From Trauma to Triumph—Building Confidence, Listening to Your Gut, and Prioritizing Yourself Above All with Risa Kostis
11/23/23 • 64 min
In this episode, I’m joined by clothing and style analyst, Risa Kostis. When Risa set out to create a styling business, she had no idea that it would revolve way more around the people than the articles of clothing or the latest handbag trends. Risa’s true purpose in life is to help women build confidence through her ability to authentically coach them on how to dress and the work she does through not only her style consulting but also her product line, is all done with an overarching theme in mind..."How can I help women in their day-to-day lives look and feel more confident, so they can face the day and know their own strength?" Risa and I discuss her own personal journey through several challenging and traumatic events in her life to come out on the other side happier, healthier, and stronger than ever.
Together, we discuss:
- The traumatic car accident that left her needing several facial reconstructive surgeries
- Navigating a traumatic brain injury and brain health at a time where such topics were not normalized or talked much about
- Grasping her own emotions and healing during a rapidly changing period of life (going from high school into college)
- People pleasing and rooting her acceptance and value in how other people viewed her
- Why she made the conscious choice to be single and independent
- Her history in dating addicts
- Calling off her wedding and then jumping into into a toxic relationship
- The power of listening to her gut and intuition
- Her choice to give up alcohol and the benefits she’s seen
- What she’s discovered in prioritizing her health and wellness over the past year
Connect with Risa:
https://www.instagram.com/risakostis/
Want to share your story of personal growth, healing, and turning your pain into power? Send an email to [email protected]
Connect with Tessa on Instagram @tessakahoun and join a community that helps lift one another up through honest storytelling and connection!
In this episode, I’m joined by clothing and style analyst, Risa Kostis. When Risa set out to create a styling business, she had no idea that it would revolve way more around the people than the articles of clothing or the latest handbag trends. Risa’s true purpose in life is to help women build confidence through her ability to authentically coach them on how to dress and the work she does through not only her style consulting but also her product line, is all done with an overarching theme in mind..."How can I help women in their day-to-day lives look and feel more confident, so they can face the day and know their own strength?" Risa and I discuss her own personal journey through several challenging and traumatic events in her life to come out on the other side happier, healthier, and stronger than ever.
Together, we discuss:
- The traumatic car accident that left her needing several facial reconstructive surgeries
- Navigating a traumatic brain injury and brain health at a time where such topics were not normalized or talked much about
- Grasping her own emotions and healing during a rapidly changing period of life (going from high school into college)
- People pleasing and rooting her acceptance and value in how other people viewed her
- Why she made the conscious choice to be single and independent
- Her history in dating addicts
- Calling off her wedding and then jumping into into a toxic relationship
- The power of listening to her gut and intuition
- Her choice to give up alcohol and the benefits she’s seen
- What she’s discovered in prioritizing her health and wellness over the past year
Connect with Risa:
https://www.instagram.com/risakostis/
Want to share your story of personal growth, healing, and turning your pain into power? Send an email to [email protected]
Connect with Tessa on Instagram @tessakahoun and join a community that helps lift one another up through honest storytelling and connection!
Previous Episode
When Love Turns Toxic: Understanding Trauma Bonds with Licensed Therapist Irene Jacobs
This week on Dear Sunny I’m joined by Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach Irene Jacobs to discuss the complex topic of trauma bonds in toxic relationships. Irene has over 15 years of experience as a therapist serving couples, families, and individuals and specializes in sex addiction, love addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, anxiety, depression, complex trauma, addiction, chemical dependency, victims of domestic sex trafficking, human trafficking, torture survivors, self-harm, personality disorders, disordered eating, and dual diagnoses. She works with her clients through relational and somatic approaches.
Together, we discuss:
- The insidious nature of trauma bonds and how they keep individuals trapped in harmful situations
- Manipulation tactics used by perpetrators to create dependency
- The cycle of love bombing, conflict, and the elusive honeymoon phase that perpetuates within trauma bonds
- Hurdles that individuals face when trying to leave such relationships
- Suggestions on how friends and family can support their loved ones that may be in toxic relationships
- The importance of education, therapy, and building strong support systems when breaking free from trauma bonds and toxic relationships
- And more
Connect with Irene Jacobs:
https://ezracounseling.com/irene-jacobs/
https://www.instagram.com/ezracounseling
Want to share your story of personal growth, healing, and turning your pain into power? Send an email to [email protected]
Connect with Tessa on Instagram @tessakahoun and join a community that helps lift one another up through honest storytelling and connection!
Next Episode
Embracing the Seasons of Life and Business. Why You Have to Find Stillness in Order to Find Abundance with Lindsey Schwartz
This week Tessa is joined by Lindsey Schwartz of Powerhouse Women. Lindsey is an entrepreneur, investor, top podcast host, and the founder of Powerhouse Women where she is fiercely committed to supporting other women through mentorship, group events, and community building. She mentors women and girls of all ages—from high achieving entrepreneurs to high school students. After seeing numerous women in her life stop short of pursuing their own entrepreneurial dreams because of fear and self-doubt, she saw the need for more honest conversations about the ups & downs of entrepreneurship in order to show women that they don’t have to have it all together to get started.
Tessa and Lindsey discuss:
- How she went from selling carpet to writing a book
- The moment she realized the American Midwest dream was not her dream
- Her experience with network marketing and what she took away from it
- The catalyst for her book, Powerhouse Women
- Learning how to call herself out on her own BS
- Recognizing the importance of each season, going deep in one season in order to reap rewards and abundance in another
- The power that can come from sitting in stillness
- And more
Connect with Lindsey:
www.instagram.com/llindseyschwartz
www.instagram.com/powerhouse_women
Want to share your story of personal growth, healing, and turning your pain into power? Send an email to [email protected]
Connect with Tessa on Instagram @tessakahoun and join a community that helps lift one another up through honest storytelling and connection!
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