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.

Basic IPNB Concepts and Terms

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Interpersonal Neurobiology Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), also called Relational Neuroscience, is an interdisciplinary framework for understanding how our brains, bodies, relationships, and environments influence human development and well-being. IPNB looks at people in context. We develop through relationships, and our capacity … Continue reading →

Posted in Neurobiology | Tagged agency, attachment, autonomy, capacity, Coercion, consent, Context, Dan Siegel, De-Pathologizing, Differentiation, distress, dysregulation, Embodiment, Epistemic Injustice, homeostasis, Institutional Accountability, integration, Interpersonal Neurobilology, IPNB, IPNB terms, language, medicalization, Pacing, pendulation, power, Protective Response, Relational Neuroscience, repair, survival adaptation, titration, Trauma, window of tolerance | Leave a comment

Is Your Therapy Safe? 6 Questions to Ask a Potential Therapist

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Understanding Harm in the Mental Illness Industry A lot of people have been harmed in one-on-one therapy. Not just disappointed, but harmed. They have been gaslit, pathologized, controlled, dismissed, punitively misdiagnosed, and worse. That happens within a system built around … Continue reading →

Posted in Mental Health | Tagged abusive systems, CBT, cognitive therapy, connection, modalities, questions, safety, techniques, therapy | 2 Comments

Where Most Pain Books Go Wrong

Posted on September 11, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Even in otherwise groundbreaking or compassionate pain and trauma literature, it’s common for clinicians to bypass that many people with recurrent pain are still in danger or unsafety. Even when authors deeply understand the biology or psychology of pain, many … Continue reading →

Posted in pain | Leave a comment

You Don’t Heal Pain by Convincing Yourself That You’re Safe, but When Safety Becomes Real

Posted on September 10, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Many popular books on pain and trauma offer a version of hope: that the pain you live with doesn’t mean your body is broken; that your brain can change, your suffering can ease, and you’re not stuck. And they’re right, … Continue reading →

Posted in pain | Tagged Bessel van Der Kolk, chronic pain, pain, pain reprocessing, Peter Levine, recurrent pain | Leave a comment

Why Chronic Pain is So Exhausting

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

People often think of pain as something you should be able to push through if you’re determined enough. That isn’t how recurrent pain works. When my pain is high, it changes everything. My attention is pulled toward it because my … Continue reading →

Posted in pain | Tagged agency, choices, chronic pain, pain, recurrent pain, safety | Leave a comment

Don’t Walk Away From Your Feet: The Hidden Cost of Pushing Through Foot Pain

Posted on September 8, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

How often do you hear yourself or someone complain about their feet, only to follow it up with a shrug and a phrase like, “Well, I guess I’m just getting older,” or “I’ve been on my feet all day”? Our … Continue reading →

Posted in pain | Tagged arthritis, bone spurs, fallen mid-foot, feet, foot, foot pain, IPNB, neurobiology, plantar fasciitis, shoes, splayed toes, tight shoes | 4 Comments

Treating My CRPS and Becoming the Hunter Were the Same

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

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 →

Posted in pain | Tagged chronic pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, confrontation, CRPS, father, hunted, hunter, IPNB, pain, parents, recurrent pain, relationships | Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

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 →

Posted in pain | Tagged chronic pain, class, Education, Imogen Ragone, IPNB, neurobiology, online, pain, pain relief, pain reprocessing, recurrent pain, Relational Neuroscience, workshop | Leave a comment