Why nervous system capacity must comes first: Avoiding retraumatisation | Carla Shohet | #062 Mastering Change

Trauma therapy often begins with the past – but what if that’s the problem? This week on Mastering Change, psychologist Carla Shohet challenges the way trauma is commonly approached – arguing that many therapeutic models move too quickly into processing, without first building the capacity to hold what emerges. Carla’s work centres on nervous system regulation as the foundation for healing. Because without that foundation, trauma work can become overwhelming, ineffective – and in some cases, re-traumatising.  Drawing on her own experience of nervous system shutdown, Carla developed the NTN model – Now, Then, Next – a cyclical framework that prioritises building capacity in the present before revisiting the past or moving towards change. We discuss: Why nervous system capacity must come first  How trauma work can reinforce patterns if done too early  The risks of relying on talk therapy alone  What it means to move from surviving to thriving  Why healing is not linear, but cyclical  This conversation offers a reframe of trauma recovery – one that begins not with the story, but with the state of the nervous system. Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcastFollow us on instagram: www.instagram.com/masterseventsltdVisit mastersevents.com/oxford-2026 for more details.