Trauma Is Real

In this episode of Trauma Is Real, Sarah is answering some listener questions about trauma, worthiness, anxiety, parenting, and building relationships. The conversation highlights that healing is a journey that often requires support and connection with others. Questions answered in this episode:​"I've been through a lot growing up, and sometimes I feel like I'm too 'damaged' to have a healthy relationship. How do you even begin to believe you're worthy of love when your past keeps trying to convince you otherwise?"​"Anxiety is something I carry with me constantly — especially at work, where I feel like I have to be 'on' all the time. ​Do you have any tips for managing anxiety when you can’t just step away or shut down?"I'm a parent trying to love my child through their own trauma, but I worry I'm not doing it right. ​How can we show up for kids who are hurting, especially when we're still healing ourselves?""Trusting people feels impossible sometimes, and I find myself pushing people away before they even get close. ​How can someone with a traumatic past start building real, meaningful relationships again?"​Have a question you'd like answered on the show? Send them to [email protected] in working with Soul Bird Consulting in 2025? Head to soulbirdconsulting.info to learn more!

In this episode of The Trauma is Real, Dr. Adrienne Kennedy shares her powerful journey from child welfare and education to becoming a DJ, exploring how music, joy, and community play vital roles in healing.With over two decades of experience, she challenges the label "at-risk youth," advocating instead for "strategically undervalued," and underscores the impact of consistent mentorship—especially for youth in foster care. Dr. Kennedy also dives into her work promoting antiracist, trauma-responsive practices in education and youth services.The Intersection of Music and Healing (3:30)Redefining Language Around Youth (8:36)Building Community Through Music and Advocacy (15:12)Building Lasting Relationships for Youth Empowerment (20:00)Transformative Outcomes for Youth in Foster Care (23:01)Integrating Creative Outlets in Trauma Healing (28:51)Friends of the Children and the launch of the Columbus chapter.You can learn more about Dr. Kennedy here. Interested in supporting Friends of the Children? Head to this link to give and be sure to write "Columbus chapter" in the message box to ensure your donation goes directly to their efforts.

In this episode of Trauma is Real, Sarah speaks with Dr. Lori Desautels about the significance of applied educational neuroscience and its impact on educators and students. The conversation explores the importance of understanding adult nervous systems, the challenges of navigating compliance in educational settings, and the shift from behaviorism to a more trauma-informed approach. In this episode:The Importance of Adult Nervous Systems (6:05)The Shift from Behaviorism to Understanding Trauma (11:56)Building Endurance in Educators (15:08)Integrating Micro-Moments into Data Collection (21:13)Personal Anchors and Community Building (23:58)Stories of Transformation in Education (26:49)Learn more about Dr. Desautels here.

Welcome back to Trauma Is Real! In this conversation, Sarah is speaking with Nick Prefontaine about his profound journey of healing from a traumatic brain injury sustained during a snowboarding accident at the age of 14. He discusses the pivotal moments that contributed to his recovery, including the importance of support, trust, energy, and persistence, encapsulated in his STEP system. Nick emphasizes the significance of stillness and self-care in the healing process, and how purpose plays a crucial role in overcoming trauma. The STEP System (7:13)The Importance of Purpose in Healing (20:05)The Role of Stillness in Healing (26:36)The Power of Self Care (32:05)Send questions about this episode to [email protected].

"Play is the intervention, not the reward."​ In this episode, ​Sarah is speaking with occupational therapist Kelsie​ Olds about the importance of understanding children's perspectives through play. ​​They highlight how sensory processing and imaginative play support learning, emotional regulation, and healing​,​ as well as its role in coping with trauma​.Kelsie is an occupational therapist and author working both on- and offline to share knowledge widely about the ways that children grow, develop, and learn.Importance of Sensory Processing (9:52)Play as a Neural Exercise (13:45)Play as an Intervention, Not a Reward (17:33)Healing Power of Imagination (32:14)Importance of Belonging and Safety (37:45)Learn more about Kelsie here, and check out their book Autistic God.

In this episode of Trauma Is Real, Sarah is joined by Octavia Raheem to explore the profound importance of rest in healing from trauma. They discuss how pausing and being present can create a collective ripple of rest that fosters safety and ease. Octavia shares her insights on the challenges of slowing down, the impact of trauma on the body, and the necessity of curiosity over judgment in self-reflection. The conversation also touches on the role of playfulness in the healing process, emphasizing the need for intentionality in finding joy amidst the journey of rest and recovery.Octavia Raheem is an award-winning author, rest coach, restorative yoga nidra, meditation teacher, and speaker. You can learn more about her work here. ​Practice of Pausing & Resting (5:47)​Curiosity vs. Judgement in Self-Reflection (17:25)​Importance of Rest and Joy (34:00)​Interrupting the Cycle of Burnout (41:00)Have questions or comments about this week’s episode? Share them here: [email protected].

​Welcome back to another episode of Trauma is Real! In this conversation, Sarah is speaking with Nkem Ndefo about exploring and defining inner safety, liberation and healing.​Nkem Ndefo, MSN, CNM, RN, is the founder of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit. She is a skilled practitioner, dynamic speaker, and valued strategist. She is known for her unique ability to connect with people of all types by holding powerful healing spaces, weaving complex concepts into accessible narratives, and creating synergistic and collaborative learning communities that nourish people’s innate capacity for healing, wellness, and connection.​Mentioned in this episode: Understanding safety in trauma contexts (9:00)Importance of self-awareness in regulation (23:00)Personal practices for nourishment and freedom (31:24)Resilience Toolkit (31:30)Have questions or thoughts about today’s episode? Send them to [email protected].

Welcome back to Trauma Is Real! In this episode, we’re speaking with Stephen Terrell about healing in relationship.Terrell is a leading expert in the field of Developmental Trauma and Adoption and is recognized around the world for his work in Developmental Trauma and Healing.  He understands Developmental Trauma from the inside out and the outside in.  Terrell has performed more than 35,000 individual Transforming Touch® sessions and taught thousands of students from around the world his Regulation Focused Modality, Transforming Touch.Mentioned in this episode: Somatic Touch (9:00)Understanding developmental trauma (14:20)Self-regulation vs. co-regulation (20:45)Transforming touch — a path to resilience (28:51)Accountability in healing (37:30)Learn more about Stephen and his work here.We’re loving the feedback we’re getting so far from you all! Have a question about something you heard on the show? Email Sarah and she’ll answer your question!Follow the podcast on socials: Soul Bird Consulting

​Robert Jordan says, "the oak tree stiffened with the wind and broke, but the willow tree bent when it needed and survived." In the first episode of season 2, we're talking to the incredible Annie Brook!Annie Brook,  Ph.D, LPC, MSME (ISMETA), Body-Mind Centering teacher, is a therapist in high regard in the Somatic community. Her unique experiential approach gets lasting results. In 2001, Annie founded the Brook Institute for Somatic Studies and Psychotherapy where she trains therapists as well as offers classes that blend psychotherapy, sensory-motor neuroscience/cognition, play therapy, early bonding attachment, Body-Mind Centering, cranial sacral, touch/movement education, and perinatal therapy to offer lasting results.Mentioned in this episode:Myths surrounding trauma in youth and education (19:24)Action steps to meet the unmet needs of children (29:05)Prenatal time & Annie's book Birth's Hidden Legacy: Vol. 1 (38:50)Resources for caregivers (51:37)Learn more about Annie’s work and discover her resources here. To contact Annie, click here.We’re loving the feedback we’re getting so far from you all! Have a question about something you heard on the show? Email Sarah and she’ll answer your question!

Welcome back! This week’s episode is brought to you by YOU! Sarah is joined by podcast producer Asatta, for a round of listener-submitted questions about trauma-responsive care. Then stick around because Sarah makes a special podcast related announcement. Thank you all for your listenership and engagement! We got so many questions, we will definitely do another episode like this again.Still have questions? Didn’t hear your question asked? Submit one to: [email protected] in the episode:Feelings Inventory- The Center for Non Violent Communication Follow the podcast on socials: Soul Bird Consulting