From Pain To Power

Pleun Elsa Andriessen is a graduate of the 2022 Menstrual Cycle Coaching and Facilitation Professional Training . She now runs the Bloody Practical menstrual education and coaching platform, and has an extensive background of facilitation and learning design consultancy in the human rights space. Pleun joins us today to speak with me about her vast professional work experience as a facilitator, he...

Today I chat with you about navigating disappointment and how when we learn to befriend it, it can be easier to be with. Often we avoid taking risks if life in order to protect ourselves from disappointment. Here I talk you through some mindset tips to get better at being with disappointment so that you can go after the things you want in your life.  Work with Lisa: Apply for 1:1 Coaching with Lis...

Do you take time to celebrate yourself? The small wins? The big wins? The small steps towards progress in something? In this episode I reflect on what celebrating ourselves can look like and why it's so important to do.  Last week during a supervision session for my work, I realised how important and helpful it is to celebrate how far we've come.  Tune in to hear my story! What does celebration me...

In this episode I chat about something that is not talked about much in the wellness and trauma space – the healthy fight/flight response. There is so much focus on calming, soothing, and down-regulating the nervous system, but it's also really important to have safe access to our healthy fight/flight energy. In this conversation I discuss: - What is the fight/flight response - Why they fight/flig...

In this episode, I share with you my own personal relationship with driving and why I have had my challenges with it as a result of trauma. I also discuss how there seems to be a lot more aggression in society since the pandemic, and how to mind ourselves when we are navigating systems and cultures elements of life we cannot avoid e.g. driving. Enjoy! Virtual Assistant Job Advert: Click here to do...

I've officially completed one whole year of the From Pain To Power Podcast! In this episode on my reflections from the creative year it's been. We chat about: Why I started the podcast The unfolding creative journey Commitment and what that really means Choosing a form of marketing  Being with discomfort My ups and downs with the podcast Imperfection  Reflecting on our disappointments Celebrations...

In this episode as part of the Cyclical Business Series, we explore the common barrier to creativity and business which is "looking for approval" from family or friends. I explain to you exactly why it happens and how we can  free ourselves from this pressure so we can finally focus on what it is you are here to create!  We discussed: Why saying "you don't need approval is not helpful Understandin...

In this episode I get to chat to naturopath and herbalist Siobhán Carroll who is based in Co. Clare, Ireland. Siobhan has a clinic treating her clients through naturopathy and herbs. We talked about all things healthy eating and herbs for hormonal health and period problems. We chatted about: Siobhan's journey as a naturopath and herbalist Period pain and PMS Diet for period problems Going gluten...

In this episode, we chat about what "regulation" means exactly when it comes to your nervous system, and how to have more of it in your body and emotional life.  When we have more access to the rest and digest, or the ventral vagal part of the nervous system, we are able to regulate ourselves more frequently. So, regulating the nervous system is about working on our capacity with difficult feeling...

In this episode I go into more detail on the nervous system and the Polyvagal Theory. We chat about the fight/flight response, the freeze response, trauma, and regulating your nervous system when you feel stuck.  Join us to learn more about your nervous system, understand what is happening and why it's important to know how to come out of the hijacked trauma responses for long-term health The topi...

In this episode, I share a personal update from my life at the moment in relation to making difficult decisions. We reflect on our past difficult decisions, what decisions we might be facing today in the present, and why they are sometimes so important to make for our wellbeing. Episode mentioned: Reclaiming Our Relationship With Sport And Movement Enjoy! Work with Lisa: Sign up for the next Menst...

I've decided to launch one episode a month on running a "cyclical business." Running a cyclical business aims to integrate the values of inclusion, self-care, feminism, menstrual cycle awareness, and anti-oppressive values into the ways we do business and marketing. You can be a coach, healer, therapist, etc. AND be a great business owner! In this month's Cyclical Business Episode , we explore the...

In this episode, I chat with you all about what role trauma plays in chronic pain. I explore different types of traumas, what happens in the body and how to start thinking about trauma healing work in your body. Learn about the fight/flight response and why trauma causes inflammation in the body.  Listen to the previous 2 episodes on trauma: - Episode 43: What Is Trauma? - Episode 44: Trauma And T...

"What can I do to shift my nervous system, so that these critical thoughts aren't there all the time?" In this episode, which is a follow-on from episode 43, I explore the mind-body connection when it comes to trauma. We chat about coming back into the body, what role the mind also plays, why our thoughts are still important alongside our feelings. I explain what happens, not just in the body on t...

In this episode we chat about what trauma is, how it impacts us, why it's important to be trauma-informed in the women's health space, how I work with it, and more! We explore what happens in the body and the somatic experience when trauma is present, and the relationship between female sex hormones and trauma physiology. I also explain why I decided to study trauma, and trauma-informed therapeuti...

In this episode I share some personal reflections on my last week. I had my work featured in the mainstream media here in Ireland which also included a radio interview. I share about my experience, about getting nervous, and why it's important to move slowly out of your comfort zone. You can read the media interviews here . I also have a workshop coming up at the end of this month if you'd like to...

In this episode, I chat with a former client of mine and graduate of the Menstrual Cycle Coaching and Facilitation Professional Training, Jennifer Van Uffelen. We chatted about: Jennifer's coaching practice and her approach Her experience of the Menstrual Cycle Coaching Professional Training   Goals, results, and feelings Learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings Intellectualising v embodying Mo...

In this episode I share a personal update with my journey with endometriosis as I approach the end of the year. This is relevant for anyone with any kind of chronic pain condition, trauma, or PMDD. The topics disucssed: - My professional practice vs my personal journey - Uncertainty and no guarantees - Disappointments - Acceptance and presence - Responsibility and action - Spirituality - Being "we...

In this episode, we chat about what hidden loyalties are, how they play a role in our lives, and how we can uncover them? In episode 37, we spoke about how to plan our self-care for Christmas and the holiday season, and in that episode I mentioned that "hidden loyalties" can get in the way of our self-care. Tune into this episode to learn about this topic more deeply. Prompts to think about: - Whi...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of being joined by singer/songwriter and recording artist, Shannon Curtis, to speak about all things creativity, recovery, and personal power. Shannon has just launched her new album titled Good To Me  this December, which is inspired by her journey of healing and recovery in the 12-step programme Codependents Anonymous (CoDA). Her music and message in this albu...

In this episode, let's chat about how we can prepare our self-care for the holiday season and Christmas this December. What we discussed and what to consider when preparing our self-care: - Menstrual Cycle Awareness - Chronic pain - Preventing burnout and feeling resentful - What went well, what didn't go well, what could be better? - Loneliness, expectations, emotions, family dynamics - Our actua...

In this episode I explore the concepts of the Inner Wise Woman , the Cailleach , and the Jaguar as they pertain to Celtic and Shamanic wisdom traditions. In the Celtic wheel, which celebrates the different festivals around the seasons of the year, you meet your Inner Wise Woman energy in the dark time between Halloween ( Samhain ) and the Winter Solstice. From a psychosomatic perspective, this Cai...

In this episode, we chat about the role cosmetics and the beauty industry has on our hormonal health and on our relationship with ourselves. The cosmetics and beauty industry is a huge industry that plays a role in our every day lives. Having a relationship with cosmetics and beauty allows for us to feel empowered in our bodies and in ourselves. However, are we paying a price in terms of our hormo...

In this episode, I was delighted to be joined with a former client, peer, and co-founder of Move2B, Órna Murray. We dive deep into our relationship with sport, movement, and why it can be difficult to get started. Órna is the co-founder of the social enterprise Move2B with her sister Niamh. Move2B provides education and coaching for individuals and organisations to support young girls and women in...

In this episode I am joined with a dear listener of the podcast, Elizabeth Moreton, to talk about her journey with PMDD and how Menstrual Cycle Awareness helped her.  Liz had suffered with PMDD symptoms for many years. She struggled to navigate the medical system and get the adequate support she needed.  After years of searching, looking for answers and "doing all the right things," that didn't le...