Stuck Not Broken
Stuck Not Broken
Justin Sunseri
Building Emotional Capacity Before Processing Past Traumas
18 minutes Posted Mar 3, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
Stop Forcing Trauma Recall
Why Talk Therapy Burns Out
Who Should Not Process Past
Capacity Before Confronting
Nervous System Over Willpower
Safety Is Non Negotiable
Present Moment Over Why
Client Example Trigger Titration
A New Model for Healing
Live Practice Invitation
Guided Mindfulness Closing
Disclaimer and Wrap Up
0:00
18:46
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Show notes

Stop forcing yourself to relive the most painful moments of your life before your body is ready to handle them.

Traditional therapy often skips the most critical step — building the physiological capacity to actually process what comes up. Justin Sunseri breaks down why flooding your system with past trauma makes things worse, and what to do instead.

🌸 Not sure which stuck state you're in? Recognize where you're at and join the free community here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/stuck?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=stuck-page

It helps you recognize your state. It never tells you what you are. No quiz, no verdict, no card.

🤩 Ready to go deeper? Explore resources at every price point here - https://www.stucknotbroken.com/how-i-can-help-you?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=how-i-can-help

🙂 Don't know the Polyvagal Theory? Catch up here - https://player.captivate.fm/collection/cce134e7-1550-4d33-8e56-738d344c63b0

This and other content produced by Justin Sunseri (“JustinLMFT”) (i.e; podcast, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) is not therapy, not intended to be therapy or be a replacement for therapy.  Nothing in this creates or indicates a therapeutic relationship.  Please consult with your therapist or seek for one in your area if you are experiencing mental health symptoms.  Nothing should be construed to be specific life advice; it is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

Justin Sunseri is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist registered in the State of California (#99147).

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! When you do, you will immediately get the next episode as soon as it's available. What's better than having the next episode of SNB ready and waiting for you? (Nothing, that's what.)

Mentioned in this episode:

Naming Your Stuckness

Not sure which stuck state you're in? That's normal, and more common than you'd think. I made a free page that lays the stuck states out in plain language so you can find words for what you're experiencing. No quiz, no email just to look:

https://www.stucknotbroken.com/stuck?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=dynamic_spot&utm_campaign=stuck-page