Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse ~ With Kathy Andersen

Today, we’re joined once more by Dr. Lindsay Gibson, clinical psychologist and author of numerous books, who you’ll remember from Season Two when we spoke about overcoming the impacts of damaging parents – or as Lindsay names them, “Emotionally Immature Parents.” Since that last podcast, Lindsay has released another book just last year, to offer even more help with how to deal with Emotionally Immature People (EIPs) in general. I love the title of Lindsay’s new book, Disentangling from Emot...

Today, we’re joined by acclaimed author, facilitator and teacher, Heather Plett, who first joined us in Season Three when we spoke about Heather’s book, The Art of Holding Space. In this podcast, we talk about Heather’s recently released book, Where Tenderness Lives: On Healing, Liberation, and Holding Space for Oneself, which is described as “A journey of self-exploration, forgiveness, and individual and collective healing.” Where Tenderness Lives is an exploration of what it means to unra...

Today, we’re joined by Michelle Brock. Michelle is a master intuitive and spiritual development life coach whose latest book, Who Do You Think You Are?, provides a powerful guide to manifesting the happiness and satisfaction we desire. Michelle helps us to dive into our experiences from the past—and past lives—in order to better understand and experience our present—and especially understand pasts that may be rooted in childhood trauma and abuse. Michelle is also an intuitive counselor, a psy...

Today, we're joined by the pioneering Dr. Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. Dr. Levine is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma, which he has developed over the past 50 years. In his just-released book, An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey, Dr. Levine, who has changed the way psychologists, doctors, and healers around the world understand and treat the wounds of trauma and abuse—shares his own very personal journey to heal t...

Today, Dr. Arielle Schwartz returns to join us—and we’re talking about her two most recent books that continue to help us overcome the impacts of childhood trauma in our adult lives. Dr. Schwartz is a renowned trauma expert, licensed psychologist, registered yoga teacher, and prolific author, and Dr. Schwartz joined us previously as a guest in season two. In Dr. Schwartz’s Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery Flip Chart, released in August of last year, we’re given an array of yoga, b...

Today, Dr. Meg Jay returns and we’re talking about her new book that has just been released, The Twentysomething Treatment. Dr. Jay’s new book focuses on essential skills that we need to handle uncertainties—around work, love, friendship, mental health, and more. While Dr. Jay’s book and specialization focus on the "Twentysomething" age group, we share how mastering these skills is so essential for all of us to handle uncertainties through and beyond the twenty-something decade. Throug...

Today we’re joined by Dr. Bruce D. Perry, M.D.,Ph.D. ​Dr. Perry's book, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, has been translated into 26 languages and has been on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 100 weeks after becoming #1 on the list in April of 2021, and has sold over one million copies. In bold on Amazon is the statement, “This book is going to change the way you see your life.” And for all of us who have read...

Today, we’ve reached our #1 most popular episode, 101 WAYS TO HEAL—PRACTICES TO HEAL TRAUMA & THRIVE, with special guest Linda Curran. Linda is a trauma specialist, clinician, best-selling author, film producer, and a sought after national trainer on trauma. When I read Linda’s book,101 Trauma-Informed Interventions, I knew I needed to introduce Linda to you all because she brings together so many different tools for healing and trauma recovery that we can learn about and tr...

Welcome to the Top 10 Series. Today, we’re at our #2 most popular episode, Triggered To Heal—Experiencing Release, Peace & Growth, with Dr. Karen Baikie, PhD. I started this podcast series in search of knowledge and experiences that can shift us beyond our abuse and trauma, because, as Maya Angelou encouraged us, “When we know better, we do better." But, turning knowing into doing requires us to experience shifts that are deep and powerful enough to stop our habitual responses that...

Today, we’re jumping into our #3 most popular episode, Breaking Myths and Revealing Paths to Happiness, Part 1, with Dr. Meg Jay. Join me with the extraordinary Dr. Meg Jay PhD (Dr. Jay’s TED Talk is one of the most viewed TED Talks with almost 12 million views—that’s because she is truly an inspiration and a voice of wisdom and knowledge!). In Part 1 of this podcast episode, we’ll break myths and leap into discovery and tools to help overcome child sexual abuse: New insights that help us to ...

Today, we’re leaping into our #4 most popular episode, Trauma, Betrayal & Courage—Moving from Silence to Strength, with Dr. Jennifer Freyd. Join me as I talk with Dr. Jennifer Freyd PhD, to understand how betrayal from childhood trauma “show ups” in our adulthood, and ways we can overcome those effects. Dr. Freyd is the founder of The Center for Institutional Courage and Affiliated Faculty at the Women's Leadership Lab at Stanford University. Dr. Freyd is world-renowned for...

Today, we’re at the #5 most popular episode, Healing Sex—Beyond Sexual Trauma, with special guest, Staci Haines. Staci is a national leader in Somatics, the field of connecting mind, body, brain, and behavior to allow us to release deep patterns of stress, anxiety and trauma that are stuck in our bodies. Staci has been in the field of somatics and engaged in social change work for almost 30 years. Staci is the author of The Politics of Trauma: Somatics, Healing and Social Justice which is bas...

Today, we’re at the #6 most popular episode, Breaking Myths & Revealing Paths to Happiness – Part Two, with Dr. Meg Jay (and just as a little spoiler, Part One is also coming up as we get closer to #1). Dr. Jay’s TED Talk is one of the most viewed TED Talks with almost 12 million views—that’s because she is truly an inspiration and a voice of wisdom and knowledge! In Part 2 of this podcast with Dr. Meg Jay PhD, we'll break more myths, and dig deeper into insights and tools to help...

Welcome to The Top 10 Series! Today, we’re leaping into our #7 most popular episode, Beyond Damaging Parents—Living Happily Ever After, with special guest, the wonderful Dr. Lindsay Gibson. Dr. Gibson dramatically and importantly spotlights how the “emotional immaturity” of parents can hinder and hold us back in our adulthood, and how we can regain trust in ourselves and break free from the destructive and confusing effects of negative “programming” from childhood. In her book, Who Yo...

Welcome to The Top 10 Series! We’re taking time to step back and listen to the top ten episodes from the last three seasons before we launch into our upcoming season five. I think the value of The Top 10 is in reinforcing that trauma shows up in many different ways in our daily lives, but also in many ways that are similar. We share a lot of the same triggers, feelings of betrayal, inadequacies, relationship challenges, anxieties, and more—even if we’re functioning incredibly well in everyda...

Welcome to The Top 10 Series! We’re taking time to step back and listen to the top ten episodes from the last three seasons before we launch into our upcoming season five. I think the value of The Top 10 is in reinforcing that trauma shows up in many different ways in our daily lives, but also in many ways that are similar. We share a lot of the same triggers, feelings of betrayal, inadequacies, relationship challenges, anxieties, and more—even if we’re functioning incredibly well in everyday...

Welcome to The Top 10 Series! We’re taking time to step back and listen to the top ten episodes from the last three seasons before we launch into our upcoming season five. I think the value of The Top 10 is in reinforcing that trauma shows up in many different ways in our daily lives, but also in many ways that are similar. We share a lot of the same triggers, feelings of betrayal, inadequacies, relationship challenges, anxieties, and more—even if we’re functioning incredibly well in everyday...

Today, for the Season Finale for Season Three, we’re joined by Linda Curran. Linda is a trauma specialist, clinician, best-selling author, film producer, and a sought after national trainer on trauma. When I read Linda’s book, 101 Trauma-Informed Interventions, I knew I needed to introduce Linda to you all because she brings together so many different tools for healing and trauma recovery that we can learn about and try out—in our time and our own space, and see which ones fit and...

Today, I’m so grateful to be joined by Elena Morgan, formerly known as Ellen Morgan and prior to Ellen, known as Hilary Foretich. Elena’s mother, Elizabeth Morgan, was jailed for over 2 years in 1987 for protecting Elena from her sexually abusive father. Why was she jailed? Because after Elena revealed that she was being sexually abused by her father, and her mother sought custody through the courts, the judge ordered Elena’s mother to allow her abusive father to have unsupervised visits of E...

Today, I’m so grateful to be joined by Dr. Patrick Fratellone, MD. Patrick transformed my thinking and feeling about how doctors can help us heal and overcome the physical and emotional impacts of child sexual abuse in our adult lives. But that’s also because Patrick is not your conventional doctor—I hope he’ll do the same for you in this podcast! Dr. Fratellone’s guiding philosophy is a raw, real, and highly individualized approach to health and well-being. Patrick is guided by his personal ...

Today we’re joined by Kathy Steele. Kathy is a psychotherapist, consultant, trainer, and author. In this podcast, we’ll be diving into skills and insights to help manage and heal the fragmented pieces of ourselves from our childhood abuse that often still sabotage us in adulthood. Kathy’s award-winning book, Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation: Skills Training for Patients and Therapists was Winner of the 2011 International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISS...

John Callas is a Hollywood writer, director, and producer, and his work ranges from the worldwide release of feature films to motion picture trailers, national and international commercials, live action title sequences, and more. John’s book, When The Rain Stops, tells John’s own story of a young man who rose from the ghetto and struggled against neglect and abuse to become a Hollywood director. Facing his experiences was too painful at first, so John started writing When The Rain Stops as a ...

Today, we’re joined by Deanna Hansen. Deanna is the founder of Block Therapy and Fluid Isometrics and is also a certified athletic therapist. For over 20 years, Deanna has helped thousands of people around the world heal from physical and emotional trauma through her programs, including her new 90-Day Trauma Relief program. I only found out about this recently, I tried it, and it’s been mind-blowing for me – so I had to share it with you. Block Therapy and Fluid Isometrics are approache...

Today I’m so excited to be joined by Staci Haines. Staci is a national leader in Somatics, the field of connecting mind, body, brain, and behavior to allow us to release deep patterns of stress, anxiety and trauma that are stuck in our bodies. Staci has been in the field of somatics and engaged in social change work for almost 30 years. Staci is the author of The Politics of Trauma: Somatics, Healing and Social Justice which is based on her work to transform the impact of individual and...

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Dionne Bates. Dionne is a licensed professional counselor who holds a B.A. in sociology, an M.A. in counseling psychology, and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Dr. Bates works with her clients to help them reach optimal mental health by teaching them to affirm themselves, affirm others, and live authentically. After almost 20 years in clinical practice, Dionne has observed that the root of much mental and emotional distress is our inability to integrate our...

Today, I’m joined by the very special, Merle Saferstein. Merle is an educator, speaker, and author. Since 1974, Merle has amassed a collection of 380 journals, 359 of which have been turned into Vol 1 of her book, Living and Leaving My Legacy. Through Merle’s journaling, we experience the power of journaling to help us each move through our lives—the highs, the lows, and everything in between, through trauma, marriage, parenting, grief, career, spirituality, and so much more. Among those high...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by the spirited and energetic, Bernadette Pleasant! Bernadette is a fiery and sensual speaker, somatic healer, Founder of The Emotional Institute, Creator of Femme!, a mind-body wellness program, and creator of 400 Years, a somatic-based anti-racism program. She is known for channeling her personal journeys and radical empathy into transformative, immersive experiences that support and celebrate people of all genders, colors, ages and sizes. She has transforme...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Heather Plett. Heather is known internationally as an expert in the art of holding space. What does it mean to become an expert in “holding space?” Well, as Heather reflects, “ In my case, it took a lot of grief and trauma and many years of fumbling…” and she says, “I think it’s true that many of us end up teaching what we most need to learn.” I first met Heather through her online workshop, The Art of Holding Space, named after her book. Through her book a...

I'm so grateful to be launching Season Three with the beautiful Agapi Stassinopoulos. I first met Agapi, and her equally beautiful sister, Arianna Huffington, when we were creating well-being programs for Arianna’s new endeavor Thrive Global. Right away, Agapi’s inner light filled every part of the room. Agapi’s latest book, Speaking With Spirit, is a beautiful journey of deep connection to "source," and I found it a profoundly powerful experience of connecting to our innate wisdom and our po...

Today, in this finale episode for Season Two, I’m truly thrilled to be joined by Dr. Karen Baikie—all the way from Australia! I started this podcast series in search of knowledge and experiences that can shift us beyond our abuse and trauma, because, as Maya Angelou encouraged us, “When we know better, we do better." But, turning knowing into doing requires us to experience shifts that are deep and powerful enough to stop our habitual responses that hinder us rather than help us, and th...

Today, I’m joined by Katherine Barner - counsellor, coach, grief & trauma expert, author, speaker, and advocate against child sexual abuse. Katherine experienced child sexual abuse when she was fourteen, and her journey through abuse and other life trauma have fueled her journey to help others in the work to which she dedicates herself. In this podcast, we’re going to talk about Beyond Trauma and Loss – Breaking The Silence Cycle. Katherine encourages people, “The truth is, life is ...

Today, I’m joined by Naomi Halpern, Director of Delphi Training and Consulting which has achieved international recognition for its pioneering work in the fields of complex trauma, attachment, PTSD and dissociative disorders. Naomi is also co-author of the book Trauma Model Therapy, and a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. Since 2009, Naomi has been a consultant to the United Nations developing and delivering a broad range of trauma informed programs...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined once again by Dr. Clare Marriott. Clare is a Clinical Psychologist working in the U.K. In 2006, Clare completed her doctoral thesis, investigating factors promoting resilience in adults who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Clare focuses her work on recovery, and in finding things that sustain people outside of the therapy room. During her time as a Clinical Psychologist, Clare has worked with people with chronic mental health challenges and is currentl...

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Dr. Arielle Schwartz, PhD. Dr. Schwartz encourages us, “You are not broken, in need of fixing. Rather, you are deeply hurt, in need of care.” As a practicing clinical psychologist, Dr. Schwartz helps people navigate the difficult challenges we have in our lives by focusing on the whole person – mind and body - to help recover from traumatic events, find relief from depression or anxiety, develop and keep meaningful and nurturing relationships, a...

Today, we’re joined by Timika Chambers. Timika is a thriving survivor – a lioness, as she describes herself. Timika was born in Memphis, Tennessee. At the age of 4 ½, Timika’s mother bought one-way bus tickets for herself and her three children – all under the age of 5 – to leave an abusive marriage. But for Timika, soon after, that journey turned into what she describes as, “the dark wilderness of sexual abuse by two family members.” Timika found purpose in healing herself and others t...

Today, we’re joined by the wonderful Dr. Lindsay Gibson. Dr. Gibson dramatically and importantly spotlights how the “emotional immaturity” of parents can hinder and hold us back in our adulthood, and how we can regain trust in ourselves and break free from the destructive and confusing effects of negative “programming” from childhood. In her book, Who You Were Meant To Be, Dr. Gibson focuses on how people can reconnect with their true self and sense of purpose, esp...

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Pat Ogden, PhD - a pioneer in somatic psychology, and the creator of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy method. Dr. Ogden is founder of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute and co-founder of the Hakomi Institute; she is trained in a huge range of somatic and psychotherapeutic approaches to healing and wellness, and has over 45 years of experience working with individuals and groups. Throughout this podcast, you’ll hear us refer to the word somatic, whic...

Today, I feel so deeply deeply grateful to have Dr. Richard C. Schwartz PhD with us. I was so powerfully moved by Dr. Schwartz’s work before I spoke with him, and as you’ll hear, I have been even more powerfully moved by his work—unexpectedly in this podcast! —and I hope you will find that helpful during this experience today, as well as on your ongoing journey. In his most recent book, No Bad Parts, which features a foreword by Alanis Morissette, Dr. Schwartz shows us empowering new ways of ...

Today, I’m so thrilled to have Deb Dana (LCSW) join us. Deb is a clinician, author, speaker, and consultant specializing in using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma and create ways of living that allow us to positively re-train and shift our nervous system responses. Deb’s work helps us master the skills to become more aware of our nervous system in each moment—and change the way we respond to the big and small challenges of life—especially after child...

In this episode, I'm thrilled to be launching Season Two with the extraordinary, amazing, and so beautiful and generous, Jack Canfield. Jack is probably most famous as the creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series – and he lives his life to help others create all they desire in their lives! Jack is a Multiple New York Times bestselling author of —The Success Principles, The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, Dare to Win, The Key to Living the Law of Attraction, Living the Success Princ...

In this final episode for season one, we talk about our freedom to heal and some profoundly powerful practices that can help us transform our trauma into healing. That's our freedom, and it's the choice we have. You may be surprised that practices we may have dismissed or don't fully understand, can be the keys to shifting our minds and bodies into a state of daily healing. Day by day, those small shifts can add up to "tip" us from ill-being into well-being—in our physical health and in our s...

"Not me, not now" can be one of our most limiting thoughts as we move beyond our hardships and into our happiness. In this podcast episode, I'm doing things a little differently! I'll share a glimpse into the draft of my upcoming book, Yes You, Yes Now! In particular, we'll focus on "Seeing the "All" of You in the Mirror." As we look in the mirror, we can choose to see our unlimited selves, beyond the struggles and uncertainties we face in our lives. We'll also step into some practices,...

Join me and Dr. Sousan Abadian, PhD, as we talk about “cracking ourselves open to allow the light to enter,” and Sousan’s upcoming book, Free Me To Love. I first met Sousan at Harvard Kennedy School 15 years ago and I was immediately captivated by her spirit, her wisdom, and her visionary work to help communities recover from trauma in order to move forward. Over the years, I’ve come to learn so much more of Sousan’s personal story of overcoming trauma, and it is profoundly powerful, moving, ...

In this episode, I'm joined by the love of my life, Laura Kozelouzek. When we met, my life began again—beyond abuse and beyond all the things that hold us back and limit us. "Unbound" defines how Laura and I love each other, how we step into each day together, how we overcome the challenges of our past, and how we adventure forward together. When Laura and I met, we both felt a thousand lifetimes coming together as one. We both have our tragedy and trauma, and we both have our "unbinding" and...

Join me with author, Chandra Moyer, as we talk about The Courage To Confront & Heal Broken Family Relationships & Our Wounded Self. We'll share Chandra's story and dive into three topics: 1. Finding power and peace in confronting and healing our childhood trauma, 2. The good, the bad, and the ugly of telling our mothers and family members of abuse, 3. Loving ourselves and family beyond abuse and into happiness. Chandra is a sought-after speaker, author, life coach, and a decorat...

In this episode, join me and distinguished clinical psychologist, Dr. Clare Marriott PhD., as we talk about ways to build resilience and positive growth habits to help step beyond childhood trauma and into a life determined by our choices, not by our abuse. Dr. Marriott's work has focused on factors that build resilience among survivors of child sexual abuse. Many of us never had the chance to tap into resources to help us ~ many of us were simply in survival mode. Child sexual abuse was a to...

Join me as I talk with Dr. Jennifer Freyd, PhD, to understand how betrayal from childhood trauma “show ups” in our adulthood, and ways we can overcome those effects. How Abusers Silence Victims and How That Affects Us In Adulthood.The Courage To Confront: The Good, The Bad, & "The How?"Women In The Workplace: Overcoming The “Silent and Hidden Barriers” from Childhood Trauma.Dr. Freyd is the founder of The Center for Institutional Courage, and Professor Emerit of Psychology, at the Univers...

In Part 2 of this podcast with Dr. Meg Jay PhD, we'll break more myths, and dig deeper into insights and tools to help overcome child sexual abuse: we'll start by talking about "Naming It To Tame It” - the negative impact of keeping secrets and the freedom in sharing; then, we'll talk about depression– acknowledging it, tending to it, and overcoming it; and finally, we'll talk about the “thing” that makes your life yours – deciding what you want and fully living it! For more resources, visit ...

Join me with the extraordinary Dr. Meg Jay PhD (Dr. Jay’s TED Talk is one of the most viewed TED Talks with almost 12 million views—that’s because she is truly an inspiration and a voice of wisdom and knowledge!). In Part 1 of this podcast episode, we’ll break myths and leap into discovery and tools to help overcome child sexual abuse: New insights that help us to understand how childhood trauma affects adults; the notion of “normal” and how that helps or harms us; and how our adult choices, ...

Join me with the extraordinary Dr. Meg Jay PhD (Dr. Jay’s TED Talk is one of the most viewed TED Talks with almost 12 million views—that’s because she is truly an inspiration and a voice of wisdom and knowledge!). In Part 1 of this podcast episode, we’ll break myths and leap into discovery and tools to help overcome child sexual abuse: New insights that help us to understand how childhood trauma affects adults; the notion of “normal” and how that helps or harms us; and how our adult choices, ...

Overcoming Child Sexual Abuse is a positive and uplifting podcast series to help overcome the struggles that remain in our adult lives from experiences of child sexual abuse. In this series, Kathy Andersen, award-winning self-development author and survivor of a childhood of sexual abuse, brings together leading experts and inspiring contributors in areas including positive and clinical psychology, self-mastery and development, and trauma recovery to share practical approaches and new learnin...