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What role does an interdisciplinary approach play in healing trauma and stress? How can medical systems unintentionally cause harm, and what can therapists do to help? Why do you become a better leader when you do your own work first?
In this podcast episode, Brandon Shurn speaks about treating medical trauma and stress with Dr. Christen Mullane.
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Meet Dr. Christen Mullane
Dr. Christen Mullane, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, certified meditation teacher, and the founder of Ginkgo Leaf Health Services. She specializes in trauma-informed therapy for individuals navigating the emotional toll of medical events—offering compassionate support to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike. With a practice grounded in empathy and evidence-based techniques, Dr. Mullane helps people reclaim safety, trust, and joy after medical stress and trauma.
She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee and has been practicing since 2012, bringing deep expertise in health psychology and medical trauma treatment. Her work through Ginkgo Leaf blends mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapies (for insomnia and chronic pain), and trauma-focused interventions like Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure. Her unique programs—such as the RISE group—offer healing through resilience-building, mindful coping, and intentional support.
Visit Ginko Leaf Health Services and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.
In This Podcast
- The meaning behind the name “Ginkgo Leaf” Health
- Benefits of an interdisciplinary mental health practice
- Treating medical trauma and stress
- Final takeaway for listeners
The meaning behind the name “Ginkgo Leaf” Health
Dr. Mullane knew that she didn’t want to name her private practice after herself because, at the time of launching her solo practice, she was open to the idea of growing and selling it one day.
She also knew that she wanted to hire people who might not work with her specific niche, and therefore, Dr. Mullane wanted to name the practice something that different mental health practitioners could work under.
So the name itself … Ginkgo trees are living fossils! And a Ginkgo leaf is good for memory, and so much of what we’re working with in trauma is about survivorship, you know, it’s about living through … And this tree has evolved and adapted for millennia, and we’re working with memory! And cognition … so yeah, it seemed like a beautiful symbol for the kind of work that we’re doing. (Dr. Christen Mullane)
Benefits of an interdisciplinary mental health practice
Christen has been excited about building a practice that offers more than traditional mental health support, as well as different physical and mental wellness options for their clients.
For example, Ginkgo Leaf Health will offer additional services such as yoga, which is also a great, gentle doorway for nervous clients to get used to attending their classes to get comfortable with the idea of attending therapy sessions too.
There’s this idea that I love of catching somebody in a yoga space and opening them up to a mental health approach. Where we need to operate as business owners is in the Venn diagram space, where what’s good for patients is also good for the business. That place of beautiful overlap is such a sweet spot! If a person can come in, there’s no wrong door, even if they want to start with yoga. (Dr. Christen Mullane)
Treating medical trauma and stress
Medical trauma is a broad term, and there’s also medical PTSD … We see medical PTSD arise from ICU stays, for example. It’s not always in those acute care settings; it can even happen after a primary care visit or a standard medical procedure when enough medical stuff has just stacked that now [the client] tips into having clinical distress. (Dr. Christen Mullane)
Medical trauma is trauma that arises from interacting with medical systems.
So much of what people are socialized to believe is that medical systems are what we go to for healing, but if those systems are not set up well or with the client in mind, they can unintentionally cause harm.
Training staff on medical stress
As of 2025, Dr. Mullane’s business is now a group private practice! And hiring her staff is an opportunity for her to expand the practice’s reach within the community to serve and help their ideal clients.
Additionally, Dr. Mullane offers training to her staff about how to help their clients with medical stress and trauma.
In growing her practice and stepping into a leadership role, Dr. Mullane also encourages listeners to go slowly and evaluate their progress rather than jumping too far forward too quickly in their businesses.
If we scale really rapidly, we’re going to scale our mistakes too. We don’t know what we don’t know at first, so that’s why it was important for me to go a little slower. (Dr. Christen Mullane)
Final takeaway for listeners
There is a beauty in being part of a collective, and also in doing your own work! These are also related, since you can show up better for the collective when you show up for yourself.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Dr. Christen Mullane – Medical Stress And Trauma: A Mindfulness-Based Approach To Reclaiming Safety And Empowerment
Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Visit Ginko Leaf Health Services and connect on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Check out these additional resources:
- Scaling with Soul: Designing a Practice That Reflects Your Value with Roni White | GP 289
- Practice of the Practice Network
- Group Practice Launch
- Group Practice Boss: www.practiceofthepractice.com/grouppracticeboss $149 a month
- PoP Group Practice Owners Facebook Group
- Free resources to help you start, grow, and scale
- Work with us
- Practice of the Practice Network
Meet Prof. Brandon Shurn
Brandon Shurn, Ph.D., LCPC, LMHC, AFC®, NCC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor and the founder of EmPower Me Holistic Counseling, a fully virtual Maryland-based practice. He’s also a full-time professor in Seattle University’s online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. With extensive experience launching and directing university training clinics, Brandon now focuses on helping therapists design and grow impactful, sustainable practices. Outside of his work, he enjoys fitness, yoga, Wing Chun, golf, reading, and spending time with his family and dogs.
Visit Empower Me Counseling, and connect with Brandon on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Email him at: [email protected]
