protected, and that’s where the alarm takes root. Growing up with a father who had schizophrenia, I learned to escape into worry as my coping strategy. The real healing began when I turned toward the younger version of myself and felt what I’d spent years running from.
What if the real scam isn’t the robocall, but the idea that your worth is measured in dollars? In this episode, the lie that money can replace human connection takes center stage. A medical system built on billing codes pushed me to trade care for speed, and that disconnection fueled my own anxiety. Scams, ads, and constant grabs for attention keep the nervous system on high alert. The “monetization fairy” gets called out for what it is, and simple practices bring us back to intrinsic value and genuine human connection.
What if being “too sensitive” isn’t a flaw but the hidden root of your anxiety?
Ever pushed yourself to eat clean and work out, hoping it would calm your anxiety, only to feel even worse? Here’s why it happens…
What if burnout isn’t failure, but your body’s protective shutdown? In this episode, I open up about burning out as a doctor and why it went far beyond just being tired. Burnout showed up as a split between my mind pushing forward and the younger part of me saying, “I can’t do this anymore.” The mask of “Dr. Russell Kennedy” gave me income, status, and validation, but it also crushed my sense of self.