Thanks for Sharing

Rachel and I talk about why so many of us feel pressure to know what comes next, and how real change tends to happen without announcements. We explore how moves, family dynamics, and internal shifts quietly reorient us long before we name them. If you’re entering this year without goals or certainty, this conversation offers permission to slow down.  Listen now.  

As this year comes to a close, there’s pressure to reflect, resolve, and reset.  But not everything we live through gets neatly wrapped up.  In this episode, I talk about what it means to move forward without closure, why waiting for it can keep us stuck, and how grief, loss, and complicated family dynamics shape what we carry and what we lay down. This isn’t an episode about resolutions. It’s abo...

When one partner grows faster, it doesn’t mean the relationship is failing.   Uneven healing is one of the most painful dynamics couples face. One partner finds language, boundaries, and insight. The other is still trying to feel safe. This episode isn’t about who’s “ahead.” It’s about how healing actually unfolds, and how couples stay connected when growth isn’t synchronized. Because growth isn’t...

In this episode, we go into the identity shifts that happen in relational recovery, for betrayed partners, for CPTSD survivors, and for the partners who are healing from addiction or avoidance.   When recovery is real, identity shifts happen beneath the surface. And they can feel terrifying, confusing, and unfamiliar, even when they’re healthy     If you’ve ever felt your body tense even when your...

   Have you ever made a decision or taken a step in your healing that terrified you, only to realize later it was the best thing you've ever done? Today we’re talking about why healing so often feels uncomfortable, why your brain resists the exact things that help you grow, and how to tell the difference between the discomfort that sets you free and the discomfort that keeps you stuck.       In th...

Family roles aren't personality traits.  They are survival strategies.  In this episode, Jackie talks about how these roles form within the Child Self, the Adaptive Child Self, and the Functional Adult Self framework. And how healthy families do it differently.   If you grew up in a role you’re trying to outgrow, if you lose your Adult Self around family, and if you’re trying to break generational...

In this week’s episode, I explore how identity is built: the parts we inherit, the roles we perform to survive, the stories we are never allowed to tell, and the parts of us that only come alive when we finally feel safe.     If you’ve ever wondered why you feel the way you do… or why it’s so hard to change old patterns…this episode will help you understand your story with more compassion and clar...

Emotional pain isn’t random. It’s inherited, absorbed, reenacted, and carried on.  n this episode, we trace heartbreak, betrayal, childhood trauma, and addiction back to their emotional roots… and explore what it actually takes to heal the younger self still holding the pain.   Emotional pain is never “just emotional.” Your brain responds to heartbreak, betrayal, childhood wounds, and even addicti...

Not as a headline or scandal, but as a blueprint of how power preys on vulnerability… and how society lets it happen. This episode is not about conspiracy theories or sensational stories. It’s about trauma. It’s about power. Epstein wasn’t a scandal. He was a warning. This episode explores why society protects powerful men, why victims don’t “run,” and why girls were the currency of elite dominanc...

Accountability is one of the strongest predictors of emotional safety. In this episode, I reveal 8 evidence-based green flags that show someone is capable of healthy love — not just interested in it. These are the relational patterns that build safety → security → trust → love → shared meaning. You’ll also learn why saying “I love you” every night isn’t a sign of security—but respecting your pace...

 We love to say “We have good sex.” But what if what we’re calling good is actually trauma, anxiety, emotional distance, or porn conditioning disguised as intimacy? In this episode, I’m asking the uncomfortable question most couples avoid: “Is it really good sex—or just intense sex?”    Great orgasms don’t equal great intimacy. The real question isn’t “how often are you having sex?” but “do you fe...

We’re more “connected” than ever—yet lonelier than we’ve ever been.  Loneliness has become an epidemic. We’ve traded real community for scrolling, and honest connection for performative belonging. And it’s hitting young men the hardest.  In this week’s episode, Jackie unpacks the roots of loneliness, what it’s doing to our bodies and minds, and why vulnerability—not toughness—is the way out.  List...

In this episode of Thanks for Sharing, I explore what trauma bonding really is, how it forms, and why it’s so difficult to break free. We’ll discuss the psychology behind it, the subtle ways it can manifest (not just in extreme cases), and what healing can entail. If you’ve ever wondered why you—or someone you care about—feel stuck in a painful relationship cycle, this episode will give you clarit...

 Why are so many young men feeling more alone than ever—despite living in the most connected age in history? In this episode, we tackle the loneliness epidemic head-on and explore what fathers, sons, and communities can do to build real connection and courage."  In this episode, Jackie sits down with Carver Brown to talk about the unique challenges young men face in today’s world. Together, they u...

What happens when anger and sexuality collide? In this episode, Jackie unpacks eroticized rage—a painful fusion of anger and arousal rooted in childhood trauma. She explores how disrupted attachment and unhealed wounds manifest in adult relationships, and why understanding the distinction between anger and rage is crucial for healing.   Listen now to learn how to break the cycle and move toward sa...

 In this episode, we dive into how to approach tough talks with compassion, clarity, and courage, so you can protect safety and grow trust in your most important relationships. 

 What do a psychologist, a smartphone, and a fractured family all have in common? They’re at the center of the struggles today’s teens are facing—and Netflix’s Adolescents pulls no punches in showing us why.  In Part Two of our conversation on Adolescents, Jackie Pack and Rachel Allen dig deeper into the psychological and societal layers of the series. From the delicate role of psychologists in bu...

 What happens when a raw coming-of-age story collides with the hard truths of bullying, violence, and fractured families? Netflix’s Adolescents isn’t just a show—it’s a mirror to the struggles our youth face today.  In this episode, we dive into the first three episodes of the Netflix series Adolescents. From its striking filming style to the layered psychology of its characters, we unpack how the...

 This episode explores how childhood dynamics can lead to self-abandonment and self-betrayal—and how to start healing and reclaiming authenticity. https://healingpathsrecovery.com/couples-workshop-beyond-words/

In this powerful conversation, therapist Adam Nisenson, LMFT, CSAT, opens up about the often-ignored reality of men navigating betrayal. He shares both his personal journey and professional insights into:  The unique challenges men face when society tells them to “be strong” instead of vulnerable  The stages of healing after betrayal  How support systems and safe connections help men reclaim their...

 Content In this episode of Thanks for Sharing, Jackie Pack breaks down the myths around relapse in recovery. Rather than seeing relapse as failure, Jackie explains how it reveals when the addictive system is pulling you back—and how the renewal cycle offers a way forward. You’ll hear why relapse can become a powerful teacher, how resilience and empowered thinking can shift the narrative, and why...

Jackie Pack   Mon, Aug 11, 3:00 PM (22 hours ago)     to me    What happens when two people not only survive the wreckage of addiction but turn their healing into a lifeline for others? In this episode, Josh and Charlene Lewis share how their personal recovery journeys inspired Return to Intimacy, a program helping couples rebuild connection after betrayal.  Addiction doesn’t just damage trust—it...

A stolen kiss at a Coldplay concert went viral — but what happens after the jumbotron turns off? Beneath the internet outrage are real people: the betrayed, the betrayer, and a story far more complicated than the headlines. In this episode, Jackie Pack sits down with fellow Certified Sex Addiction Therapist Tal Prince to unpack the Coldplay kiss cam video that set social media ablaze. Together, th...

 In this episode of Thanks for Sharing, Jackie unpacks the complexity of anxiety: – Why does it often show up in your 40s – How it intertwines with trauma, depression, and certain personality traits – What your body might be trying to tell you – And how therapy, medication, and compassion—not judgment—pave the path to healing. This conversation goes beyond quick fixes and gets honest about what it...

What if the fear of getting in trouble isn’t about now, but about then?  In this episode, Jackie unpacks a powerful truth many adults need to hear: Functional adults don’t “get in trouble.” But if you grew up with shame-based discipline, that fear can still run the show—causing you to shrink, lash out, or disappear when you make a mistake. We explore:  Why emotional flashbacks feel like punishment...