The Constructed Awareness Podcast

Episode 1: The Origin Story of CA

Episode Summary

In this inaugural episode of The Constructed Awareness Podcast, host Tyler Orr, LPC, sits down with Stephanie Levin, LCMHC, to explore the origins of Constructed Awareness (CA). They discuss how CA emerged from Tyler’s experiences as an EMDR therapist, evolving into a distinct model grounded in mindfulness and awareness-based processing. Tyler shares how his clinical work and personal journey shaped CA’s core principles, leading to a flexible, nonviolent approach to trauma therapy. This conversation provides insight into CA’s foundations, offering a look at its development and its therapeutic philosophy.

Episode Notes

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.