The Constructed Awareness Podcast

Tyler Orr
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Monthly

The Constructed Awareness Podcast explores the principles of Constructed Awareness (CA) and how they apply to therapy, personal growth, and everyday life. Hosted by CA founder, Tyler Orr, this podcast delves into topics like mindfulness-based and trauma-informed therapy. Whether you're a CA-trained therapist or simply curious about deepening your self-awareness, each episode offers practical insights and thought-provoking discussions to deepen your understanding of the CA model.

Episodes

  1. Jul 20

    Episode 7: Integrating CA and Expressive Arts Therapy

    Host: Tyler Orr, PhD, LPC Guest: Lei Rhyne, LPC 00:00 Introduction 00:21 Meet Lei Rhyne, LPC 02:44 What is Expressive Arts Therapy? 07:28 The history and foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy 10:56 Training and certification in Expressive Arts Therapy 12:48 Why expressive arts goes beyond traditional talk therapy 14:31 What an Expressive Arts Therapy session looks like 19:03 Externalizing thoughts and emotions 20:20 How Constructed Awareness complements Expressive Arts Therapy 21:27 Why externalizing experience matters 22:44 How do you actually process emotions? 26:05 Introduction to Constructed Awareness 27:39 The three building blocks of experience 29:30 Understanding orientation 33:32 CA resourcing, tuning, and memory reconstructing 36:16 Lei's experience integrating CA into clinical practice 38:15 Bringing Expressive Arts Therapy into Constructed Awareness 42:37 What a combined CA + Expressive Arts session looks like 50:26 Using art to understand emotions 52:08 A nonverbal pathway to trauma healing 53:51 Constructed Awareness training updates and reduced tuition 58:00 How to connect with Lei Rhyne 59:00 Closing

    Episode 7: Integrating CA and Expressive Arts Therapy

  2. 08/29/2025

    Episode 6: CA and Nonviolence

    00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Jandita Zaki02:40 – Overview of CA and its first principle: awareness brings change04:55 – Ron Kurtz’s influence and the concept of “violence” in therapy07:20 – Jandita’s personal experience discovering nonviolence in CA training12:05 – Filling vs holding space: therapist discomfort and the urge to help19:10 – Sitting with silence vs holding silence in session23:30 – Resistance, duality, and how advice-giving creates tension25:50 – Helping interns move from fixing to presence28:10 – Mindfulness as repression vs mindfulness as presence32:40 – Sitting with emotions without promising outcomes37:05 – Nonviolent language: “I want you to” vs invitational phrasing41:40 – Co-regulation, childhood experiences, and emotions as involuntary46:10 – Cultural perspectives on emotions like anger50:40 – Eurocentric therapy vs CA’s flexible building blocks of experience55:40 – How CA helps clients discover their own inner wisdom58:00 – How to connect with Jandita and resources on Constructed Awareness

    Episode 6: CA and Nonviolence

  3. 07/30/2025

    Episode 5: Constructing Emotions

    00:00 — Introduction to the episode and guest02:00 — Phil’s academic and clinical background05:00 — Tyler explains the three core principles of CA08:30 — Mental, sensation, and external orientations explained12:00 — What is an emotion? Constructed vs classical views15:00 — The Schachter–Singer experiment and the two-factor theory18:00 — How CA’s third building block emerged from clinical work21:00 — Cultural differences in emotion (e.g., awe, loneliness)24:00 — Snake story: a real-world example of building block activation28:30 — CA’s nonviolence: not trying to change clients' emotions31:45 — The “noise gate” metaphor and sensory cutoff34:45 — Social, historical, and political forces that shape orientation36:45 — Orientation and empathy: what we can and can’t control39:55 — Emotions as concepts: storm and spaghetti metaphors43:30 — Emotion history: Shakespeare, grief, and evolving language47:00 — Fear vs curiosity and how breaking emotion into parts helps50:00 — CA’s contribution: naming the building blocks, not just the concept53:00 — Limitations of existing theories of emotion55:30 — Final reflections on the evolving language of emotion1:02:45 — Closing thoughts: There’s more to emotion than a word1:04:00 — Where to learn more about CA and connect with the guests

    Episode 5: Constructing Emotions

  4. 06/26/2025

    Episode 4: The CA Orientations

    Key Moments & Timestamps: 00:00–02:00 – Intro and guest introductions Tyler introduces Jamie and Christina and sets up the conversation as a three-way dialogue among different orientation styles. 02:00–04:30 – Overview of Constructed Awareness theory Tyler explains the three building blocks (thoughts, sensations, external senses) and the CA principles. 06:08–09:03 – Orientation patterns in clients The group discusses which orientations are most common and how these patterns show up in their practices. 09:03–13:05 – Jamie on sensation orientation and being a highly sensitive person Jamie shares how CA helped her trust her embodied experience and manage empathic overwhelm. 17:52–20:31 – Jamie on how she regulates through physical comfort She describes using weighted blankets, ice water, and sensory tuning to stay grounded. 21:38–24:10 – Jamie on movement and nonverbal expression Jamie talks about how shaking, vocal vibration, and physical release help regulate emotion. 25:02–27:00 – Tyler on the contrast between mental and sensation orientation Tyler shares how moving out of his mind and into his body during CA practices changed his perspective on regulation. 27:17–30:36 – Christina on external orientation and people-pleasing Christina discusses how being externally oriented led to disconnection from her inner world and how CA helped her return to it. 30:36–33:52 – Christina on disembodiment and reclaiming her body She explains how being present with sensations helped her heal from chronic illness and reconnect with herself. 35:42–37:44 – Tyler’s story of becoming aware of his environment for the first time He recounts a powerful moment of shifting from mental to external orientation. 38:22–43:04 – Attachment patterns and how orientation styles develop The group reflects on how childhood experiences shape which building blocks we cling to. 44:06–46:35 – Chronic illness and orientation Jamie and Christina describe how CA has helped clients reduce pain and Jamie shares her own story of resolving chronic migraines. 46:35–53:44 – “Talking With Your Hands” and building a sensation vocabulary Jamie and Christina explain how describing internal sensations using tactile language supports regulation and clarity. 55:17–57:15 – Jamie and Tyler on the difference between drowning in sensation and observing it Jamie reflects on how the building blocks support each other and allow for true emotional presence. 57:15–58:57 – Wrapping up: CA, tuning, and how awareness leads to change Tyler shares a powerful story of how CA helped him break a conflict pattern and respond differently through awareness. 01:01:07–01:03:12 – Where to learn more and closing remarks The guests share how to contact them, and Tyler announces upcoming CA trainings and CE offerings.

    Episode 4: The CA Orientations

  5. 05/20/2025

    Episode 3: CA and EMDR

    00:00 - 02:00: Introduction to the episode with Tyler Orr and Ann Simmons. Ann shares her background as a dual-certified therapist in Constructed Awareness (CA) and EMDR. 02:00 - 05:00: Ann discusses her journey to becoming certified in EMDR and CA, including how she met Tyler and her experience with CA Level 1 training. 06:00 - 09:00: Tyler shares his journey with EMDR, including his training and experience as an EMDR trainer. He discusses how his work with phases one and two led to developing CA. 10:00 - 14:00: Explanation of the foundational principles of CA: Awareness brings change. Experiences are constructed from thoughts, sensations, and external perceptions. Individuals naturally orient to one building block more than the others. 15:00 - 20:00: Discussion of how CA integrates with EMDR, including how tuning techniques from CA complement EMDR’s structured approach. 21:00 - 25:00: Ann shares practical applications of CA in her EMDR practice, highlighting how CA enhances awareness and helps clients process more fully. 26:00 - 30:00: Tyler explains how CA focuses on awareness rather than changing thoughts directly, contrasting it with CBT’s cognitive restructuring. 31:00 - 35:00: The concept of "tuning" in CA, where therapists help clients switch awareness between thoughts, sensations, and external perceptions. 36:00 - 40:00: Comparison between CA and EMDR processing, with Ann discussing how CA feels more interactive and client-centered. 41:00 - 45:00: Discussion of how CA principles help therapists stay engaged and adaptive, while also being flexible with clients' needs. 46:00 - 50:00: Insights on how CA training enriches personal awareness and therapeutic practice. 51:00 - 55:00: Tyler discusses upcoming CA and EMDR integrated training sessions, designed for EMDR therapists interested in incorporating CA techniques. 56:00 - 58:30: Closing remarks, information on how to connect with Ann and Tyler, and where to learn more about Constructed Awareness.

    Episode 3: CA and EMDR

  6. 04/17/2025

    Episode 2: CA and Chronic Pain

    - Pain is real, even when not linked to tissue damage. It’s a brain-based protective response, not a something originating in the body. - CA is a mindfulness-based, trauma-informed model that helps clients reconnect with disowned or underdeveloped parts of their experience. - Tuning helps clients avoid overwhelm by shifting attention across different types of awareness, rather than diving straight into distressing material. - The hosts suggest that chronic pain often arises from repressed emotional experiences, especially feelings of powerlessness. - Many clients come to therapy expecting to accept a life with chronic pain, but end up experiencing transformation and relief. - CA research has already shown early results in reducing symptoms of trauma and chronic pain.

    Episode 2: CA and Chronic Pain

  7. 02/19/2025

    Episode 1: The Origin Story of CA

    Guest: Stephanie Levin, LCHMC Host: Tyler Orr Timestamps & Topics: 00:00 – 05:00 | Introduction Tyler welcomes listeners to the first episode.Introduction to the podcast’s purpose: exploring Constructed Awareness (CA).Tyler introduces guest Stephanie Levin.05:01 – 09:00 | What is Constructed Awareness (CA)? Overview of CA as a model of therapy.Explanation of CA’s three core principles.09:01 – 18:00 | The First Principle: Awareness Brings Change Tyler shares how he discovered that bringing awareness to experience creates transformation.Discussion on how CA differs from willpower-driven approaches.18:01 – 22:00 | The Second Principle: Three Building Blocks of Experience Exploration of thoughts, sensations, and external perceptions.Connection to Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion.22:01 – 28:00 | CA’s Evolution from EMDR Therapy Tyler’s early experiences as an EMDR therapist.The development of CA’s orientation theory within EMDR resourcing.28:01 – 33:00 | The Shift from an EMDR Technique to a New Model How CA started as an advanced EMDR training but became its own therapy model.The role of phases one and two in EMDR and how CA structured them differently.33:01 – 40:00 | Orientation Styles: A More Dynamic Understanding of Personality How CA shifted from categorizing people into types to recognizing fluid orientation patterns.Real-life examples of orientation shifts in different contexts.40:01 – 45:00 | CA in Personal and Professional Growth Stephanie shares how CA helped her navigate grief and loss.Discussion on how CA allows therapists to access fuller awareness of their own experiences.45:01 – 50:00 | The Role of Nonviolence in CA Therapy Shifting from directive therapy to an invitation-based approach.Recognizing therapist biases and letting clients guide their own process.50:01 – 55:00 | CA’s Impact on Clients and Therapy Sessions How CA helps clients deconstruct emotions into their building blocks.The shift from labeling emotions to experiencing them fully.55:01 – 60:00 | Challenges in Establishing CA as a Model The struggle of gaining recognition and research validation.Early research efforts comparing CA with EMDR.60:01 – End | Closing Thoughts Future directions for CA and research.Teasers for upcoming podcast episodes.Encouragement for therapists to explore CA in their own practices.

    Episode 1: The Origin Story of CA
  • 7 Episodes

About

The Constructed Awareness Podcast explores the principles of Constructed Awareness (CA) and how they apply to therapy, personal growth, and everyday life. Hosted by CA founder, Tyler Orr, this podcast delves into topics like mindfulness-based and trauma-informed therapy. Whether you're a CA-trained therapist or simply curious about deepening your self-awareness, each episode offers practical insights and thought-provoking discussions to deepen your understanding of the CA model.

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