Courageous Journeys® ~ Impact & healing from childhood trauma

Healing isn’t just about what we process within ourselves, it’s also about the spaces we exist in. When we feel safe, we can be vulnerable. We can share, reflect, and heal. And when that safety is disrupted it can affect us in ways we may not even realize, making it harder to trust, process, and move forward. In this video, I talk about how people and experiences around us impact our sense of safe...

Deeply Rooted: https://courageousjourneys.com/courses/deeply-rooted-a-guided-journal So many of us move through life disconnected from our bodies, especially those who’ve experienced interpersonal trauma. And, healing requires us to be able to be IN our bodies while feeling safe and grounded. This is such a significant part of the healing journey. But, how do you get there? Like everything on the...

For survivors of childhood trauma, a sense… a reality, of life being unfair and unjust isn’t a new concept…we lived it. But that deep understanding of injustice can often make the world feel even heavier when we see similar patterns play out on a larger scale. No matter where you are in the world, we all witness this in both small and much bigger, more impactful ways. And, I know many of you are f...

As a trauma therapist, I've witnessed many individuals get emotional and immediately apologize for expressing their feelings. Even in my own work, when I record videos to share something that I’m passionate about, there are moments I feel emotional too. This brings up an important question… when and how is it okay to share our emotions with others, especially with children. In this video, I ta...

There are many practices along the healing journey. Some are easier than others. There are some you may have a lot of resistance to. There may even be some that feel unnecessary or impossible. There is one that is the most significant and, unfortunately, can be the most challenging. You’ve likely heard me talk about it many times. It’s something that comes up over and over again in my individual w...

Have you ever looked at others succeed or experience something meaningful and thought, “I wouldn’t want that” or something similar? Have you ever wondered why? What if this isn’t just a passing, meaningless thought? This overlooked reaction can actually be a trauma response, especially for childhood trauma survivors, It’s a way to shield ourselves from the risks of rejection, shame, or failure. In...

Get the Meditation Album here: https://courageousjourneys.com/courses/connecting-within-meditations For many survivors of trauma, there can be a significant difference between being safe and actually feeling safe, the kind of ease that comes from feeling rooted in knowing you will be ok. That felt sense of safety can be so hard to find, and I know how overwhelming it can feel to even think about e...

Self-doubt has a way of silencing our intuition, leaving us questioning every choice we make. Have you ever felt the weight of ignoring that inner voice, only to face the consequences later? While you may have learned to ignore your inner knowing (intuition) or doubt what you know to be true or best for you, it’s never too late to reconnect and trust in what your body and heart always knows. In to...

For some, this time of year… the ending of one and beginning of another, can be a time that feels a bit daunting or disappointing. For others, it is a time of possibility. Or, maybe it’s a little of both with a few other feelings thrown in too. When you’re on a healing journey, there are often times that feel a little more disappointing or daunting. If you can relate, you’re not alone. However, fe...

Have you ever experienced a moment of success or happiness, only to be immediately overwhelmed by anxiety, self-doubt, or the fear that something bad is about to happen? In today’s video, I’ll talk about what it means to allow yourself to feel good after trauma, how to lean into those moments, and how they play a role in your healing process. We’ll dive into why connecting to your body in these mo...

ATTENTION - I’ll be holding a FREE Zoom Gathering for women survivors of childhood trauma on December 12th. Learn more and sign up here: https://courageousjourneys.com/f/december-gathering There are many themes that come up through the healing journey. Guilt is a big one. One that burrows deep inside yet has never been your guilt to carry. Today I am responding to a question about guilt around not...

ATTENTION - I’ll be holding a FREE Zoom Gathering for women survivors of childhood trauma on December 12th. Learn more and sign up here: https://courageousjourneys.com/f/december-gathering We’re coming into the holiday season which is often a time of stress and difficulty for survivors of childhood trauma. This year feels particularly challenging for a lot of people. This time of year often brings...

Healing from trauma isn’t just a mental journey; it’s a physical one, too. We all know the body remembers. 😉 We also carry tension, fear, or numbness in our bodies, often without realizing the extent of it. In this video, I’ll talk about the benefits of listening to your body as part of the healing journey, offering simple ways to make it feel safer and more comfortable to reconnect. Reconnecting...

It has been a week since the US election and many of us, especially trauma survivors, women, and marginalized communities, are feeling a variety of feelings, including betrayal and fear of what it means for the future. If this resonates, this video is for you. In this video, I share my struggle to maintain hope while acknowledging the very real grief and fear many of us are feeling. We'll discuss...

Does the thought of taking a rest day fill you with anxiety? Do you find yourself making excuses to avoid self-care, or feeling like you're being selfish when you do something nice for yourself? That knot in your stomach when you try to prioritize your own needs isn't random - it's a response rooted in trauma. Today, we're exploring why self-care can feel uncomfortable, scary, or even wrong for tr...

Link mentioned in video - https://1in6.org/ While trauma doesn't discriminate by gender, the way we talk about it often does. Today's video is a heartfelt message to all male survivors of sexual abuse who might feel isolated or unsure if healing spaces are meant for them too. I'm sharing important insights about male survivorship, addressing common concerns, and discussing resources specifically d...

Therapy is about healing, growth, and finding your voice. But what happens when that voice is telling you it's time for a change? And what if there is another voice telling you you’re wrong? In this video, we're tackling the challenging topic of ending a therapeutic relationship, both the desire/need and the how. I'll explain why it's okay (and important) to question if your therapy is working for...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  There is something we all experience that impacts more than just that moment in time. It can cause us to question ourselves, create guilt, and keep us in situations that aren’t healthy… sometimes even abusive. In today’s video, I’ll share an important distinction to consider as you practice recognizing and setting boundaries and honoring yourself through...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  Childhood trauma often intertwines with various mental health diagnoses. In today’s video, we’ll explore the relationship between healing trauma and addressing mental health diagnoses and symptoms. Some of the things I’ll go over are how trauma symptoms can mimic or overlap with other mental health conditions; the importance of addressing childhood wounds...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  Childhood trauma shapes the way we think in a lot of different ways. For years, I found myself stuck in thought patterns that weren't serving me well. It can be so hard to change these patterns, especially if you’ve been carrying them for a long time. And I know many of you can relate. If you've ever felt like your mind is working against you, or you're c...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  Staying the course of a trauma healing journey is often the most challenging aspect to navigate. This is especially true when you find that you’re thinking about things you haven’t thought about in a long time, or maybe didn’t remember at all and when you’re feeling things you’ve (mostly) successfully kept packed away. In this episode, I share how and why...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  Life can often feel like a rollercoaster, with ups and downs that leave us feeling shaken and uncertain. On those toughest days, it's easy to lose touch with our inner strength and sense of stability. In this episode, we'll explore a powerful practice to help you stay grounded and connected to your capacity to navigate this journey. Whether you&#3...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  There are so many things you’ve likely wondered about. Things about your experience, your struggle, how or why this or that happens, and maybe even about your therapist. Curiosity isn't just for knowledge—it can be a powerful tool for emotional recovery and building deeper connections. But, asking questions to help uncover all those things requires vu...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  There are a variety of things that make understanding, setting, and enforcing boundaries challenging. But, understanding this one thing can help you unlock your capacity for creating the healthy boundaries and relationships you desire and deserve. In this episode, I talk about the number one obstacle to setting boundaries. I explore how it manifests in di...

This episode originally aired on YouTube.  In this episode I share a personal story of the heartbreak and betrayal I experienced as a child coming back as a result of people around me rationalizing, minimizing, and excusing abusive behavior. I talk about the emotional trauma and the painful moments that forced me to confront the lies I was told and, even worse, the lies I told myself. You’ll hear...