Author Archives: Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

About Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Shay Seaborne CPTSD teaches Relational Neuroscience for stress reduction, trauma recovery, and community building. Shay has studied the neurobiology of fear / trauma /PTSD since 2014 and Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) since 2019. They write, speak, teach, and make art to convey their experiences as well as their understanding of the neurobiology of fear, trauma theory, Interpersonal Neurobiology concepts, and principles of trauma recovery. A native of Northern Virginia, Shay settled in Delaware to sail KALMAR NYCKEL, the state’s tall ship. But once they finally had mental health insurance, their life rapidly changed. The standard treatment for PTSD nearly killed them. The psychiatric abuse began a cascade of negative medical encounters that repeatedly caused additional harm and the development of severe Medical PTSD. Shay wishes everyone could recognize that "mental health problems" are symptoms of dysregulation, our mainstream culture is neuro-negative, and we can heal ourselves and each other through awareness, understanding, and safe connection.

Treating My CRPS and Becoming the Hunter Were the Same

For years I had CRPS in my feet and legs without knowing what it was. I wasn’t diagnosed until six years ago, but by 2016 it had become so severe that I cried when I walked. I also knew that … Continue reading →

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Understanding Recurrent Pain: Brain, Body, Environment, and Practical Skills

  Understanding Recurrent Pain: Brain, Body, Environment, and Practical Skills A new IPNB-informed online workshop presented by Imogen Ragone and Shay Seaborne, CPTSD Your pain is real. Understanding it is the first step in recovery.   Tuesday, September 15, 2026 … Continue reading →

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Characteristics of Integrated Relationships

An integrated relationship integrates the individual by creating conditions that allow internal processes to remain connected while being altered through interaction with another person who is doing the same. In an integrated relationship, both people stay in contact with their … Continue reading →

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The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Sleep

Sleep is one of the main ways the brain and body restore balance after the demands of the day. During sleep, the brain sorts and stores memories, processes emotional experiences, and clears away metabolic waste that builds up while we’re … Continue reading →

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Embodied, Safe, and Present: Qigong as Nervous System Support

I have been building a Qigong practice for about 18 months, and am impressed by the multiple benefits. Within weeks, I felt more freedom and less pain and tension across my upper body. Now, I find I am more present … Continue reading →

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Safety, Connection, Belonging, and Well-Being

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology perspective, safety, connection, belonging, and well-being are not separate experiences, but interdependent processes that continuously shape one another. Safety is the foundation. When our nervous system detects enough predictability, responsiveness, and choice, it becomes possible to … Continue reading →

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The Neurobiology of the “Busybody”

You have probably known a “busybody,” a person who constantly tells other people how to live. They can be annoying, intrusive, and hard to comprehend. But from a Relational Neuroscience perspective, they may have difficulty tolerating the reality that another … Continue reading →

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Facebook: When exploitation of Human Connection is the Business Model

Human beings evolved for connection. Throughout history and across cultures, our survival and well-being have depended on fundamental social needs: belonging, recognition, communication, and active participation in a community. Relational Neuroscience shows that our neural pathways, stress-response systems, and emotional … Continue reading →

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Games Therapists Play 

The pop psychology book, “Games People Play” was published in 1964. I remember reading it as a teenager in the 70’s. It described common relational patterns among people, like the “Yes, But” game, in which a person complains, another offers … Continue reading →

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Grief Moves When the Body Is Allowed: Trauma Integration and the Power of Witnessing 

I went into my craniosacral appointment without an agenda, not trying to make anything happen. I laid on the treatment table and my doctor cradled my head with his hands. Before long, I felt a huge wave of deep grief rise … Continue reading →

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