Trauma Intersections

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, Courtney Copeland sits down with licensed clinical social worker and certified EMDR therapist Liz Gray to explore infertility, birth trauma, postpartum depression, trauma-informed healthcare, and patient advocacy. Liz shares both her professional perspective and her personal experience as a trauma survivor navigating fertility treatment and motherhood. Toge...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, host Courtney speaks with mental health therapist, author, and keynote speaker Edison A. Jaquez about the intersection of trauma, mental health, and substance use. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the United States, Edison shares how growing up surrounded by trauma shaped his journey and his passion for helping others overcome adversity. They di...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, Courtney Copeland sits down with Lizzie Langston to explore CPTSD, complex trauma, nervous system regulation, emotional flashbacks, parts work, inner child healing, and identity rebirth. Lizzie shares how her own healing journey challenged the identity she had built and led her to understand what she calls the "sacred art of coming undone"—allowing an old v...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney Copeland speaks with integrative health practitioner and trauma-sensitive yoga teacher Annie Vinje. Annie shares how cumulative experiences — from body shaming to harassment — taught her, like many women, that her body wasn't a safe place. She discusses the mind-body disconnect common among high-achieving women and offers simple grounding te...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney interview s Janel Donohue,  founder of J. Donohue Leadership and Consulting. Janel shares how 2024 brought multiple traumatic events: her son's injury, a devastating fire destroying their family store, resigning from a 25-year nonprofit career, and her brother's unexpected death. She discusses how faith, therapy, grounding techniques, and po...

In this episode of the Trauma Intersections podcast, host Courtney offers listeners a preview of her upcoming class, "I Just Need a Minute." She guides the audience through a calming mindfulness exercise, including deep breathing techniques and a gentle body scan to identify areas of tension. Courtney encourages self-reflection, asking listeners to consider their needs, accomplishments, and healin...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney welcomes Dr. Diane Ortega, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Certified Nurse-Midwife, and mother of four. With nearly 20 years of experience as a midwife, Diane has built three birth centers from scratch while single-parenting through divorce. After those centers closed, she created her own framework for rebuilding identity and purpose in her fi...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, host Courtney welcomes entrepreneur Diane Prince, who shares her journey through success, trauma, and healing. Diane built a $50 million business, exited for $28 million, but later went bankrupt after her divorce. She discusses how Al-Anon transformed her life, helping her find peace, self-awareness, and kindness. Diane also opens up about shame, adoption t...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney speaks with Bob, a 20-year law enforcement veteran from southeastern Virginia. Bob shares how trauma has been a constant presence throughout his career, from critical incidents to officer-involved shootings. He discusses the cultural stigma around mental health in policing, the "warrior mindset," and his personal struggle with self-medicatio...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, host Courtney Copeland interviews her longtime friend Mariangela Saavedra, a theater professional and older adult activity coordinator from Philadelphia living with multiple sclerosis and uterine cancer. Mariangela shares her difficult journey through misdiagnosis, medical trauma, and back-to-back health crises. She discusses the emotional toll of chronic i...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney speaks with Addie MacDonald — Reiki master, embodiment coach, and poet — about her profound healing journey. Addie shares how her father's terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and living in a mold-infested home pushed her toward burnout. Discovering Reiki became a turning point, helping her reconnect with her body and...

In this episode of  Trauma Intersections , host Courtney explores why trauma memories are often fragmented or absent. She explains how extreme stress disrupts normal brain function, causing sensory details to be stored separately and resurface as triggers. Using real examples, including police officers experiencing sensory flashbacks, she illustrates how trauma lives in the body. Courtney outlines...

In this episode of the Trauma Intersections podcast, host Courtney walks listeners through the 54321 grounding technique, a practical tool for managing feelings of overwhelm or anxiety. The exercise involves identifying five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can feel, two you can smell, and one you can taste, helping bring you back to the present moment. Courtney guides listeners st...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections, host Courtney speaks with Laura Richards, a podcaster, speaker, author, and coach dedicated to empowering women in midlife as they heal from relationships with the "nice" guy. Through her global podcast, That's Where I'm At, and her bestselling book, Married to a "Nice" Guy: Getting Over Narcissistic Abuse, Laura shares her personal journey of recovery afte...

In this episode, Courtney, host of  Trauma Intersections , leads listeners through a gentle body scan meditation designed to help them connect with physical sensations linked to trauma. She creates a warm, judgment-free space where all emotions are welcomed. Guiding listeners from head to toe, Courtney encourages mindful awareness of tension or discomfort, followed by a soothing healing wave visua...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections , host Courtney speaks with Holly Million, a professional shaman, artist, herbal medicine maker, founder of Soul Arts Workshop, and micro-homesteader. With more than 11 years of experience providing shamanic healing support to clients across the United States and Canada, Holly has dedicated her life to helping others transform trauma and reconnect with their...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections , host Courtney Copeland opens up about grief, sharing her personal losses between 2020 and 2024, including her mother, father, and two beloved dogs. She explores the non-linear stages of grief, the complexity of mourning difficult relationships, and the challenge of grieving while managing daily responsibilities. Courtney emphasizes the importance of having...

In this episode of Trauma Intersections , host Courtney speaks with April Childers, a Navy veteran, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and founder of HER Bougie Travel and the Middle Tennessee Veterans Coalition. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Navy as an electronics technician, April carried the lessons of resilience, leadership, and perseverance into a mission of helping others create meaningful...

In the debut episode of Trauma Intersections , host Courtney introduces herself as a trauma counselor and shares her personal healing journey, including a painful breakup, job loss, and a mental health crisis that led to inpatient care. Frustrated by a broken mental health system, she pursued a Master's in Human Services Counseling and multiple certifications. Courtney emphasizes that trauma inter...

In this introductory trailer, Courtney Copeland welcomes you to  Trauma Intersections —a space for honest conversations, real stories, and meaningful healing. As a counselor, integrative healer, and self-described "trauma bestie," Courtney explores the many ways people navigate life's most difficult intersections. Through conversations with survivors, healers, and everyday people, this podcast shi...