Through The Eyes of Trauma

This week on Through the Eyes of Trauma, Dr. Salena is joined by special guest Derrick Smith, The Thought Engineer of Man-Talk Mondays, for a powerful conversation on how to  Heal Before You Holiday . Together, they unpack how unresolved trauma, old family dynamics, and emotional triggers can collide during the holiday season, and how to approach it with intention, regulation, and resilience....

Episode Description: In this episode, Dr. Salena unpacks the science behind early childhood imprinting , how the brain and body record experiences from conception to age six, and how those imprints shape behavior long after childhood is over. Youll learn the difference between memory and body-based imprinting, how to map emotions to their origins, why sensory safety heals deeper than words, and ho...

In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith explores how growing up in instability; never knowing when youd have to move, change schools, or run for safety, can wire the brain to live in constant survival mode. Through a powerful story of a child forced to pack up in the middle of the night to escape danger, Dr. Smith unpacks how unpredictability becomes a silent tr...

In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith explores what it truly means to heal while you lead. Many parents unknowingly repeat the same patterns of pain they grew up with, mistaking control for care or silence for strength. Through a moving story of a mother and daughter caught between old wounds and new ways of love, Dr. Smith reveals how unhealed trauma can shap...

Episode Description: In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith explores what it really means to feel safe; not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and socially. Through the story of a young boy whose classroom triggers were hidden in plain sight, Dr. Smith reveals how safety looks different for every child and how what comforts one may terrify another. Fro...

In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith explores the truth that every behavior tells a story. From the heartbreaking story of a young girl whose pain showed up as defiance, to her own moment of learning to regulate before you relate, Dr. Smith reveals how trauma shapes the way students show up in the classroom, and how educators can respond with empathy instead...

What do you do when a child has been through so much that they simply cant function in a normal classroom? In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith unpacks what it means to teach children who are still living in survival mode.  When behavior isnt defiance, its protection. Through a real story of a foster student on the brink and the educators trying everythi...

Feeling worn out from the work of healing? Youre not alone. In this lighthearted episode, Dr. Salena Fenceroy-Smith explores what to do when trauma keeps peeking its head even on your tired days. From the  Healing Lite Menu  and  The Pajama Rule  to pulling out your  Trauma Timeout Card  and leaning into  Cozy Replacements,  youll learn simple, snack-sized s...

Love can heal, or it can harm. In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena explores the double-edged power of love: parental love that controls instead of guides, career love that consumes, romantic love that erases identity, and the love of a dream that can cost everything, like in the film  Acrimony.  With stories, strategies, and takeaways, this conversation...

Many of us grew up believing that emotions are weakness. But the truth is what we dont release emotionally, our bodies hold onto physically. In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma,  Dr. Salena Smith unpacks why you have to  feel to heal,  weaving in Danielles story from  OutDaughtered,  the science of psychosomatic stress, and practical strategies for safe emo...

Homework is supposed to reinforce learning, but for many students, it creates stress, shame, and even retraumatization. In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma , Dr. Salena Smith explores whether homework truly helps or hurts, why assignments like family trees or summer essays can be harmful, and how teachers can design trauma-informed alternatives. Youll also hear practical ways famil...

One of the first things trauma steals is  trust;  trust in others, trust in the world, and even trust in yourself. And yet, rebuilding trust is one of the most powerful medicines for healing. In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma , Dr. Salena Smith unpacks how trust, built through small, consistent acts, can calm the nervous system, restore safety, and open the door to conn...

They say the two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you figure out why. But what happens when unhealed trauma and adverse experiences cloud that whymaking life feel more about survival than meaning? In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma , Dr. Salena Smith explores how trauma tries to steal purpose and how healing creates clarity. Joined by special...

or some students, summer break is a season of rest, joy, and family vacations. For others, its two long months of instability, loss of structure, and survival mode. When these students return to school, they bring more than backpacks, they carry the emotional weight of what theyve experienced. In this episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma , Dr. Salena Smith unpacks how the  Circle of Co...

In this powerful episode of  Through the Eyes of Trauma , we dig into a raw and necessary conversation at the intersection of  parenting, trauma, and the classroom . As a new school year begins, we explore how children often carry the unspoken stories of their home lives into the classroom, and how their behavior can reflect much more than meets the eye. Join us as we unpack the  le...

In this episode of Through The Eyes of Trauma , Dr. Salena Smith explores how seemingly ordinary events can leave lasting emotional imprints on others. Titled "What Was Just Another Tuesday To You Was Trauma To Me," this candid conversation uncovers the often invisible weight of unacknowledged trauma. Whether it's a comment, a moment, or a decision, what may be a routine day for one person could m...

In a world filled with breaking news, economic uncertainty, global unrest, and personal pressures, its easy to feel overwhelmed even paralyzed. In this powerful episode, we take an honest look at the rise of panic attacks and anxiety in the midst of chaos. Drawing from personal experience, cultural observations, and spiritual insight, we explore: Why panic attacks are becoming more common How mode...

Listen in to this riveting insight on how we get accustomed to the chaos.

Listen in to this riveting episode that taps into the reality of getting older and the challenges that come along with it.

Some of the most toxic families are not overtly violent and abusive. Some of them subtly constrict until it's hard to breathe. Join Dr. Smith as she explores this all to familiar family dynamic.

Do parent's underestimate the impact of their personal issues on their children?

Essential Question:  What is the weight of family secrets?

Essential Question:   How can you heal the parenting that you survived to show up as the parent that your child needs?

Essential Question: How can parents become emotionally available and developmentally supportive during summer break while also nurturing their own emotional wellness?

Essential Question: How can parents confront and heal from their own trauma so they don't pass emotional wounds on to their children?