Close the Chapter Podcast with Kristen Boice

In this episode, Kristen sits down with Dr. Jeff Norman, an author, speaker, and laughter therapy advocate, to explore how laughter and playfulness can help people navigate grief, anxiety, and trauma while reconnecting with joy, emotional healing, and deeper relationships. You'll Learn How laughter can help lighten the emotional weight of grief, anxiety, and trauma. Simple ways to bring more laugh...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by Dr. Anthony Mazzella, a psychoanalyst and psychotherapist specializing in narcissism and personality disorders, to examine the different faces of narcissism, the deeper struggles behind these patterns, and their impact on relationships.  You'll Learn The differences between grandiose, vulnerable, and malignant narcissism. How childhood experiences and shame co...

In this episode, Kristen Boice talks with Evelyn Tribole, MS, RDN, about intuitive eating, breaking free from diet culture, and building a healthier relationship with food and your body. You will learn: How intuitive eating can help you break free from restrictive diets and food rules. How to recognize and trust your body's hunger and fullness cues. Why making peace with food is an important part...

In this episode, Kristen explores nervous system regulation with Lynn Fraser, examining how trauma and chronic stress affect the body and how somatic mindfulness can help us move out of survival mode and reconnect with ourselves. You will learn: How your nervous system responds to stress and trauma and why you may feel stuck in survival mode. How to recognize the physical signs of anxiety and nerv...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by Dr. Daniel Lobel, author and internationally recognized expert on the diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder (BPD), to explore how BPD can affect relationships and how loved ones can move beyond walking on eggshells.   You will learn: What borderline personality disorder (BPD) can look like in close relationships. Why fear of abandonment ca...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by meditation and breathwork teacher Andrew Keaveney to explore how breathwork and meditation can quiet the mind, release stored tension, and reconnect you with greater peace and joy. You will learn: How breathwork can help quiet an overactive mind Why fighting your thoughts can make them feel even louder How stress and past experiences can show up in the breath...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with author and creative guide Jacob Nordby to explore how creativity can become a pathway to healing, self-discovery, and greater emotional well-being. Together, they discuss why so many people feel disconnected from their creativity, how shame and fear of judgment can block self-expression, and how practices like journaling can help us reconnect with who we rea...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by Dr. Judith Swack, PhD, a master NLP practitioner, mind-body healer, and bestselling author, to explore how trauma and phobias can become stuck in the body, along with her Healing from Body Level Up methodology and four-step process for releasing them.     You'll Learn: How trauma can create recurring emotional and physical patterns in the body How phobias can...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with Dr. Fred Moss, a recovering psychiatrist, speaker, and author, to explore how mental health diagnoses and medication shape the way we approach healing and the role human connection plays in the healing process.   You'll Learn: Why mental health diagnoses can become part of a person's identity Dr. Moss's perspective on medication in mental health treatment Th...

In this episode, Kristen explores three steps to help listeners work through anxiety, guilt, and shame while creating meaningful change through deeper self-awareness and healing. You'll Learn: How to process and connect with your core emotions. Why acknowledging your feelings is essential for healing. How the PAP method works. Why jumping into problem-solving can disrupt someone's emotional proces...

In this episode, Kristen talks with Amber Trejo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in complex trauma and CPTSD, about how complex childhood trauma can resurface in adult relationships and parenting, shaping attachment, emotional responses, and the healing journey. You'll Learn: How childhood trauma can shape adult relationships and attachment Why trauma responses can resurface...

In this episode, Kristen continues her conversation with former second-generation cult member and author Chris Shelton as he shares the emotional aftermath of leaving a high-control group, exposing the lasting effects of coercive control, trauma, and the difficult process of rebuilding his life. You'll Learn: Why leaving a cult is only the beginning of the healing process. How coercive control con...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by Chris Shelton, a former second-generation cult member and author, who shares how he broke free from decades of cult indoctrination, exposing the psychological tactics of coercive control and the long journey to reclaiming critical thinking and personal freedom.     You'll learn: How love bombing and emotional manipulation are used to recruit people into cults....

In this episode, Kristen is joined by returning guest Bronwyn Schweigerdt, therapist and anger specialist, to explore how shame shapes our anger, relationships, and sense of self, and what it takes to break free from unhealthy patterns.   The difference between reactive anger and healthy anger, and how to recognize which one you're experiencing. How unresolved shame from childhood can impact your...

In this episode, Kristen dives into the hidden roots of the inner critic with licensed professional counselor and motivational speaker Mary Beth Fox, exploring how early experiences influence the stories we tell ourselves and how healing begins.   You will learn: How to identify the voice behind your inner critic and uncover the childhood messages shaping your self-worth. Why childhood trauma and...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by author Andrew Newman to explore how reconnecting with your inner spark can help you heal from trauma, move beyond fear and perfectionism, while cultivating greater joy, self-worth, and authentic self-expression.   You will learn:  Why creativity is a powerful pathway for healing trauma, building self-worth, and reconnecting with your authentic self. How perfec...

In this episode, Kristen shares her conversation on Mental Health Monday with Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, Betsy Phillips, founder, and Courtney Hott, board member of St. Gianna's Families, about the challenges of balancing motherhood and work, navigating postpartum, and building the support every mom deserves.   You will learn: How to recognize the difference between mom guilt and shame, and w...

In this episode, Kristen shares a previous conversation from Mental Health Monday with Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, where they discuss how understanding and regulating the nervous system can help reduce stress, improve relationships, and build emotional resilience. You will learn: How your nervous system influences your thoughts, emotions, and reactions to stress. The differences between fight,...

In this episode, Kristen explores how the roles we adopt in our families can shape our relationships, self-worth, and emotional well-being, and shares how understanding these patterns can support healing and personal growth. You will learn: How family roles develop and influence your behavior. Why childhood patterns often carry into adult relationships. The hidden emotional impact of the roles we...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with therapist and anger specialist Bronwyn to explore the hidden role anger plays in emotional healing, self-advocacy, and personal freedom. You will learn: How anger is a universal emotion and can serve as a healthy guide that helps identify unmet needs, boundaries, and personal values. The difference between healthy anger and reactive anger . How suppressed or...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with Deb Dana , a clinician, author, and international lecturer, to explore how understanding your nervous system can help you move from anxiety, overwhelm, and shutdown into greater regulation, connection, and healing.   You will learn: How to recognize when your nervous system is in fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown mode What "neuroception" is and how your bod...

In this episode, Kristen is joined by Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith, trained relationship specialists, speakers, and authors, to discuss betrayal trauma, sexual addiction, and the healing journey of rebuilding trust, emotional safety, and true intimacy after betrayal. You will learn: How betrayal trauma affects the brain, body, and sense of safety Why secrecy and dishonesty often create deeper woun...

In this episode, Kristen explores what emotionally intelligent families do differently and how those patterns help shape emotionally safe adults and healthier relationships.  You will learn: How family communication shapes emotionally safe adults and future relationships The signs of emotionally healthy vs. emotionally unhealthy family systems Why emotional safety, vulnerability, and repair are es...

In this episode, Kristen shares a powerful conversation with Rachel Hall, LMHC, about working through fear and shame, especially during uncertain and emotionally overwhelming seasons.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with trauma therapist and author Yolanda Renteria to explore the deep connection between attachment and attunement, and how they shape every relationship in your life. You will learn: What attachment and attunement really mean, and why they matter in everyday relationships The four attachment styles and how they shape your patterns Why you repeat relationship dyn...