Hey Tabi!

If you’ve ever wondered whether a relationship can truly heal after sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, or years of secrecy, this episode is for you. In this deeply honest conversation, Tabitha sits down with Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith , trained relationship specialists, authors of Building True Intimacy , and survivors of their own story of betrayal, addiction, and the long road of rebuilding tr...

What is good biblical counseling, really? And why is it so hard to find, especially if you’re a trauma survivor who's already been harmed by “just pray more” advice, sin-sniffing, or spiritual bypassing? In this week’s episode of Hey Tabi , Tabitha Westbrook (licensed trauma therapist, abuse expert, author of Body & Soul, Healed & Whole ) sits down with Jacque Escue , a Certified Bibl...

What if everything you’ve been taught about hope is backwards? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi , trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Jenny Bayless of Fuller Seminary to talk about why hope isn’t an outcome you chase, but an anchor you hold onto when life feels unbearably heavy. If you’ve ever felt betrayed by hope, overwhelmed by suffering, or exhausted by Christian clichés...

What if biblical counseling actually led to healing instead of shame? 👀 In this candid convo, worship leader–turned–biblical counselor Adam Westlake (The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane) joins Tabitha to unpack why much “sin-detective” counseling harms survivors—and what compassionate, trauma-informed, theologically rooted care really looks like. We get into: Why story work > quick fixes...

Parenting a “spicy” teen? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Greg Wilson, LPC-S and author of When Home Hurts, to talk about raising adolescents through trauma, grief, and chaos, without losing your mind (or your compassion). Together they unpack: 💥 Why your “ghost pepper” teen’s outbursts might actually be pain i...

Have you ever tried mindfulness and thought, “This just isn’t working—I can’t calm down”? You’re not broken. Your body is simply doing what it was designed to do: keep you safe. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook explores why mindfulness practice truly matters, especially for trauma survivors, people of faith, and anyone learning to live in the present after a...

Online trauma help online can be powerful, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know what to look for. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook, unpacks how to find good, trauma-informed help online that’s actually safe & how to spot red flags that could cause further harm. Many survivors of abuse or trauma seek online counseling, coaching, or groups for su...

When pastors teach on marriage, sex, or addiction but fail to mention abuse, survivors in the pews hear a dangerous message: stay, submit, and suffer silently. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook explains why silence from the pulpit enables harm and how pastors can bring truth, safety, and compassion into conversations about marriage, sexuality, and faith. You’...

Intensity isn’t always anger—but it can really help to know the difference! In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook unpacks how to tell the difference between healthy intensity, destructive anger, and trauma-driven reactions. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” or if someone’s passion feels like a threat, this conversation will help you understand what’s re...

Most therapists believe couples therapy helps struggling marriages—but here’s the shocking truth: up to half of couples seeking counseling are experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control. If therapists miss it, they can actually arm the abuser with new tools to manipulate and harm their partner. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook explains: Why traditional...

Christian perspectives on physical intimacy often lack clarity, leaving many couples confused about what honors God in the bedroom - especially if one or both partners are survivors of harm. True intimacy begins with friendship and mutual respect, creating space for honest communication about desires, boundaries, and healing. In this episode we explore: What's permissible How technology has c...

Tabitha leads us through five powerful grounding exercises designed to help us slow down, reset our nervous systems, and find moments of peace during difficult times. The 5-4-3-2-1 exercise engages all five senses to bring our awareness back to the present moment Creating a detailed mental "peaceful place" where we can retreat when overwhelmed helps our bodies experience rest Visualizing...

Teen dating violence and emotional abuse isn’t just “puppy love gone wrong.” It’s a serious issue that affects 1 in 3 teens, often before they even graduate high school. And it rarely starts with bruises - it starts with control, pressure, manipulation, isolation, and fear. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook breaks down what teen coercive control really looks...

Ever tried to be kind to yourself only to be flooded with shame, grief, or anxiety? There's a name for this paradoxical reaction to self-compassion: backdraft. Like oxygen hitting smoldering embers in a closed room, self-compassion can sometimes trigger explosive emotions from unaddressed wounds that have been waiting for acknowledgment. Drawing from Kristen Neff's groundbreaking researc...

Trauma survivors often master compassion for everyone - except themselves. This creates a hidden cost to their healing journey. Self-compassion isn't self-indulgence but actually mirrors God's heart toward us and represents a crucial piece in trauma recovery. • Self-compassion consists of three parts, as stated by Kristin Neff: self-kindness vs. self-judgment, common humanity vs. isolati...

Are you quick to label someone a narcissist? This episode of Hey Tabi explores if the person hurting you displays signs of something even more dangerous. We'll cover dark psychology and challenge popular assumptions across the mental health spectrum as licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook dives deep into the concept of coercive control and why labeling a partner as a narcissist can mis...

Is male sexuality really just about lust—or have we been sold a lie? In this deeply vulnerable episode of Hey Tabi , licensed trauma therapist Sam Jolman joins Tabitha Westbrook to uncover the untold story of male sexuality, emotional connection, and healing . Together, they expose how purity culture, porn exposure, and spiritual distortion have warped men’s understanding of their own bodies and d...

What if your story of suffering isn’t disqualifying—but the very space where Jesus meets you? In this powerful and grace-soaked episode of Hey Tabi , I sit down with the one and only Elyse Fitzpatrick - author, counselor, and fierce advocate for the unloved and unseen. We dive deep into: Why the gospel is more than behavior modification How the church has mishandled women’s stories The truth about...

What does it really mean to be a "doer of the Word" like it says in the book of James? In this eye-opening episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Neil Schori, pastor, father, and Director of Church Partnerships at Called to Peace Ministries, to tackle how being doers of the Word should make churches look. Together, they unpack James 1:22-27 and ch...

What if the marriage advice you were taught in church is actually what's ruining your marriage? In this powerful and data-backed conversation, author and researcher Sheila Wray Gregoire joins Tabitha to unpack the myths evangelical culture has fed us about sex, submission, and "roles" in marriage and how those messages have led to entitlement, emotional immaturity, and deep harm for...

What if the sweetest thing someone ever did for you… was actually part of the abuse? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi , licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook dives deep into the tactic of manipulative kindness, a dangerous, confusing form of coercive control that keeps victims stuck in toxic relationships. This isn’t the “honeymoon phase.” It’s not real love. It’s a weapon dressed up as...

What if the church's problem isn't ignoring sex, but being obsessed with it in all the wrong ways? Does the Church really function like a sex addict? This provocative question frames our exploration into how evangelical Christianity's approach to sexuality has created environments where abuse thrives and healthy intimacy struggles to exist. The fingerprints of this unhealthy fixatio...

What if what you were taught about God isn't what God actually wanted you to believe? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi , licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook dives deep into what happens when our theology has been shaped by fear, shame, spiritual abuse, or coercive control. If you've ever questioned your faith because of how it was used against you, this episode offers permiss...

Did King David commit adultery—or was it something much darker? In this deeply important episode of Hey Tabi , licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook examines the true story of David and Bathsheba. Spoiler: It’s not the sanitized ‘affair’ we’ve often been told. It’s a story of power, coercion, and sexual violence—rape by a man in power. Join us as we read 2 Samuel 11 in its entirety, challeng...

Is healing from trauma ever really “finished?" In this compelling episode of Hey Tabi , trauma therapist and host Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Chuck DeGroat—therapist, pastor, and author of "Healing What’s Within" —to unpack the long journey of trauma recovery, especially in faith-based spaces. Together, they explore: What it means when trauma lingers for decades Why “gettin...