Healing and Growing, Hand in Hand

Why do trauma survivors feel so disconnected from their emotions, needs, and inner alarms—and how do we start rebuilding trust with our own body? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, educator and founder of RE/ACT Tim Fletcher explores how complex trauma shuts down healthy internal systems like intuition, hunger, empathy, and emotional awareness. He explains why this shutdown happens as a su...

Can you really unlearn insecure attachment? Yes—and it starts with awareness, curiosity, and baby steps. In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, certified attachment specialist Bev Mitelman, M.A. returns to unpack one of the most common questions in trauma healing: “Why do I keep repeating the same patterns in relationships?” Bev walks us through: - What makes insecure attachment so hard to unl...

Why does silence feel like abandonment—even when I was the one who chose no contact? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, Dr. Nadine Macaluso (Dr. Nae)—somatic psychotherapist and trauma bond expert—helps us understand the painful contradiction of going no contact with a toxic partner but still feeling pulled toward them. She explains the neurobiological addiction created by trauma bonds, th...

“Why do I keep ending up with people who hurt me?” In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, trauma educator Tim Fletcher breaks down the real reasons survivors unconsciously recreate cycles of abuse—and how to finally break free. You’ll learn: - How childhood trauma programs us to seek out unsafe people - Why emotionally unavailable relationships feel “normal” - What abandonment wounds do to our...

Why does emotional or physical intimacy feel so hard after trauma? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, UK-based counseling psychologist Dr. Tammy Oluyori explains why survivors of childhood trauma often find intimacy overwhelming, confusing, or even scary—and what it actually takes to begin healing. You’ll learn: - How trauma lives in the body—not just the mind - Why trust and safety are pr...

Why do we cling to old patterns in relationships—even when they hurt us? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, certified attachment specialist Bev Mitelman, M.A. joins usl to unpack how inner child work and attachment theory intersect to help us break free from insecure attachment styles. You’ll learn: - What inner child work really is (and isn’t) - Why insecure attachment forms in childhood—...

Ever wonder what to do with your emotions if you stop coping through food? In this powerful episode of Experts Explain Trauma, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Neukam-Helms shares answers to one of the most common (and overwhelming) questions in binge and emotional eating recovery: If I stop eating this way… then what? You’ll learn: - Why taking food away as a coping tool can actually ba...

“Why do I still miss them—even after everything they did to me?” If you’ve asked yourself this, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, Dr. Nadine Macaluso (a.k.a. Dr. Nae, real-life inspiration for Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street) unpacks the neurobiological roots of trauma bonds—and why survivors often long for their abuser, even after leaving. You’ll l...

Why do we turn to food when we’re stressed, sad, or overwhelmed? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, licensed clinical psychologist and binge eating recovery expert Dr. Jessica Neukam-Helms breaks down the psychological and biological reasons food becomes a source of comfort—especially for those with trauma histories. We explore: - Why food is tied to safety in early childhood - How trauma...

In this episode, trauma expert Tim Fletcher breaks down one of the most misunderstood emotions in trauma recovery: anger. If you've ever wondered why you’re either always angry—or never angry at all—this conversation is for you. We explore: - Why many trauma survivors see anger as dangerous - The 4 hidden ways suppressed anger shows up (even if you “don’t feel angry”) - How chronic cortisol bu...

Can you really rewire your brain for healthier relationships and secure attachment? In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, Lisa Tickel sits down with Certified Attachment Practitioner Bev Mitelman, M.A., founder of Securely Loved, to explore daily practices that help shift internal narratives and heal attachment wounds. Bev shares a powerful and accessible exercise called auto-suggestion—a met...

In this episode of Experts Explain Trauma, Lisa sits down with trauma expert Dr. Nadine Macaluso to unpack a question so many survivors silently ask: “Why do I stay with someone who hurts me over and over again?” Dr. Nadine breaks down: - What a trauma bond is (and how it keeps you stuck) - Why intermittent reinforcement creates powerful emotional confusion - The real cost of holding on to “hope”...

In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist and psychologist Dr. Jessica Neukam-Helms joins Lisa Tickel to explore the deep connection between trauma, survival mode, and binge eating. Dr. Jessica answers one of the most important questions trauma survivors ask: "Why do I keep reaching for food even when I’m not hungry?" Together, they unpack: - What survival mode actually looks like...

Have you ever felt like you need others to approve of you to feel worthy or loved? You’re not alone. In this week’s Experts Explain episode, trauma recovery expert Tim Fletcher breaks down how complex trauma—especially in childhood—rewires the brain to confuse validation with love, and why so many trauma survivors become stuck in cycles of people-pleasing, self-criticism, and external approval-see...

In this Experts Explain episode, trauma expert Dr. Tammy Oluyori unpacks one of the most confusing and painful questions many survivors ask: What if my abuser wasn’t always bad? Using real-life analogies and clinical insight, Dr. Tammy explores the impact of "hot and cold" abuse, especially in childhood and caregiver relationships. She explains how inconsistency, confusion, and emotional...

In this episode of our Experts Explain series, trauma-informed therapist Bev Mitelman, M.A., breaks down the signs of insecure attachment styles and how they show up in relationships. If you've ever found yourself feeling too needy, constantly pushing people away, or stuck in the same relationship patterns again and again, this episode is for you. We explore: - Common behaviors linked to anxio...

What’s really going on when you feel out of control around food? This week’s Experts Explain Series features Dr. Jessica Neukam-Helms, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of The Finding Food & Body Freedom Formula. After healing from binge eating herself, she now helps women across the country break free from food guilt and obsessive cycles—without relying on willpower. In this conversa...

In this video, Dr. Tammy discusses the complexities of sharing trauma with friends or partners. Dr. Tammy provides insights on how to communicate needs effectively, ensuring that the person receiving the disclosure is trustworthy and supportive. The discussion highlights the emotional challenges that come with sharing trauma and the necessity of self-care throughout the process. About Dr. Tammy Ol...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ What if sitting face-to-face with the person who murdered your family could actually heal you instead of destroy you? Discover why traditional court systems fail victims by turning them into witnesses to their own crimes and how restorative justice gives back the voice, agency and healing that punishment alone cannot...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ What happens when the very institutions meant to guide your spiritual journey become sources of deep trauma? Former Buddhist nun Amma Thanasanti shares her journey of spending nearly three decades in monasteries, only to discover she was trapped in a system that used sacred teachings to justify harmful patriarchal st...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ Think you can spot narcissistic abuse? Think again. This conversation with Dr. Deborah Dantzler reveals the hidden "death by a thousand paper cuts" that survivors endure and why understanding antagonistic relational stress changes everything. Discover why only 6-7% of people actually qualify for narcissisti...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ Sexual intimacy after trauma is one of the most challenging yet rarely discussed aspects of healing. In this vulnerable conversation, sex and intimacy coach Xanet Pailet shares how sexual shame from childhood experiences can create a lifelong blueprint that affects adult relationships. In this episode: - How early se...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ When trauma survivor Heidi Yewman decided to carry a gun for a month to understand her opponents in gun violence prevention, she discovered something unexpected about fear, paranoia, and the hidden costs of self-protection. In this deeply insightful conversation, Heidi shares how her journey from childhood abuse to t...

JOIN THE WOMEN’S HEALING COMMUNITY HERE: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ What happens when a successful chiropractor becomes physically abusive and has to confront the darkest parts of himself? Dr. Nima Rahmany shares his story of transformation from toxic relationship patterns to becoming "trigger-proof" in his current marriage. This conversation tackles the uncomfortable reali...

Join our Women's Healing Community here: https://womenshealingcommunity.carrd.co/ When traditional therapy leaves you feeling stuck, holistic healing offers a different path forward. Dr. Cristina Louk, Clinical Director of Peace Humanistic Therapy, shares how addressing your body, mind, energy and spirit together can unlock breakthrough healing that single-modality approaches often miss. This...