logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
43m 20s

How Is Trauma Dumping Affecting My Relat...

Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness
About this episode

This week, JVN sits down with existential psychotherapist and author Dr. Sara Kuburic, widely recognized as the @Millennial.Therapist in Instagram, to delve into the phenomenon of "trauma dumping." We’re exploring the nuances between sharing personal experiences and overloading others with unsolicited trauma narratives. Dr. Kuburic sheds light on the psychological motivations behind trauma dumping, its impact on relationships, and how individuals can navigate these interactions with empathy and boundaries.


Dr. Sara Kuburic is an existential psychotherapist, consultant, writer, and former USA Today columnist, known for her popular Instagram account, @millennial.therapist, where she shares insights on mental health and self-discovery. Born in Yugoslavia and raised in Canada, Dr. Kuburic completed her doctorate in psychotherapy science at Sigmund Freud University in Vienna. Her diverse background and personal experiences living through wars have fueled her passion for helping others live authentic, meaningful lives. In her new book, "It's On Me," she guides readers toward self-awareness, self loss, and finding out who they truly are.


You can find Dr. Sara Kuburic on Instagram @millennial.therapist


Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.


Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.


Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn.


Our senior producer is Chris McClure. Our editor & engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.


Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.


Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com


Go to nordvpn.com/jvn with our link, you’ll get an extra 4 months free on the 2-year plan and it’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
Why Menopause is Political with Tamsen Fadal
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn What actually happens during menopause—and why aren’t we talking about it more? This week, JVN is joined by Emmy-winning journalist, author, menopaus ... Show More
50m 3s
Jul 14
Final Season of Queer Eye, Texas Floods, JoJo Siwa’s “Bette Davis Eyes”
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn This week on The Monday Edit: the Texas floods, JoJo Siwa’s “Bette Davis Eyes,” the great prison conception, summer travel recommendations, and the f ... Show More
35m 56s
Jul 9
Are You Trapped In High-Functioning Depression? with Dr. Judith Joseph
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn JVN is joined by the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, to explore high-functioning depression — what it is, ... Show More
52m 23s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Cognitive Bypassing, Traumatic Experiences, and Managing Triggers with Simone Saunders
Forrest dives into cognitive bypassing - a common strategy many of us use to avoid feeling difficult emotions - with trauma therapist Simone Saunders. Simone and Forrest discuss the connection between cognitive bypassing and trauma before exploring somatic tools that can help us ... Show More
1h 8m
Feb 2024
418: Childhood Trauma - Understanding The Problem + Solutions With Dr. Marc Hauser
In this episode of Therapy Chat, host Laura interviews Dr. Marc Hauser about his book 'Vulnerable Minds: The Harm of Trauma and the Hope of Resilience'. The conversation explores childhood trauma, resilience, and the healing process. Marc Hauser shares his background in cognitive ... Show More
1h 9m
Jan 2025
Family Estrangement, Spiritual Harm & the Ethics of AI in Therapy with Matthias Barker (255)
Hello 2025! Kicking off the year exploring family estrangement, AI in therapy & much more… Ann and Sue interview psychotherapist Matthias Barker, unpacking how he uses his platform of 11 million + to deliver mental health care responsibly.  They explore the complexities of parent ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2023
412: Broken Trust: The Impact Of Betrayal Trauma + How EMDR Can Help With Marcken Volmy LMHC, NCC
Welcome back to Therapy Chat. This week I interviewed author, EMDR-Certified therapist and Consultant In Training Marcken Volmy, LMHC about how EMDR can help with betrayal trauma and the impact of broken trust. We explored how betrayal by trusted figures and institutions can shat ... Show More
37m 31s
Feb 2025
471: Coming Together After Trauma – With Dr. Thomas Hubl
Welcome back to Therapy Chat! Today I'm bringing you a replay episode with Dr. Thomas Hübl. We talked about his work over more than 2 decades working with groups of survivors of war, oppression, genocide and other collective traumas about how healing happens. This episode is part ... Show More
47m 1s
Dec 2024
The Power of Acceptance & Commitment (ACT Therapy) with Dr. Diana Hill (252)
Transform conflict into connection with ACT Dr. Diana Hill and co-host Dr. Ann Kelley explore the power of process-based therapy to improve relationships and wellbeing. Through various methods like the 6 principles of ACT, the understanding of values, and the family body analogy, ... Show More
1h 1m
Jul 2024
Discover Your Origin Story: How These 5 Wounds Shape Your Relationships with Vienna Pharaon | EP 47
In this episode of Healing & Human Potential, we're exploring what your origin story is based on the top 5 wounds and unpacking how realizing yours can shift every aspect of your life.   Enjoy two psychotherapists who aren't holding anything back, give you all the secrets to buil ... Show More
1h 8m
Apr 2021
Cascading Constraints of Personality Development
This lecture is the first of two that address: Personality development, early life experiences, complex trauma, personality disorders, schemas, subpersonal, culture, unconscious, drives, affects, attachment, self and other distinctions, trust, empathy, attunement and more. Contac ... Show More
42m 41s
Sep 2024
Challenging Defenses: An Introduction to Experiential Dynamic Therapies (EDTS): (246)
Exploring the science behind the complex acronyms Sue Marriott and Ann Kelley discuss Experiential Dynamic Therapies (EDTs) with experts Margaret Martin and Dr. Deb Pollack. These therapies focus on recognizing and challenging defenses that lead to problems both internally and re ... Show More
55m 8s
Mar 2025
How To Heal Insecure Attachment With Julie Menanno
Joined by special guest, Julie Menanno, our hosts sit down to discuss how to heal insecure attachment by focusing on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and developing a secure relationship with oneself. She emphasizes that attachment wounds manifest through self-abandonment, w ... Show More
58m 57s