Experiencing the Freedom of Trauma Recovery in Your Own Way, with Michele Rosenthal

01/07/19 • 44 min

My guest on this episode of the podcast, the incredible Michele Rosenthal is here to share some of her expertise in the area of PTSD and trauma recovery, including how her journey started and some of the experiences she's had a long the way that have helped to come to a point of being able to not only share her story but work with others to help them facilitate what their healing experience will be.

Michele Rosenthal's story, and her work, has been featured on NBC, CBS, The Washington Post, Women's World, Psychology Today, and many other outlets. She is a Trauma Recovery Strategist who began her healing journey in 1998 and has taken her recovery and made it her own by creating a healing intention and taking control of her life so that she could experience complete freedom.

As she outlines on her website: I learned about the importance of hope and belief – from inside myself and from those working with me. I also learned about the critical elements of self-empowerment, vision, meaning and identity. Plus, how we can harness those core strengths and apply them to healing trauma.

By the time I completed my trauma recovery transformation I’d learned a lot about what it takes to release the past, connect to the present, and build a new future. I’d also developed a really deep desire to do something with all that knowledge. Since then I have made it my focus to inspire, guide and assist survivors to overcome depression, worry, and fear as they rebuild their lives after trauma and adversity.

During my chat with Michele we cover:

4:45 - What does it mean to fully heal from trauma and what does that look like; how do we begin to facilitate that?
10:05 - We discuss the layers that make up Shame and Blame in trauma recovery. How do you get to a point of being able to share our story, and work through the fear that doing so creates. (as you'll hear, fear manifests itself in many ways during this process)
14:45 - We continue chatting about Fear in regards to moving forward in healing. How does fear hold you back? The problems with trying to control healing, so it moves at the pace you feel it should..and why that doesn't always work out. What being obsessed with healing can do to us and for us.
18:28 - Choosing your identity coming out of trauma, and how to continue that development. Creating and mastering the resources you need to sustain the changes you work so hard to implement.
24:40 - What is a Healing Rampage, and what did that look like for Michele. The process of clawing your way through everything that trauma has dumped on you, and giving 100% of yourself to the determination to be free. We also discuss what showing up for yourself means, and how healing is not just a once a week therapy session.We also touch on the benefits and necessity of working with a trauma informed therapist.
31:32 - Michele and I discuss some of the benefits of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) in healing from trauma and overcoming anxiety. The process of creating new neural pathways using the science of how the brain works. Using the language of the brain and how it works to your benefit to speed up healing and experience empowerment in such a more efficient way that feels natural and good to you as an individual.
38:38 - We wrap up by sharing more about the importance of creating and developing the tools that work for you, to sustain you once you've begun your healing journey and once you begin to reach the goals you've set for yourself, so you can handle what life throws at you and the struggles that will ultimately show up.

Don't just take my word for it though by reading the highlights.... Go ahead click play right here in this post or find us on you

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During my chat with Michele we cover:

4:45 - What does it mean to fully heal from trauma and what does that look like; how do we begin to facilitate that?
10:05 - We discuss the layers that make up Shame and Blame in trauma recovery. How do you get to a point of being able to share our story, and work through the fear that doing so creates. (as you'll hear, fear manifests itself in many ways during this process)
14:45 - We continue chatting about Fear in regards to moving forward in healing. How does fear hold you back? The problems with trying to control healing, so it moves at the pace you feel it should..and why that doesn't always work out. What being obsessed with healing can do to us and for us.
18:28 - Choosing your identity coming out of trauma, and how to continue that development. Creating and mastering the resources you need to sustain the changes you work so hard to implement.
24:40 - What is a Healing Rampage, and what did that look like for Michele. The process of clawing your way through everything that trauma has dumped on you, and giving 100% of yourself to the determination to be free. We also discuss what showing up for yourself means, and how healing is not just a once a week therapy session.We also touch on the benefits and necessity of working with a trauma informed therapist.
31:32 - Michele and I discuss some of the benefits of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) in healing from trauma and overcoming anxiety. The process of creating new neural pathways using the science of how the brain works. Using the language of the brain and how it works to your benefit to speed up healing and experience empowerment in such a more efficient way that feels natural and good to you as an individual.
38:38 - We wrap up by sharing more about the importance of creating and developing the tools that work for you, to sustain you once you've begun your healing journey and once you begin to reach the goals you've set for yourself, so you can handle what life throws at you and the struggles that will ultimately show up.

Don't just take my word for it though by reading the highlights.... Go ahead click play right here in this post or find us on you

Support the show

Previous Episode

Anxiety and New Years Resolutions - Ep. 112

So...New Years Resolutions. The very thought often brings about an eye roll, anxious feelings, perhaps apathy, just to name a few. If you're like many, you don't even bother with them because you feel like the don't work anyway so what's the point. For others, the start of each new year is an opportunity to try again with a renewed sense of confidence. Either way, you're not alone.

On this second podcast episode of 2019 (as you'll hear in the podcast I actually call it the 1st episode), I thought I'd take a few minutes and catch you all up on what's been happening with the show, the direction it's headed, and some other projects I'm working on...just in case you're interested in hearing some updates.

If you are..Great, then listen right from the beginning and you'll be all set.

However, if getting those news and notes isn't really your thing, that's cool too...just forward to the 6:50 mark of the podcast where I dive in to the New Years' Resolutions, Anxiety, and setting yourself up for success as much as possible with the goals you make for yourself.

We'll dive into things like:

The worry of not accomplishing goals can stop you from even bother to set any in the first place.
Extreme thinking, an "all or nothing" mindset, and catastrophizing can lead to self-shame with your goals.
Deciding to make resolutions, or goals, is not a one shot deal, you can have as many do-overs you need.
- I share a bit more of using this "do-over" mentality to your advantage, not your detriment.
Being vigilant about imposter syndrome, and old unhealthy, toxic mindsets that no longer serve you.
Consider adding a goal of continuing something you're already doing, it's a great way to set yourself for a win with your goals.
Make your goals, S.M.A.R.T.
The 3 words, 1 simple phrase, you'll want to add it to every single goal.

Remember, whether you decide to set some resolutions or goals, or not...you deserve to put your healing first in 2019. Anxiety has no place in your life, so make this the year that you take your power back from Anxiety...and empower yourself for a change.

-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP

All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.

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Next Episode

The Sexy-Brilliant Mindset of Empowerment and Personal Development, with Devina Kaur - Ep. 114

Taking a unique approach to personal development, making it your own based on the circumstances you had to overcome and what message resonates with you, is exactly what my guest on this episode of the podcast, Devina Kaur, has done. After all, when you are dealing a history of mental health challenges, the cookie cutter approach isn't always going to resonate, much less be an effective tool for you to utilize.

Thinking outside the box is what Devina has done and it's allowed her to become a speaker, published author, and start a movement that encourages you to embrace who you truly are on the inside.

Devina Kaur is a fun-loving, flamboyant, straight-talking author, entrepreneur, filmmaker and inspirational speaker. Born and raised in rural India, she fought to reconcile her traditional upbringing with her ambitions. After a lifetime of being told she was too fat, too loud and too ambitious, her world fell apart in her 30s when her arranged marriage ended. Thirty years of desperately trying to be the person everyone else wanted had resulted in loneliness, depression and confusion.

During my chat with Devina, we discuss: (chapter time stamps included)

How she did not like herself growing up. Her struggles with self-esteem about not only who she was and where she came from, but her weight and other challenges eventually found her sitting on railroad tracks contemplating taking her own life.
When the shift happened in her life and the circumstances that allowed her to get to a place of accepting herself and loving herself. You'll learn how she left a secure job in the banking industry; even with all of the success, she was not happy and needed to discover who she was, take care of herself, and gain the courage to discover the direction that would lead her to a new life.
How faith, confidence, experience, and your mindset are all key in your transformation. You'll learn how standing in front of a mirror helped her to reframe the language she used to describe herself, which would also change how she presented herself to others. Gaining inner self-confidence that comes from knowing yourself and your authentic gifts. Understanding both your strengths and weaknesses and that all of your parts, even the darkness, deserves love.
Coming to terms with embracing brilliance, when she truly began to notice a shift in her life and have the ability to love herself not just accept herself.
What can you expect when you visit her website, SexyBrilliant.com , attend one of her events or workshops, and embrace the Sexy Brilliant Philosophy of Personal Development.
Devina shares some of her experiences in the dating world, as well as having to overcome several traumatic events in 2018, which resulted in the return of depression and suicidal thoughts. However, of the resilience she's built up, her support system, and having a firm understanding of who she is and what's capable of, empowered her to work through and overcome those struggles.
How men view the Sexy Brilliant Philosophy of Personal Development, and respond to her message.

Sexy Brilliant - Empowerment from the inside out.

Be sure and check out SexyBrilliant.com for more information on Devina Kaur, including upcoming events, her book series, and appearances. Be sure to follow her on Twitter Facebook, and Instagram, all at TheDevinaKaur.

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