What happens when trauma doesn’t just shape memories — but reshapes the body itself?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Frank Putnam, one of the most influential researchers in the field of childhood trauma and dissociation. For more than four decades, Dr. Putnam has studied how early maltreatment affects development, health, and survival across the lifespan.

His groundbreaking Female Growth and Development Study has followed survivors of childhood abuse for more than 35 years, revealing something profound: trauma doesn’t only affect the mind. It changes biology, aging, health, and even the next generation.

Together we explore how dissociation develops in childhood, why trauma survivors often experience earlier physical illness, and what the science actually tells us about healing.

This conversation bridges research, clinical care, and lived experience — offering a rare look at the long arc of trauma and the resilience of those who survive it.

Key Moments

03:20 — How childhood trauma can accelerate biological aging09:45 — Dissociation as a survival strategy, not a disorder18:10 — The origins of the Female Growth and Development Study32:40 — The “tentacles” of trauma across physical health and development46:15 — What clinicians often misunderstand about dissociation58:30 — Why stabilizing daily life must come before trauma processing

About Our Guest

Frank W. Putnam, MD is a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and one of the leading researchers on childhood trauma and dissociation.

His newest book, Old Before Their Time: A Scientific Life Investigating How Maltreatment Harms Children and the Adults They Become, brings together decades of research on the lifelong impact of childhood abuse.

Who This Episode Is For

• Survivors navigating dissociation, DID, or complex trauma• Clinicians working with trauma and dissociative systems• Anyone interested in the intersection of science, trauma, and healing

Resources

📘 Old Before Their Time — Dr. Frank Putnam 📩Contact Dr. Frank Putnam 🌀About Dr. Putnam 🌐 healingmyparts.org

What if dissociative identity disorder is a brilliant, life-saving strategy?

In this moving and grounded conversation, therapist and author Sally Maslansky shares her lived experience of DID and the therapeutic relationship that changed everything.

Diagnosed in the 1990s (when it was still called MPD), Sally entered treatment during a cultural moment steeped in fear and shame. But her therapist, Dr. Dan Siegel, offered something radically different:

Not “What’s wrong with you?”But “What did your mind do to survive?”

From disorganized attachment to learned secure attachment.From fragmentation to fluidity.From terror without context to memory with meaning.

⏱ Timestamps

00:04 – Romania, terror, and the shock of not remembering childhoodAdoption awakens something she can’t ignore.

08:58 – The diagnosis in the 90sFrom “Am I crazy?” to “This is a brilliant adaptation.”

11:33 – Disorganized attachment: fear without solutionHow the brain fragments to survive.

14:37 – Parts as verbs, not nounsWhy dissociated states are processes — not separate people.

21:46 – What healing actually feels likeMemory intact. Suffering over.

33:55 – Implicit vs. explicit memory“If I’m hysterical, it’s historical.”

If you’ve ever feared that healing means losing your parts, this episode offers another picture.

Memory intact.Suffering over.Safety carried securely from the inside.

Links & Resources

Sally’s Website

Sally’s Book A Brilliant Adaptation

Sally at the Psychotherapy Networker Symposium March 20th

Sally & Dr Dan Siegel Speaking March 11th

The Wheel of Awareness

Dr Dan Siegel’s Website

Dr Ruth Lanius Website

Dr. Bethany Brand’s Website

HealingMyParts.org

In this deeply nuanced conversation, we’re joined by author and survivor Cheryl Rainfield to explore the realities of cult torture, dissociative identity, and the layered impact of organized abuse.

We unpack what it means to reclaim the word torture, how cult-created programming functions inside dissociative systems, and how healing unfolds when compassion replaces fear.

We explore:

• Why some survivors reclaim the term cult torture• How programming operates — and how it can be gently dismantled• The distinction between cult-created parts and other trauma-based or persecutory parts• Subtle indicators that may suggest a history of organized abuse• Why relational repair, attachment, and emotional responsiveness matter profoundly in treatment• What therapists often misunderstand about working with survivors of organized abuse• How systems can begin building trust with cult created parts

This conversation does not sensationalize. It names. It clarifies. And it holds hope.

Cheryl speaks candidly about what survivors need most: to be believed, to be heard, and to be met with steady compassion.

Whether you are a survivor, clinician, or someone seeking to better understand complex dissociation, we hope this episode offers clarity, validation, and thoughtful guidance.

Time Stamps

00:00 – Introduction + reclaiming the term “cult torture”08:40 – What programming is and how it functions21:15 – Cult-created parts vs. persecutory/trauma parts36:20 – Subtle signs of organized abuse histories52:10 – What therapists need to understand1:06:30 – Modifying modalities (EMDR, grounding, attachment needs)1:20:45 – Community, writing, and reclaiming voice1:32:00 – Hope for survivors + practical next steps

Content Note

This episode discusses organized abuse, dissociation, and suicidality. Please listen at your own pace and care for yourself as needed.

Connect with Cheryl

CherylRainfield.com

Cheryl’s Books

Cheryl’s Social Media

TikTok @Cherylrainfield

Instagram @Cherylrainfield

Facebook Cheryl Rainfield

YouTube Cheryl.Rainfield

Substack Cheryl Rainfield

Cheryl’s Articles

Some Signs and Symptoms of Cult Torture and How To Help:

Article on cult torture and programming:

Cheryl’s Links to Resources on Cult torture and DID

Cheryl’s Recommended Books on cult torture/RAMCOA:

Becoming Yourself by Alison Miller

Healing The Unimaginable by Alison Miller

Demystifying Mind Control & Ritual Abuse

Safe Passage to Healing by Chrystine Oksana.

Cheryl’s Recommended Websites:

Survivorship.org

ra-info.org

ritualabuse.us

endritualabuse.org

grassroots-ra-mc-collective.org

In this episode, our guest, Cyndi Bennett, speaks publicly about their system for the first time and shares parts of their personal journey before turning toward their work supporting trauma survivors in professional spaces. We talk about business boundaries, nervous system capacity, internal consent, and what it means to navigate careers and leadership as a plural system. This conversation is for systems thinking about work, sustainability, and how to make decisions that honor more than one internal voice.

⏱️ Timestamps

* 00:02:15 – Cyndi introduces themselves and their plural system

* 00:06:45 – Building a coaching practice as a system

* 00:14:20 – On boundaries, burnout, and protecting your bandwidth

* 00:21:00 – Why coaching isn’t therapy (and why that matters)

* 00:33:40 – Internal communication tips from Cyndi’s own parts

* 00:42:55 – Reflections on authenticity, professionalism, and trust

* 00:55:30 – Final thoughts: honoring all parts, including the messy ones

Connect with Cyndi: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com

In this heartfelt and affirming episode, we sit down with the Shadow System, a guest navigating the early stages of discovering they’re a system. Just over a year and a half into their journey, they share openly about the confusion, curiosity, relief, and emotional labor that come with realizing you have Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or OSDD.

✨ What We Talk About

* Journals, handwriting, and the clues that didn’t make sense—until they did

* The “am I making this up?” spiral (and why it’s so common)

* What happens when your system knows before you do

* System communication through writing, art, sensation, and intuition

* Why some parts step forward—and others stay hidden

* The pain of not being believed by a therapist… and the power of finding one who does

* How to talk to loved ones (even when they’ve only seen the media version of DID)

* Taking up space, offering feedback in therapy, and building trust at your own pace

This episode is an honest, deeply relatable look at the messy, sacred beginning of system awareness. If you’re newly navigating DID or OSDD—or supporting someone who is—you won’t want to miss this one.

⏱️ Timestamps

* 00:50 – Meet the Shadow System + Early Clues of Multiplicity

* 03:00 – Journaling, handwriting shifts, and confusing memories

* 08:30 – Realizing: “Wait… this is real”

* 12:00 – System denial, self-trust, and questioning your own mind

* 17:00 – Journals, art, and making space for parts to speak

* 22:30 – Therapy: What helped, what didn’t, and finding a safe fit

* 28:00 – “Do you think I’m just bored?”: Humor + honesty in healing

* 36:00 – Telling her husband she’s a system—and his loving response

* 44:30 – When parts front at home + parenting through system dynamics

* 50:00 – The inner world, the conference table, and communication struggles

* 55:00 – Advice for newly aware systems: “Slow down, trust your parts”

01:00:00 – New hope: What feels possible now

📲 Follow & Connect

* Follow the Shadow System on Instagram: @exploringmyshadows

* Subscribe for weekly blogs, downloadables, and community support: healingmyparts.substack.com

* Explore our website for free resources, support groups, consultations, and more: www.healingmyparts.org

* Shop our merch for cozy, conversation-starting gear made by and for systems: healingmyparts.org/merch

* Follow us on Instagram @healingmyparts for bite sized nuggets to support your healing.

🛠️ Want support for your system or your clinical work?We offer consultations, workshops, and speaking engagements for both systems and professionals. Find what fits your needs at Healing My Parts Services

🛑 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and support purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. Please take good care while listening.