This talk was given at the Shambhala Meditation Center in Tulsa Ok August 21, 2021. As part of a series of events, this public talk discusses the dharma of addiction. 

Dave sits down with Dr. Lee Norton to discuss trauma and addiction: https://leenorton.wixsite.com/leenorton

Dr. Norton has over 25 years of experience in the area of anxiety and traumatic stress disorders. She trained and worked with Charles Figley, PhD, an internationally recognized pioneer in traumatology, and went on to help design and teach certification courses for the Traumatology Institute at Florida State University. She completed post-doctoral studies at Intensive Trauma Therapy in Morgantown, West Virginia, during and in the aftermath of 9/11. Dr. Norton has worked extensively throughout the U.S. as a forensic mental health expert in capital cases in state and federal courts, and for all branches of the military. She established the Norton-Baldwin Trauma Clinic in Coron, Philippines, where she treated orphaned and abandoned children, and trained therapists to assess and treat traumatic stress disorders. She taught at University of Tennessee College of Social Work, where she designed and taught graduate courses in trauma and related topics.

Dr. Norton is founder and owner of Center for Trauma Therapy, where she is director of trauma therapy.  Her philosophy is based on the principles of self-determination and native wisdom. She works collaboratively with clients to design plans best suited to individual needs. She uses an interdisciplinary approach to demystify symptoms and mobilize innate skills and knowledge.  She teaches clients how to resolve stressful experiences without reliving them. 

This short talk was recorded at the Buddhist Recovery Online Class and Community (BROCC). Dave offers some thoughts and reflections on 18 years of sobriety. If you would like to join the course you can do so at this link: https://courses.seculardharmafoundation.com/courses/16/about

Dr. Steve played CBGB and Max’s Kansas City in the late 70s; drank, played in a toy rock band and then got sober in the 80s; became an international social justice/diversity educator and rocker again in the 90s; and is now a sought after consultant, trainer, clinician, writer and meditation teacher. Dr. Steve has attempted to cure Marc Maron on WTF, become a master EMDR therapist and provider of EMDR Training as Senior Faculty with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness, and has become a pioneer in the Buddhist recovery field. He developed the MET(T)A Protocol, a design for mental health agency treatment using Buddhist Mindfulness and EMDR Therapy, currently being utilized in trauma and addiction treatment centers across the country. He blogs and podcasts on topics related to mental health, recovery, and mindfulness. Besides maintaining a private practice in Los Angeles, he travels internationally speaking and teaching on Buddhist mindfulness, EMDR therapy, the MET(T)A Protocol, trauma, corporate wellness, Buddhist approaches to treating mental health issues, and clinician/caregiver self-care. He has been practicing Buddhist mindfulness for over 30 years (including a one year residency at a Zen monastery), and teaches dharma classes regularly in Los Angeles and other centers internationally. Steve is the Head of Health & Wellness Innovation & Partnerships at DropLabs (a company led by Susan Paley, former CEO of Beats by Dre), the creators of full immersion sound technology delivered through bluetooth to vibrational footwear simultaneously with your headphones. Steve’s technology company, StartAgain Technologies, develops, collaborates on and acquires applications to deliver through DropLabs hardware, to enhance the MET(T)A Protocol, add new dimensions and interventions to many other health and wellness platforms, and broaden access to mental health care and wellness. At all other times, he is wrangling and entertaining his 11 year old daughter.

Dr. Steve is the author of several books including Clinical Dharma: A Path for Healers and Helpers (2016), EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care (coauthored with Jamie Marich, 2017), Mindfulness for Anger Management (2018) and coauthored Trauma and the 12 Steps: A Trauma Responsive Workbook, as well as Trauma and the 12 Steps: Daily Meditations & Reflections - both companion pieces to the updated Trauma and the 12 Steps by Dr. Jamie Marich.

Jesse Mayer has been clean and sober for over 20 years. As a drummer, he has been part of the Boston music scene for four decades and has play in countless punk and rock and roll bands. Jesse and Dave have shared a friendship spanning over the last 20 years. Jesse is one of the few people who spent a lot of time with Dave prior to him getting sober. After decades in 12 step communities and doing some trauma related therapy Jesse is now embracing Dharma practice into his life and recovery. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

If you would like to join the Buddhist Recovery Online Course click here: https://courses.seculardharmafoundation.com/courses/16/about

This talk and guided practice was given by Dave Smith as part of the programming for the online Buddhist Recovery Class and Community. We are now over 100 days into the program! If you would like to subscribe and participate in the class you can do so here: https://courses.seculardharmafoundation.com/courses/16/about

Andrew Chapman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the co-director and guiding teacher at Wild Heart Meditation Center, a non-profit Buddhist community center located in Nashville, TN.  He has a psychotherapy practice and also offers mentorship, group facilitation, education, and training for individuals, groups and organizations interested in mindfulness meditation. 

Dave zooms down with long time friend and colleague Kevin Griffin. Enjoy. 

https://www.kevingriffin.net/