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Journey to Healing:
Trauma • People-Pleasing • Relationships • Dissociation
Healing from trauma isn’t easy—but you don’t have to figure it out alone. This blog is a safe place to explore what it really means to recover from childhood wounds, break free from people-pleasing, and navigate the ups and downs of relationships after trauma.
As a trauma therapist serving women in North Dakota and Minnesota, I share insights, tools, and real-talk guidance about topics like:
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Understanding the effects of trauma on the nervous system and relationships
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Finding freedom from anxiety, guilt, and shame
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Supporting healing if you live with dissociation or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
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Practical strategies to set boundaries, care for yourself, and move forward
Whether you’re searching for hope, wanting to understand yourself better, or curious about therapy, you’re in the right place. Healing is possible—let’s take this journey together.
Why Saying No is an Act of Self-Compassion
Saying “no” isn’t selfish — it’s self-respect in action. And it’s one of the most powerful ways to practice self-compassion.
Sep 16, 20252 min read
5 Signs You’re Ready for Permission-Based Healing
permission-based healing might be the fresh start you need. This approach invites you to give yourself grace, rest, and freedom to heal at your own pace — without guilt or pressure.
Sep 12, 20252 min read
What Is Permission-Based Healing and Why It Changes Everything
Permission-based healing means giving yourself explicit permission to heal on your own terms — in your own time, your own way. It’s about letting go of external expectations, timelines, and pressure to “fix” yourself quickly or perfectly.
Sep 9, 20252 min read
What Healing Truly Means
Healing isn’t a finish line. It’s a permission slip — one you write for yourself — to live in a way that honors your needs, your story, and your pace.
Sep 5, 20252 min read
How to Find the Right Therapist (Even If It's Overwhelming)
Therapy costs and payment methods vary widely. Some therapists accept insurance; others are private pay only. Think about what works best for your budget and comfort around privacy (private pay often means more confidentiality). Don’t hesitate to ask upfront about fees, sliding scales, and insurance acceptance.
Aug 29, 20252 min read
Self-Compassion for the People Pleaser
People-pleasing often grows from childhood environments where love and approval were earned—not freely given. You may have learned to anticipate others’ emotions, walk on eggshells, or silence your own needs in order to avoid conflict or maintain connection.
Aug 26, 20252 min read
Quieting the Inner Critic: A Trauma-Informed Approach
When we internalize these messages, we carry them forward—not because we want to, but because at one point, they helped us stay safe or avoid conflict.
Aug 22, 20252 min read
How People-Pleasing Shows Up in the Body
Ignoring these bodily signals can worsen both physical and emotional health. Recognizing how people-pleasing manifests physically is the first step to healing. Learning to listen to your body and respond with self-compassion is crucial.
Aug 19, 20251 min read
How to Feel Safe Saying How You Really Feel
Feeling unsafe to express your feelings is often rooted in past experiences. Maybe you were told to “stop being so sensitive,” or that your emotions made others uncomfortable. These messages become internalized beliefs that speaking up will lead to rejection or harm.
Aug 15, 20252 min read
The Science of Trauma: How it Shapes the Brain, Body, and Behavior
Trauma can lead to a dysregulated nervous system, where we either become hypervigilant (anxious, on edge) or hypo-aroused (numb, shut down). These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re your body’s way of keeping you safe.
Aug 12, 20252 min read
5 Questions to Ask When Setting Boundaries
What happens if I don’t set this boundary?
This helps you assess the cost of staying silent. Will you feel resentful? Burned out? Anxious? Recognizing the impact of not speaking up can give you the courage to do so.
Aug 8, 20252 min read
Trauma & the Workplace: How Unresolved Wounds Show UP on the Job
These aren’t personality flaws. They’re coping mechanisms that may have once protected you—especially if you experienced emotional neglect, high-conflict homes, or environments where safety, approval, or worth were conditional.
Aug 5, 20252 min read
Why People-Pleasers Struggle with Boundaries
Many people-pleasers grew up in environments where being "good," helpful, or agreeable was how they kept the peace. Saying no or asserting needs may have triggered rejection, punishment, or emotional withdrawal. Over time, this survival-based pattern becomes deeply ingrained—and boundaries start to feel unsafe, selfish, or wrong.
Aug 1, 20252 min read
Cultural Perspectives on Trauma Healing
Healing from trauma isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our backgrounds, traditions, and communities shape the way we make meaning from pain—and how we recover from it. Western psychology often focuses on individual healing. But many cultures emphasize collective care, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual practices.
Jul 29, 20251 min read
How People-Pleasing Hides in Trauma Responses
What Is the Fawn Response?
It’s a lesser-known trauma response where someone copes by appeasing others to avoid danger, conflict, or rejection. It’s rooted in the belief: If I’m helpful, quiet, and agreeable, I’ll stay safe.
Jul 25, 20251 min read
Trauma And Creativity - How Expression Supports Healing
Healing from trauma isn’t always about talking it out. Sometimes, healing speaks through images, movement, rhythm, or color. Creativity offers a path to access emotions and memories that words alone can’t reach.
Jul 22, 20251 min read
What Recovery from People-Pleasing Really Looks Like
Recovery is full of small wins and hard moments. Sometimes you regress. Sometimes you speak up and feel awful. But over time, you start seeing progress...
Jul 18, 20251 min read
Community Support and Healing
You don’t need a huge circle—just a few safe, present people who hold space for your healing. Trauma may have taught you that you had to go it alone. Healing reminds you: you don't.
Jul 15, 20251 min read
From Exhausted to Empowered
The journey out wasn’t linear. I fumbled through setting boundaries. I cried after saying no. I wrestled with guilt, fear, and loneliness. But slowly, I started choosing myself—not because I stopped caring about others, but because I started caring about myself too.
Jul 11, 20251 min read
The Role of Nutrition in Trauma Recovery
Healing from trauma requires care for both your emotional and physical well-being. While therapy and support are essential, nutrition can also play a surprisingly powerful role in your recovery process. Trauma doesn’t just impact your thoughts—it affects your body, especially your nervous system, immune function, and gut health.
Jul 8, 20251 min read
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