Love and Trauma the Real Deal

How to Save Your Marriage When You're the Only One Trying (Married to a Childhood Trauma Survivor)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT

How to Save Your Marriage When You're the Only One Trying (Married to a Childhood Trauma Survivor)

I was the only one trying to save my marriage. And for a long time, I was doing it in the exact way that was pushing my husband further away and burying me in the process. This is my last episode of the show, so I am leaving you with everything. The whole story of how my marriage unraveled, what was really happening underneath his silence and his control, and the three moves that finally turned it around. Moves you can start tonight, on your own, without one word of cooperation from him. If you are married to a childhood trauma survivor, if you feel like you are walking on eggshells in your own home, and if you are the only one still fighting for this, watch this all the way through. One person going full force is enough to start the shift. I am proof, and so is a woman you will meet in this episode. Your first step is small and it is free. Take the assessment below to find out what is really going on in your marriage, so you can stop guessing and start with the right move.

Watch full episode: How to Save Your Marriage When You're the Only One Trying (Married to a Childhood Trauma Survivor)

Take the free assessment: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/find-your-pattern You do not have to lose yourself to love him through this. Chapters

0:00 The dinner that turns into a fight
3:00 Why I am leaving you everything
4:30 How my marriage unraveled
9:45 "Why me, when he is the one with the problem?"
12:00 What is really happening in his nervous system
16:00 The three moves you can make tonight
18:00 Step 1: Put your shield up (a breath to do with me)
21:30 Step 2: Stop chasing, run the P.A.U.S.E.
27:30 Step 3: Take yourself back
32:00 Heather: the only one trying
36:30 Do you want this more than being right
38:00 Where to start
39:30 The one line I want you to carry

Married to a First Responder? Why Home Feels So Hard — Series Recap

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Married to a First Responder? Why Home Feels So Hard — Series Recap

If you love a first responder or military man and home feels harder than it should — you're not crazy, and you're not alone. This is the best of my 4-part series, all in one place. Over four episodes of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I broke down what it's really like to be married to a first responder or military man — and what you can actually do about it. In this recap, I've pulled my favorite ten minutes from each episode so you can feel the heart of the whole series in one sitting. We cover:

The 3 patterns that keep first responder & military marriages stuck
Why the very thing that makes him incredible on the job makes connection feel unfamiliar at home
How to read his nervous system instead of his words — and what to do when he shuts down
The real, in-the-moment tools I use in my own marriage to a firefighter

Stay until the end for episodes 3 and 4, where I sit down with Cindie Woods and Gypsy Ray — two licensed trauma therapists who work with first responders and military families. We get into EMDR, rebuilding trust, and the question every wife is afraid to ask out loud: can this actually change? You're not crazy. You're not too much. You're not alone.

watch full episode: https://www.youtube.com/live/PpA5YgtdpDY?si=G3PAUTNSlZ3k-dgm

From Insight to Rhythm: Build a Home Cadence That Heals—With Trauma Experts

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

How do you support trauma healing at home without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, trauma experts share practical relationship tools to help couples build emotional safety, nervous system regulation, and healthier communication at home. If you love someone with trauma, CPTSD, or nervous system dysregulation, this conversation will help you understand how small, consistent rhythms can create more calm, connection, and repair in your relationship.

You’ll learn how to create a simple home cadence that protects your energy while supporting trauma healing. We’ll walk through two micro-boundaries, a five-minute connection practice, and a weekly reset designed to help couples navigate shutdown, irritability, over-control, emotional distance, and common communication triggers.

Instead of relying on willpower, perfect timing, or saying everything the “right” way, this episode gives you steady scripts and realistic tools you can use right away. These repeatable relationship practices can help reduce conflict, support emotional safety, and make repair feel more natural over time.

Watch or listen now to learn how small relationship rhythms can support real trauma healing at home while helping you stay grounded, clear, and connected.

#TraumaInRelationships #CPTSDRelationships #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalSafety #RelationshipHealing #HealthyCommunication #TraumaHealing #MarriageAfterTrauma #CommunicationInRelationships #HealingAtHome

Healing in Real Life: Trauma Experts Explain Shutdown, Safety Cues + What Actually Works at Home

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

What is really happening in his brain and body when he shuts down, becomes irritable, or tries to control everything?

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, trauma experts join the conversation to break down how trauma impacts the brain, nervous system, emotional safety, communication, and connection in relationships. If you love a man who struggles with shutdown, defensiveness, irritability, over-control, emotional distance, or survival-mode reactions, this episode will help you understand what may be happening beneath the surface.

You’ll learn why trauma responses are not always a choice, why safety cues can work better than perfect wording, and how nervous system dysregulation can affect the way your partner hears, responds, and connects during difficult moments. This episode also explains how to recognize red, yellow, and green emotional windows so you can better understand when connection is possible and when regulation needs to come first.

You’ll also learn how to use a simple 3-minute reset to help move tense moments toward calmer communication, emotional safety, and repair. Instead of pushing harder, over-explaining, or waiting for the perfect words, this conversation gives you practical relationship tools you can use tonight.

Watch or listen now to better understand trauma responses, nervous system regulation, emotional shutdown, irritability, over-control, and how to communicate when your partner is in survival mode.

Watch full episode: https://youtu.be/HCLLokTE-Nk?si=nYHVY2P6jU3-hhTo

#TraumaInRelationships #NervousSystemRegulation #EmotionalSafety #TraumaRecovery #HealthyCommunication #CPTSDRelationships #RelationshipHealing #EmotionalShutdown #SurvivalMode #TraumaInMarriage

From Spiral to Steady: Scripts and Micro‑Moves That Actually Work at Home

Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

When your husband’s nervous system goes into survival mode, more talking does not always create more connection. In fact, it can sometimes lead to more shutdown, defensiveness, emotional distance, or conflict.

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we explore what to do when his system “goes red,” and the conversation starts to feel unsafe, overwhelming, or impossible to finish.

You’ll learn simple, steady scripts and real-life micro-moves that can help you stay grounded, protect your peace, and increase your chances of connection.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

What to say when the switch flips, and emotions escalate
How to recognize red, yellow, and green nervous system windows
Why timing matters when having hard conversations
How to ask for five minutes of closeness without adding pressure
How to use a 3-minute reset to calm the moment and reduce spirals
How to place conversations where they are more likely to succeed

If you love a first responder, military man, or a partner carrying unresolved trauma, this episode will help you understand what is happening beneath the reaction and give you practical tools you can use tonight.

Watch or listen now to learn how to move from tension and shutdown toward calmer communication, emotional safety, and deeper connection.

#TraumaInRelationships #NervousSystemRegulation #MarriageHealing #TraumaRecovery #HealthyCommunication #FirstResponderRelationships #MilitaryMarriage

Why It Feels So Hard at Home: 3 Patterns Keeping First Responder Marriages Stuck

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

If you love a first responder or military man and your relationship feels harder at home than it should, this episode will help you understand why and what to do next.

In this episode of Love and Trauma The Real Deal, we unpack the real patterns that quietly create disconnection in relationships impacted by trauma and high-stress professions. When you are dealing with trauma responses, nervous system overload, and emotional shutdown, it is easy to misread what is actually happening.

You will learn the three core patterns that keep couples stuck: • Confusion about what is really driving behavior • Taking trauma responses personally • Losing yourself while trying to hold everything together

More importantly, you will learn how to shift out of these patterns in real time.

Inside this episode: • How trauma and the nervous system impact communication in relationships • Why first responders and military relationships often struggle at home • How to recognize emotional triggers and hidden stress responses • Simple ways to protect your energy without disconnecting • A powerful 3-minute reset to reduce conflict, soften your tone, and create space for repair

This episode is for women who want to stop walking on eggshells and start creating emotional safety, clarity, and connection in their relationship.

If you are ready to stop the cycle and understand what is really happening beneath the surface, this conversation will give you practical tools you can use immediately.

🎧 Watch or listen now and take the first step toward calmer communication, stronger connection, and real relationship repair.

#traumahealing #relationshipadvice #nervoussystemregulation #firstresponderlife #militaryrelationships

Can a Marriage Survive Trauma? Truths About Healing & Relationship Patterns

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Is healing even possible after everything we’ve been through?” or “Why do we keep having the same argument on repeat?” this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal is one you do not want to miss.

In this powerful recap episode, Danielle Sebastian brings together key insights from three impactful conversations:

• Is Healing Possible After Trauma?

• The Biggest Lies About Trauma Recovery That Are Damaging Your Relationship

• Most Women Misunderstand Trauma in Marriage

This episode takes a deeper look at how unresolved trauma shapes relationship dynamics, communication patterns, and emotional responses. Many women are trying to improve their marriage using traditional advice, yet still feel stuck, disconnected, or misunderstood. There is a reason for that.

You will gain clarity on:

• Why trauma responses are often misread as emotional distance or lack of care

• The most common trauma recovery myths that quietly harm relationships

• What is really happening beneath repeated conflict patterns

• How understanding trauma can shift the way you respond in your relationship

This conversation is designed for women navigating marriage challenges, especially when trauma, emotional triggers, and communication breakdowns are involved. If your relationship feels heavy, confusing, or caught in cycles you cannot break, this episode will help you see what is actually driving those patterns.

When your perspective changes, your responses can change. That is where real progress begins.

🎧 Watch or listen now and take the first step toward understanding your relationship on a deeper level. If this resonates with you and you are ready for support, be sure to connect and explore the next steps in your healing journey.

#TraumaInMarriage #RelationshipHealing #EmotionalTriggers #MarriageSupport #TraumaRecovery

Most Women Misunderstand Trauma in Marriage

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Are you trying everything to fix your marriage, but nothing seems to work?

If your relationship feels like a cycle of emotional shutdowns, conflict, and walking on eggshells, this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal will help you finally understand why.

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, you will discover how CPTSD (Complex PTSD) and unresolved childhood trauma can deeply impact communication, emotional connection, and trust in marriage. If you have been overthinking every conversation, feeling alone in your relationship, or wondering why your efforts are not creating change, this conversation is for you.

This is not about communicating better or trying harder.

It is about uncovering the trauma patterns driving your relationship dynamics and learning how to respond in a way that creates clarity, emotional safety, and real progress.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How trauma affects your partner’s reactions and why it is not personal
The hidden relationship patterns keeping you stuck in cycles of conflict
Why traditional relationship advice often fails in trauma-impacted marriages
How to stop walking on eggshells without losing yourself
A simple but powerful shift that can change how you experience your relationship

If you are navigating a marriage impacted by trauma, emotional distance, or repeated conflict, this episode offers real insight, validation, and practical next steps you can start using right away. Ready for clarity in your relationship? Watch or listen now and begin understanding what is really happening beneath the surface.

Take the next step. Identify your relationship pattern and get a personalized starting point. Take the Free 5-Minute Quiz: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/find-your-pattern

If this episode resonates with you, you are not alone.

Drop a comment and share your experience

Send this to someone who needs to hear it

Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, relationships, and healing

Because sometimes understanding the pattern changes everything.

#TraumaInRelationships #CPTSDHealing #MarriageStruggles #EmotionalHealing #RelationshipPatterns

The Biggest Lies About Trauma Recovery (That Are Damaging Your Relationship)

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Have you ever quietly wondered, “Are we just too far gone?”

If your relationship feels like a constant cycle of walking on eggshells, overthinking every conversation, and trying so hard to get it right—only to end up hurt, disconnected, or emotionally exhausted—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Danielle Sebastian breaks down some of the biggest myths about trauma recovery in relationships and reveals what may really be happening beneath the shutdowns, defensiveness, reactivity, and emotional distance.

Because the truth is, the problem may not be that you are failing. And your partner may not be broken either.

When childhood trauma, CPTSD, and nervous system dysregulation are shaping the relationship, the patterns can feel deeply personal—but they are often rooted in survival, protection, and unresolved pain.

In this episode, Danielle explores:

The most common trauma recovery myths that keep couples stuck
Why trauma responses can feel personal, even when they are not about you
What happens in the nervous system during conflict and disconnection
The difference between broken behavior and protective trauma patterns
How unprocessed trauma and CPTSD show up in marriage and relationships
Why trying harder can sometimes make things worse
Small shifts that can begin changing the dynamic without forcing overnight change

This episode is especially powerful for women who feel like they have been carrying the emotional weight of the relationship, trying to keep the peace, hold everything together, and make sense of painful patterns that never seem to change.

You are not broken. And neither is he.

But when you understand trauma, the nervous system, and relationship triggers through a new lens, everything can begin to shift.

If you are searching for answers around trauma recovery, relationship healing, CPTSD in marriage, emotional disconnection, or nervous system regulation, this conversation offers hope, clarity, and a new way forward.

❤️ If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who needs it. 💬 Comment below: What part of this conversation made you feel seen? 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on trauma, relationships, healing, and hope.

#TraumaRecovery #RelationshipHealing #CPTSD #NervousSystemHealing #ChildhoodTrauma

Is Healing Possible After Trauma?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

There comes a moment in some relationships when the pain runs so deep, the exhaustion lasts so long, and the disappointment piles up so high that you start asking a devastating question:

What if nothing ever changes?

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Danielle Sebastian speaks directly to the partner who has fought hard for healing, carried the emotional weight of the relationship, and quietly wondered whether hope was slipping away for good.

With honesty, compassion, and hard-won insight, Danielle shares the painful moment she believed, maybe nothing will ever be enough—and why that thought is more common than many people realize in trauma-impacted relationships, especially in high-stress homes like military, first responder, and emotionally overwhelmed families.

This episode explores the heartbreaking myth that real healing is not possible after trauma has shaped the way a person thinks, reacts, shuts down, or connects. Danielle breaks down what trauma actually does to the brain, body, and nervous system—and why so many couples feel trapped in patterns that seem impossible to change.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

Why hopelessness is such a common part of trauma-impacted relationships
How emotional burnout can make you believe healing is out of reach
What recovery research says about change, healing, and resilience
How the brain and body can recover from trauma
Why many traditional relationship strategies fall short
What kind of healing path creates real and lasting change

If you are tired, discouraged, and wondering whether your marriage or relationship can survive the effects of trauma, this episode will meet you in that pain—and point you toward hope.

Because healing is possible.

Change is possible.

And the story is not over yet.

Watch now for a powerful conversation about trauma recovery, relationship healing, nervous system repair, and finding hope when you feel like you have nothing left to give.

#TraumaRecovery #RelationshipHealing #MarriageAfterTrauma #ChildhoodTrauma #NervousSystemHealing

You've Been Trying to Fix the Wrong Problem

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Why does the same argument keep happening, even when you are trying so hard to make things better?

If you have read the books, worked on your communication, and still find yourself stuck in painful cycles of shutdown, reactivity, distance, or confusion, this episode is for you.

In this recap episode, I am pulling together the most important insights from our 3-part series on trauma, the nervous system, and marriage, so you can better understand what may really be happening beneath the surface.

Because sometimes you are not dealing with a communication problem alone.

Sometimes you are dealing with a nervous system that learned survival long before it ever learned safety.

In this episode, we talk about:

Why trauma can show up as anger, withdrawal, defensiveness, or emotional distance
How nervous system dysregulation impacts conflict, communication, and connection
Why conversations can escalate so quickly, even when your intentions are good
Why communication tools often fall flat when someone does not feel safe
What it means to regulate before repair
Why discipline, effort, and accountability are not the full answer

If you have ever found yourself asking:

Why does this keep happening?
Why can’t we just talk through things?
Why does it feel like nothing changes, no matter what I try?

This episode will help you make sense of patterns that can feel personal, confusing, and exhausting.

Because when trauma is part of the story, the goal is not to win the argument.

The goal is to understand what is happening, create safety, and respond in a way that supports real healing.

If you are loving someone whose past still shows up in your present, this conversation will help you see your relationship through a different lens and give you language for what may have felt impossible to explain.

Listen now and discover why this may not just be a communication issue. It may be a nervous system issue.

To connect with Danielle, visit:

Website: https://daniellesebastiian.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

#traumainmarriage #childhoodtrauma #marriageconflict #traumaresponses #healingrelationships #communicationinmarriage #traumahealing #emotionalregulation #marriagepodcast #childhoodtraumarecovery #relationshiphelp

If Discipline Worked, It Would Have Worked By Now.

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT

You have been told your husband needs more discipline. More accountability. More effort. Better boundaries. Better habits.

And maybe some of that matters.

But what if the real issue is deeper than that?

What if what looks like laziness, emotional shutdown, irritability, distance, or lack of follow-through is not about unwillingness at all? What if his body is still living like the danger never ended?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sam, chiropractor, health coach, and author of Harmonize Your Life: Finding Alignment From Within, to talk about the missing piece many couples overlook in childhood trauma recovery: the nervous system.

Because trauma does not just affect thoughts and emotions. It affects the body. It can shape sleep, mood, pain, stress, energy, reactivity, and connection in marriage. And when the body does not feel safe, no lecture about discipline can create lasting change.

In this conversation, we unpack:

Why trauma lives in the body, not just the mind
How survival mode can be mistaken for laziness or immaturity
Why relationship advice alone sometimes falls short
What nervous system dysregulation actually looks like in daily life
How physical alignment and regulation can support healing
What this means for marriage, connection, and family life

If you have ever felt confused, exhausted, or heartbroken asking, “Why can’t he just change?” this episode may offer the understanding you have been missing.

Because sometimes the issue is not that he does not care. Sometimes the issue is that his body still does not know how to feel safe.

And that changes everything.

LEARN More About Danielle: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

You're Arguing with a Nervous System

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT

If calm conversations still turn into arguments, shutdowns, or emotional distance, there may be more happening beneath the surface than you realize.

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we explore how childhood trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and survival responses can quietly shape the way people communicate in adult relationships. What looks like avoidance, overreaction, defensiveness, or silence may actually be a trauma response rooted in a body that does not yet feel safe.

You will learn how unresolved trauma can affect relationship communication, trigger fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown patterns, and make even safe conversations feel threatening. This episode helps you better understand why traditional communication advice often falls short when trauma is involved.

If you have ever wondered why your partner shuts down, why small conversations turn into conflict, or why connection feels so hard even when love is present, this conversation will give you a deeper understanding of what may really be happening.

Watch now to learn how childhood trauma affects adult relationships, why the nervous system drives communication patterns, and what this means for healing, emotional safety, and connection.

Be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications for the next episode, where we will talk about the missing piece that can change everything.

LEARN More About Danielle: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

#LoveAndTrauma #ChildhoodTrauma #TraumaInRelationships #NervousSystemHealing #RelationshipCommunication #EmotionalSafety #TraumaRecovery #AttachmentStyles #HealthyRelationships #TraumaHealing

When Trauma Looks Like a Personality

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Why does he seem distant, reactive, shut down, or emotionally unavailable?

In many relationships, these behaviors are often labeled as laziness, immaturity, anger issues, or lack of effort. But what if those patterns aren’t personality traits at all?

In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we explore how childhood trauma can rewire the nervous system so deeply that survival responses begin to look like character, temperament, or choice.

When someone grows up in environments where safety is uncertain, their body may learn to stay in constant survival mode. Over time, this can show up in adult relationships as emotional withdrawal, reactivity, overwhelm, or shutting down during conflict.

In this conversation, we unpack:

How childhood trauma shapes adult relationship patterns
Why survival responses can look like personality traits
The difference between trauma responses and intentional behavior
Why emotional shutdown and reactivity are often nervous system responses
What partners need to understand about trauma-informed relationships

If you’ve ever wondered why your partner seems distant, defensive, or overwhelmed during conflict, this episode offers a powerful shift in perspective.

Because if survival mode has been mistaken for personality…

Then discipline isn’t the solution — safety is.

Subscribe to Love and Trauma: The Real Deal for practical insights, trauma-informed relationship tools, and real conversations about how trauma impacts love, communication, and emotional connection.

LEARN More About Danielle: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

#ChildhoodTrauma #TraumaInRelationships #EmotionalShutdown #RelationshipHealing #MarriageAndTrauma #NervousSystemHealing #LoveAndTrauma

If You Missed This Series, Start Here (My Favorite Moments + Takeaways)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted in your relationship… if simple conversations turn into unexpected fights… or if you’re trying to stay open-hearted without losing yourself — this episode is for you.

In this powerful recap of our 3-part relationship trauma series on Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I’m sharing the most important moments every couple needs to hear again.

We revisit:

Why you feel so exhausted in your marriage or relationship — and why it actually makes sense
Why a simple question can trigger conflict when trauma is involved
My conversation with Dr. Kelly Flanagan on how to stay compassionate without becoming a doormat

Inside this episode, you’ll hear the clips I return to again and again, including:

“Is this a bear… or a stump?” — understanding trauma triggers in relationships
Why couples get stuck in the fallout instead of healing the real emotional wound
How to use The Powerful Pause to stop escalating conflict
The mindset shift that helps you stop blaming yourself

If you're navigating childhood trauma in marriage, emotional triggers, communication breakdowns, or feeling like you're walking on eggshells, this recap will help you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface.

New to the show? Start here — then go back and watch the full episodes when you're ready.

Subscribe for practical relationship tools, trauma-informed communication strategies, and real conversations about love, healing, and staying connected.

LEARN More About Danielle: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

How Couples Stop Living in Defense Mode

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

You understand the pattern now.

You see why the arguments keep escalating. You recognize the exhaustion. You even understand how the nervous system can react to a perceived threat that isn’t actually there.

But now what?

Awareness is powerful. However, insight alone does not stop emotional blow-ups or recurring conflict.

In this final episode of the series, I sit down with Dr. Kelly Flanagan to explore what it truly looks like for couples to stop living in defense mode and start building emotional safety in their relationship.

This is not theory.

It is not “just communicate better.”

It is not “try harder.”

In this episode, we discuss:

What to do when both partners are emotionally triggered
How to take responsibility without spiraling into shame
Why couples often argue about reactions instead of addressing the original wound
What it really means to take “The Road Less Triggered” together

If you have ever thought, “I understand the pattern, but how do we actually change it?” — this conversation offers practical relationship tools, emotional regulation strategies, and hopeful next steps for lasting change.

Honest. Actionable. Realistic about the work required.

Be sure to listen to Parts 1 and 2 for the complete picture on breaking unhealthy relationship patterns and creating a deeper connection.

To learn more about Dr. Kelly Flanagan, visit: www.drkellyflanagan.com

About your host:

Danielle Sebastian is a relationship trauma expert who helps women understand and navigate the impact of childhood trauma within marriage. She is the bestselling author of Resilient Wives: A Guide for Wives Supporting Their Husband Through Childhood Trauma Recovery and has supported hundreds of women in rebuilding connection while walking alongside their partners through the healing process. As the founder of WifeCARE and host of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, she provides practical, same-day strategies to help couples move from conflict and confusion to greater peace, stability, and hope.

Her journey began in 2013 when her marriage reached a breaking point after her husband disclosed a history of childhood abuse. While the truth brought clarity, it also revealed years of emotional turmoil that traditional relationship advice had not addressed. After nearly a decade of navigating intense highs and lows, Danielle committed to finding real solutions. Through extensive research and lived experience, she developed her signature CARE framework, a practical approach that helps couples stop walking on eggshells and start healing together. Now happily married for 14 years and a mother of two, Danielle is devoted to helping women reclaim their peace, strengthen their relationships, and believe that healing is possible.

LEARN More About Danielle: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

Why Does Everything I Say Turn Into a Fight?

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Have you ever asked a simple question — and suddenly found yourself in a full-blown fight? You weren’t criticizing. You weren’t attacking. You were just asking. And yet somehow, the conversation flips, emotions run high, and you’re left wondering what you did wrong… again.

In this episode, we talk about why this keeps happening in marriages where trauma is part of the story — and why it feels so personal when it happens.

You’ll learn:

Why curiosity can sound like criticism
Why do his reactions feel bigger than the moment calls for
Why do you keep ending up apologizing even when you didn’t do anything wrong
And how to pause before everything spirals out of control.

This is part two of a three-part series on trauma, reactions, and relationships. If you feel like you’re always walking on eggshells — or like every conversation turns into a fight you never meant to start — this episode will give you language for what’s really going on.

Listen and stay tuned for part three, where I sit down with Dr. Kelly Flanagan to discuss how couples can stop living in defense mode and start finding their way back to each other.

LEARN More About Danielle:

WEBSITE: https://www.daniellesebastian.com

FOLLOW Danielle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WifeCare

FOLLOW Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellesebastian_wifecare/

FREE Download: Survivor's Playbook for Partners: https://www.daniellesebastian.com/survivorsplaybook

Why You’re Exhausted: Loving Someone With Trauma Isn’t What You Were Prepared For

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:00:00 GMT

If you’re married to someone who carries childhood trauma, chances are you’re exhausted — emotionally, mentally, and maybe even physically.

And yet… you keep wondering why.

Why you’re trying so hard and still feel like nothing works.
Why it feels like you’re constantly walking on eggshells.
Why you’re losing yourself in the process.

In this episode, we’re talking about the hidden impact of trauma on marriage — not from a clinical or blaming lens, but from the lived experience of the partner who is trying to hold everything together.

We’ll explore:

Why loving someone with trauma often feels lonely and confusing
How trauma turns relationships into nervous-system battlegrounds (without either partner meaning to)
Why your exhaustion is not a sign that you’re doing it wrong
And the truth no one tells you about what trauma silently demands from the non-traumatized partner

This is part one of a three-part series on trauma, triggers, and the path back to connection — culminating in a powerful conversation with Dr. Kelly Flanagan.

If you’ve ever thought, “I love them… but I don’t know how much longer I can do this,” this episode is for you.

🎧 Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode, where we’ll unpack what’s actually happening inside your spouse when things escalate — and why understanding this changes everything.

“We Love Each Other, So Why Is This So Hard?”

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

“We Love Each Other, So Why Is This So Hard?”

Why does the same fight keep happening—no matter how carefully you communicate? If you’ve tried the scripts, the tools, and the “say it better” approach… and still feel stuck, exhausted, or walking on eggshells

—this episode is for you. In this recap episode, I’m pulling together the most powerful moments from the last three conversations to explore how trauma and the nervous system shape marriage in ways traditional relationship advice doesn’t account for. You’ll hear:

• Why defensiveness, shutdown, and emotional distance aren’t personality flaws

• How trauma quietly impacts communication, safety, and connection

• What CPTSD can actually look like in marriage—without labels or blame

• And why communication tools fail when regulation is missing

This episode includes highlights from my conversation with Lisa Marie-Francis Summers, who shares how growing up with an unpredictable parent and navigating painful marriages shaped the way she communicated in relationships. Through her lived experience and healing work, Lisa offers insight into survival mode, boundaries as self-love, and why real change starts

when we stop trying to fix the other person and begin understanding ourselves (yes—Ted Lasso makes an appearance). This isn’t about diagnosing your spouse. It’s about clarity. Because when you understand what’s really happening beneath the surface, you can stop blaming yourself—and start responding from a steadier place.

✨ If you’ve ever thought, “Why doesn’t this get better even when I try harder?” You’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone.

Watch full video: “We Love Each Other, So Why Is This So Hard?”

What CPTSD Looks Like in Marriage (and What to Do About It)

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

If your marriage feels like it’s stuck in the same emotional loops—arguments that never fully resolve, closeness followed by distance, or a loneliness you can feel even when you’re together

—this episode is for you. In this conversation, we talk about what CPTSD can look like inside a marriage, especially when one or both partners grew up in environments that felt unsafe, unpredictable, or emotionally neglectful. Not in a clinical or diagnostic way—but through real-life patterns that quietly shape connection, conflict, and communication.

We explore why traditional relationship advice often falls short when nervous systems are dysregulated, and how repeated stress or trauma can make even loving relationships feel fragile and exhausting. Most importantly, this episode focuses on what actually helps.

You’ll learn why safety has to come before strategy, why regulation matters more than “saying it right,” and how to stop carrying all the emotional weight by yourself. This isn’t about blame or labels—it’s about understanding what’s really happening so you can respond with clarity, steadiness, and self-respect. If you’ve been thinking, “I see the patterns… now what?”—this conversation will help you take the next step.

Watch full episode: What CPTSD Looks Like in Marriage (and What to Do About It)

Why Does He Get So Defensive Over Small Things?

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever thought, “I wasn’t attacking him… so why did he react like that?”—this episode is for you. For years, I missed the signs in my own marriage. And so did the women I now work with. We thought we were dealing with communication problems, personality differences, or stress. But underneath the defensiveness, the distance, and the constant feeling of walking on eggshells, something deeper was quietly shaping the relationship.

In this episode, I share 7 signs my clients and I missed that indicated trauma may have been behind the issues we were facing. Not the obvious signs—these are the subtle patterns that slowly wear you down and leave you questioning yourself. We’ll talk about why trauma doesn’t stay in the past, how it shows up in everyday interactions, and why trying harder often leads to more exhaustion instead of connection. This isn’t about blame or diagnosis. It’s about naming what’s really happening so you can stop carrying all the weight alone and begin moving forward with clarity, compassion, and hope.

Watch full clip: Why Does He Get So Defensive Over Small Things?

How Trauma Shapes Talks: Thinker, Feeler, Fixer?

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Miscommunication isn’t just about words—it’s about nervous systems. In this episode, Lisa explains the 7 Life Languages and how trauma can push us into shutdown, conflict, or emotional overload in our closest relationships.

Watch full episode: How Trauma Shapes Talks: Thinker, Feeler, Fixer?

Create Holiday Peace Now: Overcome Last Year's Hurt

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 15:00:00 GMT

If last year’s holiday hurt is still sitting in your chest, this episode is for you.

When your partner carries childhood trauma, the holidays can feel like emotional landmines — shutdowns, tension, overwhelm, and old wounds that show up right when you want connection the most. In this episode, I’ll show you why your body dreads the season, how past holidays keep replaying inside you, and the simple trauma-informed shifts that bring peace back into the present. This isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen.

It’s about finally releasing the weight of it so this year can feel calmer, softer, and safer.✨ You deserve a peaceful holiday. Let’s make this the year it happens.

Watch full episode: Create Holiday Peace Now: Overcome Last Year's Hurt

The Truth About Holidays + Resentment (No One Talks About This)

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:00:00 GMT

If the holidays leave you carrying the emotional load while your partner shuts down or pulls away, this episode will feel like relief. We’re breaking down why this season triggers old survival patterns, why resentment sneaks in so quietly, and why none of it is your fault.

You’ll learn simple, trauma-informed tools to protect your peace, stop taking his reactions personally, and create moments of real connection—even when things feel hard. And these aren’t the fluffy holiday tips you’re used to. These are trauma-informed strategies shared by women who have lived this, breathed this, and found their way back to peace. If you’re tired of doing the holidays alone, this conversation is the hope and clarity you’ve been needing.

Watch full episode: The Truth About Holidays + Resentment (No One Talks About This)

Recap Episode: The Hidden Pattern Keeping You Stuck (You’ll Finally See It)

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Recap Episode: The Hidden Pattern Keeping You Stuck (You’ll Finally See It)

You’re not imagining the distance. You’re not overreacting. And you’re not the only one carrying more than you can hold. In this recap episode, I’m weaving together: 🌿 my breakdown moment 🌿 the truth about dysregulation 🌿 and my powerful interview with Erin Smith so you can finally see what’s really been happening in your relationship — and how you can change it. This isn’t about blame. It’s about safety. And it starts with understanding your nervous system.

Watch full episode: Recap Episode: The Hidden Pattern Keeping You Stuck (You’ll Finally See It)

The Real Work After ‘Happily Ever After’: Healing Dysregulation Together

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:47:14 GMT

When a Navy SEAL comes home, the battle doesn’t always end — and for couples, the hardest part isn’t disconnection. It’s dysregulation. In this raw, hope-filled episode of Love & Trauma: The Real Deal, Erin Smith opens up about what it was like to fall in love with someone healing from trauma — and how they learned to stop fighting each other and start fighting for regulation and peace. Erin and I talk about everything from “ego flares” to the moment you realize it’s not about you, how to set boundaries without abandoning yourself, and how to recognize whether you’re reacting to a snake or a stick. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything to keep the peace and it’s still not working, this conversation will give you the real tools, language, and hope to finally start changing the pattern.

Watch full episode: The Real Work After ‘Happily Ever After’: Healing Dysregulation Together

“I’m So Tired of Pretending Everything’s Fine” — What Happens Next

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:37:00 GMT

One holiday breakdown changed everything. Learn how I stopped fixing alone and started re-regulating our marriage—with real tools you can use now.

Watch full episode: “I’m So Tired of Pretending Everything’s Fine” — What Happens Next

Is Dysregulation Driving the Distance in Your Marriage? (Take the 2-Minute Diagnostic)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:00:00 GMT

If you’re the partner of someone with a traumatic past, this episode explains why you feel so distant — and what to do about it. We unpack dysregulation (fight/flight/freeze/fawn), co-dysregulation loops, the four common patterns (Shutdown, Escalation, Avoidance, Numbing), and the P.A.U.S.E. reset to bring your body back to safety so connection is possible again. Take the free 2-Minute Disconnection Diagnostic:

See which dysregulation pattern is running your relationship and get a personalized 3-step micro-plan to try tonight.

Watch full episode on youtube: Is Dysregulation Driving the Distance in Your Marriage? (Take the 2-Minute Diagnostic)

Top Priority: Recap On Breaking Free From Trauma

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:00:00 GMT

What does it really look like to heal from the inside out? In this special recap episode, I’m bringing you the most powerful insights from my conversations with Lev Amar and Carla Calderas — two experts who know what it means to walk through the fire and come out stronger. From Lev’s evidence-based approach to emotional healing to Carla’s heart-centered wisdom on boundaries, rest, and self-compassion — this episode weaves together practical strategies and soul-level truths for anyone ready to find peace, purpose, and connection after trauma.

Watch full episode on youtube: Top Priority: Recap on Breaking Free from Trauma

From Courtroom To Healing Room: Shalev Amar's Insight Part 2

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:36:13 GMT

What do you do when the same fight keeps showing up in your relationship—no matter how much you both want things to change? In this episode, I sit down with Shalev Amar, who spent years winning cases in the courtroom before turning his focus to healing the battles inside himself. After a 9-year journey studying trauma, Shalev discovered powerful methods to release old wounds and stop trauma from running the show. We talk about why arguments keep looping, how unhealed trauma sneaks into our relationships, and what you can actually do to make things better—starting today.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: From Courtroom To Healing Room: Shalev Amar's Insight Part 2

From Courtroom To Healing Room: Shalev Amar's Insight Part 1

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:57:39 GMT

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: From Courtroom To Healing Room: Shalev Amar's Insight Part 1

Unlock Inner Strength: Carla Calderas' Journey

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:52:29 GMT

This one’s for the partners craving connection. Carla shares how to spot dysregulation early, pause without spiraling, and choose the “hard” that heals. Plus: therapy vs. coaching, retreats, and her book Healing Is Within You.

The Real Deal Highlights: From Money Fights to Warrior Strength to Lasting Healing

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 08:11:14 GMT

What do money fights, Navy SEAL discipline, and generational trauma have in common? More than you think. In this special highlights episode of Love & Trauma: The Real Deal, I’m pulling together my favorite moments from three powerhouse guests:

💰 Julia Myers on turning money from one of the biggest relationship triggers into a pathway for peace and legacy.

⚓ William Branum on Navy SEAL–level mindset, resilience, and leadership that can transform not just missions—but marriages.

🌱 Pia Valenzuela Escudero on healing intergenerational wounds and breaking the cycles of trauma in our families and communities. Whether you’re navigating financial stress, looking for resilience tools, or working to stop trauma from writing the story of your relationships, these insights will give you hope, clarity, and a fresh way forward.

Immigrant Roots To Trauma Pioneer: Pia's Journey

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Pia Valenzuela Escudero grew up as an immigrant and went on to pioneer the Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) program, helping kids nationwide heal from PTSD and depression. In this episode, we unpack how trauma quietly shapes relationships, why “helping” often backfires, and the small shifts that can break painful cycles. This is a conversation about resilience, healing, and hope you don’t want to miss.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Immigrant Roots to Trauma Pioneer: Pia's Journey

Learn more about Pia Valenzuela:

Website: https://nw-recovery.com

The Hardest Mission a Navy SEAL Ever Faced

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:00:00 GMT

What happens when the mission, the team, and the purpose you’ve given your entire life to… disappears overnight? In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Navy SEAL veteran William Branum opens up about the invisible wounds of retirement, how trauma shows up in relationships, and the mindset shift that saved his life. 👉 Stay to the end—you’ll hear the one practice that helped him move from “combat-ready” to truly connection-ready.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: The Hardest Mission a Navy SEAL Ever Faced

Learn more about William Branum:

Website: https://nakedwarriorrecovery.com

Is Money Triggering Your Relationship? Breaking Cycles with Julia Myers

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Money is one of the biggest triggers in relationships—and if you grew up in a chaotic or traumatic home, those old patterns often follow you into adulthood. In this episode of Love & Trauma: The Real Deal, I sit down with Julia Myers, PharmD, MBA, and founder of Generational Wisdom, to talk about how the money beliefs we inherit—scarcity, control, avoidance, overspending—show up in our marriages and families. Julia shares her own story of breaking free from perfectionism and redefining success after a life-changing medical event. She offers practical tools for couples who feel stuck in financial conflict, and shows how intentional financial and emotional leadership can turn money from a trigger into a pathway for safety, healing, and legacy.

If money has ever felt like a minefield in your relationship, this conversation will give you hope, tools, and a new way forward.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: Is Money Triggering Your Relationship? Breaking Cycles with Julia Myers

Learn more about Julia Myers:

Website: https://juliamyers.com

Breakthrough Moments You Can’t Miss

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 15:00:00 GMT

This week, I’m bringing you the most jaw-dropping, heart-shifting moments from three incredible guests on Love & Trauma: The Real Deal. You’ll hear how Maggie Weldon turned a life-changing encounter into her mission to help others heal, why Maddy Wright says “bad behavior” is really survival in disguise, and what Noha Mostafa wants every high-functioning, secretly struggling person to know about stress and trauma.

These aren’t just interviews—they’re wake-up calls. If you’ve ever felt weighed down by your past, misunderstood in your relationships, or exhausted from holding it all together, this recap will show you: healing is possible, and change is closer than you think.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: Breakthrough Moments You Can't Miss

High-Functioning & Hurt: Stress in Body and Relationships

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:15:12 GMT

You’re getting it all done—but your body’s a mess, your relationships feel like walking on eggshells, and you’re more defensive than you’d like to admit. In this powerful episode, trauma therapist Noha Mostafa unpacks what’s really going on beneath the surface for high-functioning people who are secretly running on empty. We talk about how chronic stress and unresolved trauma show up in your body, your emotions, and your most important relationships—and why no amount of willpower or productivity can fix what your nervous system hasn’t healed. If you’re tired of holding it all together while feeling like everything’s falling apart, this conversation is for you.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: High-Functioning & Hurt: Stress in Body and Relationships

Learn more about Noha Mostafa:

Website: www.counselingandtherapeuticwellness.com

From NICU Babies to Broken Systems: A Trauma Educator’s Fight for Connection

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:02:09 GMT

What if the child in front of you isn’t misbehaving—but simply trying to survive? In this eye-opening episode, trauma educator and founder of Connecting Stories LLC, Maddy Wright, shares how early trauma rewires a child’s brain, body, and belief system—and how those same survival patterns can follow us into adulthood. Drawing from her powerful journey as a foster sibling and certified TBRI practitioner, Maddy breaks down why traditional discipline fails, what real trauma-responsive care looks like, and why early intervention isn’t just helpful—it’s life-changing. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or partner, this conversation will forever change how you see behavior, connection, and healing.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: From NICU Babies to Broken Systems: A Trauma Educator's Fight for Connection

Learn more about Maddy Wright:

Website: Connecting Stories Trauma-Informed Digital Resource Folder

From Panic to Peace: Maggie Weldon’s Journey Out of Traumaland

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 15:00:00 GMT

After years of doing the hard work to heal her childhood trauma, a chance meeting with a dying friend shifted everything for Maggie Weldon. In that emotional moment, she realized just how different her life could have been—and how many others were still silently suffering. In this powerful episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Maggie shares how that encounter became the spark for her life’s mission: helping others find the freedom, peace, and healing she fought so hard to create for herself. Her story is a moving reminder that it’s never too late to face your past—and that healing doesn’t just change your life, it can change the lives of others too.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: From Panic to Peace: Maggie Weldon's Journey Out of Traumaland

Learn more about Maggie Weldon:

Website: http://www.LeavingTraumaLand.com
Link to FREE Path to Freedom 22 page eBook: A Path to Peace eBook

When Men Heal: What They Taught Me About Silence, Success & Self-Compassion

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

In this powerful recap episode, I’m sharing the most unforgettable moments from my conversations with three incredible men—Chris Sanders, John Mollura, and Matt Gerlach. From toxic relationships to panic attacks and hidden trauma beneath high achievement, each of these stories cracked something open. You’ll hear the real, raw truth about what it takes for men to heal—and what we can all learn about emotional safety, vulnerability, and the power of self-compassion. If you’ve ever felt alone in the struggle, this one’s for you.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: When Men Heal: What They Taught Me About Silience, Success & Self-Compassion

You Can Heal: Matt Gerlach's Journey Through Trauma and Truth

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Matt Gerlach was a high performer on the outside—but behind the scenes, his life was spiraling. When he ended up in the hospital, it forced him to face what he’d been resisting for years: his past wasn’t behind him—it was running the show.

In this episode, Matt gets real about anxiety, burnout, and the moment he realized that healing meant finally turning toward the pain he never wanted to acknowledge.

If you’ve ever felt like you're barely holding it together… this one’s for you.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: You Can Heal: Matt Gerlach's Journey Through Trauma and Truth

Learn more about Matt Gerlach:

Website: https://mattgerlach.com

From Rocket Scientist to Real Talk: Unpacking the Trauma Behind Reactivity

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 15:10:00 GMT

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: From Rocket Scientist to Real Talk: Unpacking the Trauma Behind Reactivity

Learn more about John Mollura:

Website: https://johnmollura.com

Running Toward Himself: Chris Sanders on Divorce, Healing, and Choosing Love Again

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

He’s a tech innovator, endurance athlete, and devoted father who nearly lost himself in a toxic first marriage—until he chose to do the hard work of healing. In this raw, honest episode, Chris Sanders shares how he rebuilt his life through therapy, rediscovered his passions, learned to speak up about his story, and became the kind of partner who could love—and be loved—fully again. Don’t miss this powerful conversation about leaving what breaks you, choosing yourself, and building the kind of relationship you truly deserve.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Running Toward Himself: Chris Sanders on Divorce, Healing, and Choosing Love Again

Learn more about Chris Sanders:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/heetrie

Breaking the Silence: 3 Women, 3 Paths, One Truth

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What does healing really look like when you stop performing for the world and actually tell the truth? That question sat with me throughout these conversations—and it’s why I’m so excited to share this special Love and Trauma: The Real Deal recap episode. This week, I’m revisiting my favorite moments from interviews with three incredible women who don’t just talk about resilience—they live it. Each of them has walked a different path. But they share one undeniable truth: real healing begins when we break the silence.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Breaking the Silence: 3 Women, 3 Paths, One Truth

Healing Vibes

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMT

You know those people who just radiate success? The ones who are crushing it in business, look polished on the outside, and seem like they have it all together? This week on Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I sat down with one of those women—Elle Petrillo. And let me tell you… this episode is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and the kind of truth that can change the way you see yourself. Elle is a top brand strategist, speaker, and coach who’s helped over 1,000 thought leaders, bestselling authors, and top podcasters cut through the noise and build profitable personal brands with purpose. Her team at Brand Builders Group is known for helping mission-driven experts become unforgettable—and Elle lives and breathes that mission. But behind her impressive resume is a story that’s raw and real. Elle opened up about losing her dad at 13, entering a string of trauma-fueled relationships, surviving an emotionally abusive marriage with an addict, and how she finally broke the cycle by doing the work—not the performative kind, but the deep, uncomfortable, transformational work.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Healing Vibes

Learn more about Elle Petrillo:

The Emotional Bomb Suit We Wear for Love and How to Take it Off

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Emily is a writer, a mom, and someone who’s been quietly doing the messy, sacred work of healing in the middle of marriage, motherhood, and trauma. When I read her viral Substack post, Love Is a Battlefield, I instantly saw myself in her words. She described what it’s like to live in a relationship while wearing an emotional bomb suit—always ready to protect, perform, and survive, even when no one’s actively attacking.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The Emotional Bomb Suit We Wear for Love and How to Take it Off

Learn more about Emily Gangell:

Website: https://emilygangell.substack.com/p/love-is-a-battlefield
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.kamerbeek/

Surviving the Crash Was Just the Beginning

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What happens when you survive the unimaginable — but spend decades convinced no one could ever really love the real you? In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I sat down with keynote speaker, marketing executive, and absolute powerhouse Sabrina Bier — and let me tell you, her story is one I’ll never forget. The day before college was supposed to start, Sabrina was hit by a drunk driver and thrown into a medical crisis that would shape the next 20+ years of her life. From a coma and multiple surgeries to a long-term autoimmune diagnosis, Sabrina didn’t just survive — she fought like hell to thrive. But here’s the part most people don’t see. While Sabrina was building a successful career and showing up as the strong one in every room, she was silently holding herself back in the most personal areas of life — her relationships, her vulnerability, her sense of worthiness. Because when trauma tells you that you’re broken… it takes a long time to believe anyone could really love what’s underneath the armor.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Surviving the Crash Was Just the Beginning

Learn more about Sabrina Bier:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sabrinabier

What do a trauma therapist, an orgasm coach, and a burned-out pediatrician have in common?

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What do a trauma therapist, an orgasm coach, and a burned-out pediatrician have in common? More than you'd ever expect. This month on Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we went there. Into the stories, the breakdowns, the breakthroughs—and the kind of healing that doesn’t come from reading a book, but from living the pain and choosing to come back home to yourself. In this special May recap episode, I’m revisiting the conversations that cracked me open and reminded me why I do this work. If you're new to the podcast or just catching up, this is the perfect entry point. If you’ve been with me all along—consider this your deep breath and reminder: you're not alone.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: What do a trauma therapist, an orgasm coach, and a burned-out pediatrician have in common?

What Happens When the Woman Who's Spent Her Life Saving Others...Finally Breaks? (Part 2)

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What happens when the woman trained to save others… realizes she can’t save herself? That was the wake-up call for Dr. Lamia Katbi—a high-achieving pediatrician, keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, and author of Just What the Doctor Ordered: Five Pillars of Optimal Health. After years of overgiving, perfectionism, and running on fumes, her body—and her life—hit a wall. In this deeply honest two-part conversation on Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Dr. Katbi opened up about her breaking point, how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, and how her own healing journey is now helping her serve families and children with more compassion, insight, and clarity than ever before. From the silent weight of burnout to the subtle signs of trauma in kids, this is the episode every parent, partner, and provider needs to hear.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: What Happens When the Woman Who's Spent Her Life Saving Others...Finally Breaks? (Part 2 )

Learn more about Lamia Katbi:

Website: https://drlamia.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drlamiakatbi

What Happens When the Woman Who's Spent Her Life Saving Others...Finally Breaks? (Part 1)

Thu, 22 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: What Happens When the Woman Who's Spent Her Life Saving Others...Finally Breaks? (Part 1)

Learn more about Lamia Katbi:

Website: https://drlamia.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drlamiakatbi

Your Survival Mode Isn't Your Fault - But It's Not Serving You Anymore

Thu, 15 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What if the very patterns you use to feel safe in a relationship are the same ones keeping you stuck? When I sat down with Ayla Fleming, LCSW, LCADC — a trauma-informed therapist that’s the question we unpacked in this week’s powerful episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal. Ayla isn’t just an expert in the field… she’s lived it. Ayla grew up in a household shaped by addiction, anxiety, and emotional chaos. Like so many of us, she learned early on to become the strong one, the peacekeeper, the overfunctioner. And just like me — she brought those patterns straight into her adult relationships, thinking they were a form of love. Together, we opened up about our journeys through codependency, dysregulation, and what it really takes to build a healthy, mutual relationship after trauma has rewired the way you connect.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Your Survival Mode Isn't Your Fault - But It's Not Serving You Anymore

Learn more about Ayla Fleming:

Website: www.aylaflemingllc.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aylathetherapist

The Pleasure Prescription: Healing Trauma One Orgasm at a Time

Thu, 08 May 2025 15:00:00 GMT

When I first heard Girisha Andrea describe herself as an orgasm coach and grief specialist, I was intrigued. After talking with her? I was absolutely floored. Girisha is a Certified Sex, Love & Relationship Coach who has spent the last 20+ years learning over 100 different healing methods from around the world. She’s the creator of the EMPRESS-O Method—a body-mind-emotion-soul-spirit approach that helps people recover from trauma, reconnect with their pleasure, and reclaim their lives. But what really sets Girisha apart is her lived experience. She grew up in an abusive household in Hungary, spent years disconnected from her body, overachieving and surviving—but not living. Until one day… she couldn’t ignore the numbness anymore. In this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we dive into everything from sexual trauma and nervous system regulation to the grief-intimacy connection and the real meaning of an “orgasmic life.” (Spoiler: It’s not about swinging from chandeliers.)

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The Pleasure Prescription: Healing Trauma One Orgasm at a Time

Learn more about Girisha Andrea Steigler:

Website: http://empressco.online
Instagram: www.instagram.com/girishaandrea

He Doesn’t Have to Change First: How 3 Wives Transformed Their Trauma-Impacted Relationships

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

When you're in a relationship with someone who’s survived childhood trauma, it can feel like nothing works. You try to stay calm. You try to communicate better. You try to fix things—again and again. And yet... you still feel like the enemy. Or the emotional dumping ground. Or like you’re constantly walking on eggshells trying not to trigger something you don’t understand. If you’ve ever felt like, “Maybe it’s just always going to be this way,” this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal is for you. To celebrate our 22nd episode—and the upcoming launch of my next round of group coaching on May 13th—I invited three amazing women from my coaching program to share what really changed for them. Spoiler: It wasn’t about their partners doing more healing work first. These are real wives, in real homes, dealing with very real trauma dynamics—and the transformation they experienced will give you chills.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: He Doesn’t Have to Change First: How 3 Wives Transformed Their Trauma-Impacted Relationships

The Glass of Wine That Saved and Broke Us: Coping, Recovery, and Real Talk About Alcohol

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

This one’s personal. When my marriage was falling apart during my husband’s trauma recovery, I wasn’t drinking to celebrate—I was drinking to survive. If you’ve ever felt that way, this episode is for you. I’m revisiting two of the most powerful, raw conversations I’ve had on the show—with Kathryn Traff, who spent over 20 years in the OR handling life-or-death crises while using alcohol to numb the stress until one brutal 17-hour shift forced her to quit, and Marci Hopkins, who grew up in a home of betrayal and pain and drank to cope until it nearly destroyed her family. We talk about the real science of alcohol’s impact, what it takes to find real calm instead of fake relief, repairing broken relationships, setting boundaries, and the truth about carrying someone else’s trauma while trying not to lose yourself. If you’ve ever poured a drink just to get through the night and wondered, “Is this just my life now?”—you’re not failing, you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The Glass of Wine That Saved and Broke Us: Coping, Recovery, and Real Talk About Alcohol

When the Operating Room Broke Her: And Built Something New

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What if the wine you’re using to “wind down” is actually keeping you stuck in survival mode? That’s the question I didn’t know I needed answered—until I sat down with Kathryn Traff, neuroscience expert, bestselling author, and founder of Kathryn Traff Coaching. In this raw, eye-opening conversation, we pulled back the curtain on something so many high-functioning women silently struggle with: using alcohol to cope. Kathryn’s background is nothing short of incredible. For over 20 years, she worked alongside top neurosurgeons at places like the Mayo Clinic and Stanford, supporting some of the most high-stakes, high-pressure brain and spine procedures in the world. But behind the mask and the scrubs, she was emotionally exhausted, carrying the trauma of what she witnessed in the operating room and the pressure to hold it all together. Like many of us, she turned to alcohol. Not to party—but to survive. A glass of wine here, a ritual there… until it became a habit that affected her health, her clarity, and her connection to herself.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: When the Operating Room Broke Her: And Built Something New

Learn more about Kathryn Traff:

Website: https://revivesoberspirit.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kathryntraffcoaching

Rewriting the Script: Family Secrets, Expectations, and Generational Healing

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:00:00 GMT

In this powerful recap episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I revisit two unforgettable conversations about the hidden wounds we carry and the choices we make to heal them. Coach Karmin Reeves Jenkins shares how learning the truth about her father, following a path she never wanted just to keep the peace, and unspoken resentment shaped her marriage and relationships in ways she never expected. And Dr. Argie Nell Nichols takes us to her Arkansas cattle ranch roots, where Cherokee wisdom and a fiercely loyal brother helped her navigate undiagnosed dyslexia, emotional pain with her mother, and the journey from survival to generational healing. These stories remind us that while our past may shape us, it doesn’t have to define us.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Rewriting the Script: Family Secrets, Expectations, and Generational Healing

Raised by Cherokee Elders, Shaped by Struggle

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Imagine a world where kindness isn’t just something we talk about—but something we live by. A world where challenges don’t define you, but instead refine you. That’s the world Dr. Argie Nell Nichols was raised in—thanks to the grounding wisdom of her Cherokee grandparents and a barefoot, wild-hearted childhood on a cattle ranch in Arkansas. But don’t let the picturesque backdrop fool you—Argie’s story is one of grit, grace, and generational healing. In our latest episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Dr. Argie opens up about the complicated layers of her early life. Her dyslexia went undiagnosed for years, leaving her to quietly struggle in school. Her relationship with her mother brought emotional pain that took decades to process. But through it all, she leaned on the fierce love of her older brother—her protector, her guide, and her constant. That relationship, rooted in loyalty and unconditional love, became a blueprint for how Argie would go on to lead, teach, and inspire.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Raised by Cherokee Elders, Shaped by Struggle

Learn more about Dr. Argie Nichols:

Website: https://herlifelegacy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/argienellnichols_

When Numbing Doesn't Work Anymore: A Wake-Up Call to Heal

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMT

What if the lowest point in your life—the one filled with shame, regret, and fear—was actually the turning point? That’s exactly what happened to Marci Hopkins, award-winning TV host, podcast creator, author of Chaos to Clarity, and recovery advocate. In this week’s episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, Marci and I had an incredibly raw, honest conversation about how childhood trauma shaped her coping mechanisms, how she used alcohol to survive, and what it took to finally break the cycle—not just for herself, but for her entire family. Marci’s story is a true testament to what’s possible when you decide to stop numbing and start healing. It’s not just about sobriety. It’s about wholeness—and becoming the woman, mother, and partner she was always meant to be.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: When Numbing Doesn't Work Anymore: A Wake-Up Call to Heal

Learn more about Marci Hawkins:

Website: https://wakeupwithmarci.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wake_up_with_marci

The Truth About People-Pleasing, Past Wounds, and Living a Life That's Not Yours

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Alright, imagine this: You’re eight years old, and out of nowhere, you find out the man you thought was your father… isn’t. Your real dad? Someone you’ve never met—and he’s in prison. Now fast forward a few years, and you’re stepping into a military career—not because it was your dream, but because it was the path your family laid out for you. You didn’t want it, but you went along with it. You kept the peace. You did what was expected. That’s exactly what Coach Karmin Reeves Jenkins went through. In this episode, Karmin opens up about the childhood revelations that rocked her world, the pressure to please others that led her down a path she never truly wanted, and how all of that—her past, her unspoken resentment, and the patterns she didn’t even realize she was carrying—started showing up in her relationships, especially in her marriage.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The Truth About People-Pleasing, Past Wounds, and Living a Life That's Not Yours

Learn more about Karmin Reeves Jenkins:

Website: www.ih4al.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/karmin_simone_

From Medical Trauma to Truth: How to Break the Cycle and Build a Life of Purpose

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Niobis is a nationally recognized healthcare leader, a best-selling author, and a total powerhouse in her industry. But behind all the accolades is a story of resilience, survival, and deep emotional healing—one that started when she was just eight years old, acting as the translator for her mother’s cancer diagnosis. That alone stopped me in my tracks. As a mother, I can’t imagine placing that weight on a child’s shoulders—but Niobis didn’t have a choice. That moment was the beginning of her becoming “the strong one,” the fixer, the responsible one who carried everyone else’s load. And wow… if you’ve been following my story, you know that hit home. Niobis went on to face an unimaginable series of health crises—a brain tumor, a stroke, two cardiac arrests, and a devastating car accident—yet she still pushed forward, still wore the mask, still kept it all together… until she couldn’t anymore.

Watch the Full Episode on YouTube: From Medical Trauma to Truth: How to Break the Cycle and Build a Life of Purpose

Learn more about Niobis Queiro:

Website: www.queirogroup.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/niobisqueiro

Breaking Free: The Best of February on Love and Trauma

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

This recap episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal dives into my favorite February moments—powerful conversations about letting go of control, people-pleasing, and emotional overwhelm. Featuring Heather Hanson on breaking perfectionist walls, Amy Sanders on unlearning people-pleasing in blended families, and Nicole Gotthold on using breathwork to release grief and trauma, these stories offer real tools for real healing. Plus, I share my own biggest takeaway that just might shift how you see your own journey.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Breaking Free: The Best of February on Love and Trauma

From People Pleaser to Powerhouse: Breaking Cycles

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In this powerful episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I sat down with Amy—bestselling author, master-certified coach, and unapologetic advocate for women’s empowerment—to talk about what it really takes to heal from betrayal, religious conditioning, and people-pleasing patterns that keep you stuck. Amy's story is one of grit, grief, and growth. From losing her sister to suicide at age 10, to marrying someone her whole body said “no” to, to becoming a broke single mom of three—she’s lived it. But she didn’t stop there. She took small steps to reclaim her power, and today, she’s a self-made millionaire helping women rewrite their stories and rise into their brilliance.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: From People Pleaser to Powerhouse: Breaking Cycles

Learn more about Amy Sanders:

Website: https://amysanders.co/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/amysanderslife

When Emotions Don't Make Sense: Breathwork, Triggers and Healing

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Nicole Gotthold, a Transformational Breathwork & Empowerment Practitioner who found herself completely undone after the sudden loss of her husband. Grief, anxiety, perfectionism—it all came crashing in. Nicole is a Transformational Breathwork, Energy & Empowerment Practitioner who found her way to healing after one of life’s most heartbreaking moments.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: When Emotions Don't Make Sense: Breathwork, Triggers and Healing

Learn more about Nicole Gotthold:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/wildheartcompass

From Control to Connection: How to Stop Surviving and Start Healing

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In the latest episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I had the honor of sitting down with Heather Hanson—also known as the Gut Health Paramedic. She's a best-selling author, speaker, and wellness expert who’s helped countless women overcome chronic symptoms like fatigue, bloating, brain fog, and weight gain. But in this conversation, she shared a side of her story most people have never heard. Heather opened up—for the first time ever—about how her childhood trauma shaped the very coping mechanisms that helped her survive, but eventually started to sabotage her health and relationships. Her story is one that so many of us can relate to: high-functioning on the outside, emotionally exhausted on the inside.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: From Control to Connection: How to Stop Surviving and Start Healing

Learn more about Heather Hanson:

Website: https://flourishnutritionaltherapy.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/flourishnutritionaltherapy

The Healing Shift: Four Stories That Will Change How You Love

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

In this special recap of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, we dive into the most powerful moments from four remarkable survivors who prove healing isn’t just possible—it can transform your relationships forever. From Cassandra Love Lambert’s somatic trauma work, to Sapha Pardo’s lessons in emotional mastery, Danette Haag’s journey from shame to self-worth, and Emily Cleghorn’s raw honesty about breaking generational cycles, these conversations will challenge what you think you know about trauma, connection, and love.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The Healing Shift: Four Stories That Will Change How You Love

From Survival to Self-Love: Healing Trauma Through the Body

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

On this episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I sat down with the radiant and raw Cassandra Love Lambert—founder of C-Love, trauma-trained Somatic Transformational Coach, artist, and soon-to-be author of Becoming My Own Hero. And let me tell you: this conversation was one I’ll never forget. Cassandra doesn’t just talk about trauma healing—she embodies it. From being put into foster care at 2 years old, to surviving years of sexual abuse and emotional neglect, to navigating toxic relationships and becoming a single mom—her story is one of heartbreak, resilience, and rising.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: From Survival to Self-Love: Healing Trauma Through the Body

Learn more about Cassandra Love Lambert:

Website: https://cassandralovelambert.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/c_love_lambert

Partners in Healing: Real Talk on Loving Through Trauma

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:00:00 GMT

This episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal is a must-listen for anyone loving someone with a traumatic past. I’m sharing my favorite moments from four incredible partners who open up about the raw truth of supporting someone through healing. From Kathy Baldwin’s red-flag blueprint, Zoltán Szentkirályi’s honest take on boundaries and self-worth, Cory Martin’s eye-opening insights on addiction and trauma, to Heather Abbott’s journey of rediscovering herself while rebuilding her marriage—these stories deliver real tools, wisdom, and hope for transforming your relationship.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Partners in Healing: Real Talk on Loving Through Trauma

How One Wife Found Herself and Saved Her Marriage in the Process

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Heather is a working mom of twins, a wife, and one of the earliest members of my coaching program. Her story is the real deal: from feeling like her marriage was crumbling, to learning how to shift the dynamic, find herself again, and become a quiet force of support for her husband who—like so many—was silently battling the weight of childhood trauma. In the latest episode of Love and Trauma: The Real Deal, I had the honor of sitting down with Heather Hanson—also known as the Gut Health Paramedic. She's a best-selling author, speaker, and wellness expert who’s helped countless women overcome chronic symptoms like fatigue, bloating, brain fog, and weight gain. But in this conversation, she shared a side of her story most people have never heard. Heather opened up—for the first time ever—about how her childhood trauma shaped the very coping mechanisms that helped her survive, but eventually started to sabotage her health and relationships. Her story is one that so many of us can relate to: high-functioning on the outside, emotionally exhausted on the inside.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: How One Wife Found Herself and Saved Her Marriage in the Process

When Love Gets Messy

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

I sat down with Zoltán Szentkirályi—a guy who’s got some serious guts and a heart of gold. He’s on a mission to help empathetic men survive the beautiful disaster of loving someone with unresolved trauma. And let me tell you, his story hits like a champagne cork popping off at just the wrong moment. Zoltán teaches stats at SMU (yawn—but stay with me), founded Breakthrough New Life, LLC, and somehow became the patron saint of men trying to keep their love lives afloat when trauma’s got the wheel. His own marriage faced some serious turbulence thanks to the lingering effects of his wife’s childhood trauma. Instead of crumbling, he turned his mess into a mission: helping men honor their love, keep their dignity, and not lose their minds in the process.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: When Love Gets Messy

Learn more about Zoltán Szentkirályi:

Website: https://doctorzoltan.com

Breaking Generational Cycles

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Emily Cleghorn is a Trigger Recovery Coach, author, cycle breaker, and mom of three who’s made it her life’s mission to help other mothers stop the trauma cycle—for good. After growing up in a home shaped by silence, fear, and emotional wounds, Emily is now raising her own children in a radically different way: with emotional safety, compassion, and healing at the center.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Breaking Generational Cycles

Learn more about Emily Cleghorn:

Website: https://mamahoodaftertrauma.podbean.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/emily.mamahoodaftertrauma

Supporting Loved Ones Through Addiction

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT

My recent conversation with Cory Martin, founder of The Recovery Revolution, was one I wish I had heard years ago. Cory isn’t just another voice in the space—she’s lived this. From watching loved ones spiral to losing herself in codependent relationships, Cory has turned her pain into a powerful platform to help others find clarity, peace, and a new way forward.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Supporting Loved Ones Through Addiction

Learn more about Cory Martin:

Website: www.recoveryrevolution.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/coryexists

From Explosion to Empowerment: Scars, Self-Worth, and Healing Relationships

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Trauma changes us. It leaves scars—both visible and invisible—that can feel overwhelming. But what we choose to do with those scars can transform not only our lives but the lives of those around us. That’s why I’m so excited to share my interview with Danette Haag on Love and Trauma: The Real Deal. Danette is a survivor in every sense of the word. After surviving a house explosion that left her with severe scars, she didn’t let her trauma define her. Instead, she used it as fuel to rebuild her life, becoming the first severely scarred woman crowned Mrs. Colorado 2021, a trauma mentor, and a mindset coach.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: From Explosion to Empowerment: Scars, Self-Worth, and Healing Relationships

Learn more about Danette Haag:

Website: https://beautyfromashesspeaker.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/danette_beautyfromashes

Trauma as an Explanation, Not an Excuse

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Trauma can leave a lasting impact not just on the person who experienced it but on their relationships, too. In my recent interview with Kathy Baldwin, the self-proclaimed “Crap Expert,” we dove into how unhealed trauma manifests in relationships and, more importantly, how to move forward with understanding, accountability, and healing. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation—lessons that can help anyone navigate the complexities of trauma in relationships.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: Trauma as an Explanation, Not an Excuse

Learn more about Kathy Baldwin:

Website: https://unlearnthecrap.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathybaldwin_unlearnthecrap

The First Relationship to Break: Reclaiming the Self After Trauma

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:28:13 GMT

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Sapha Pardo, Women’s Embodiment + Empowerment Mentor, and we go all the way there—the self-abandonment so many of us don’t even realize we’re living with, how trauma fractures our relationship with ourselves, and what it really takes to start feeling whole again.

Watch Full Episode on YouTube: The First Relationship to Break: Reclaiming the Self After Trauma

Learn more about Sapha Pardo:

Website: www.yoursoulfulgoddess.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/yoursoulfulgoddess