Psychologist turned health coach Kristen Heck explores the concept of reinvention, revealing it's not just changing jobs or appearance but a fundamental shift in how we see ourselves and live our lives.

• Reinvention can happen at any age, not just during midlife
• True transformation begins with awareness of our automatic thought patterns
• Fear of failure and disappointing others often keeps us stuck
• Stillness and mindfulness help us connect with our authentic desires
• Visualization of our future self creates clarity about necessary changes
• Most changes aren't permanent—if something doesn't work, we can adjust
• Having both validating friends and those who challenge our thinking is crucial
• Social media and constant connectivity disconnect us from our true selves
• The process involves returning to authenticity rather than becoming someone new

Join us for part two where we'll discuss mindful embodiment and how to take inspired action toward becoming your authentic self.

You can find Kristin and the work she does at the following places:

https://www.healthyasheck.com/

IG and Facebook: @healthyasheck

Patreon: www.patreon.com/healthyasheck

Thank you for tuning into And Still WE Rise! If you would like to learn more about me or the work our practice is doing, feel free to follow us on Instagram at:

@atltherapygirl and @risetherapycenter

Or check us out at www.risetherapycenter.com

Disclaimer: And Still We Rise is meant to provide perspective and meaningful conversations around mental health topics. It is not meant to provide specific therapeutic advise to individuals. If anything in these podcasts resonates, ASWR recommends consulting with your individual therapist or seeking a referral from your primary care physician.

Feeling stuck is actually a message from your nervous system that doesn't feel safe to change or move forward. This episode explores how our inner child influences our adult patterns and how honoring those early needs can lead to authentic transformation.

• Stuckness is not laziness or self-sabotage but a survival pattern from childhood
• The inner child is a living emotional memory that carries our earliest experiences of love and belonging
• Early emotional environments created neuropathways that operate automatically in adulthood
• People-pleasing, shutting down, and avoiding intimacy are adult manifestations of childhood protection
• Unfreezing begins with listening to what your stuck part needs, not forcing change
• Creating safe micro-moments of intentional care helps build safety in your nervous system
• Play and imagination help reconnect with your inner child's language
• Working with a guide or therapist provides external attunement that your inner child may need
• Transformation happens when you feel safe enough to be authentic, not when you force yourself to change

If you'd like to take the step into healing your inner child, reach out to our practice through the link at the bottom of this page to get matched with a therapist, coach, or guide who can support your journey.

Thank you for tuning into And Still WE Rise! If you would like to learn more about me or the work our practice is doing, feel free to follow us on Instagram at:

@atltherapygirl and @risetherapycenter

Or check us out at www.risetherapycenter.com

Disclaimer: And Still We Rise is meant to provide perspective and meaningful conversations around mental health topics. It is not meant to provide specific therapeutic advise to individuals. If anything in these podcasts resonates, ASWR recommends consulting with your individual therapist or seeking a referral from your primary care physician.

Validation might be the missing piece in your most challenging relationships. In this illuminating conversation with therapist Sara Kassam, we dive deep into why so many of our interactions break down and how one powerful communication skill can transform them.

The revelation at the heart of our discussion? Validation doesn't require agreement. This distinction liberates us to acknowledge others' emotional experiences without endorsing perspectives we don't share. "You can validate that someone is feeling upset or hurt," Sara explains, "without validating the action of them yelling at you or insulting you."

We examine the subtle ways invalidation creeps into our everyday language through phrases like "you shouldn't feel that way" or the particularly problematic "I'm sorry you feel that way"—words that appear empathetic but actually distance us from accountability and connection. Through practical examples, we demonstrate how replacing "but" with "and" in our responses creates space for multiple truths to exist simultaneously.

The conversation takes an honest turn when we address the discomfort that drives our invalidating behaviors. Often, we jump to problem-solving or dismissing emotions because sitting with someone else's feelings triggers our own insecurities. This awareness allows us to approach communication differently—from conscious self-reflection rather than defensive reactivity.

Whether you're struggling with a romantic partner, family member, coworker, or even your relationship with yourself, this episode offers tangible strategies to break free from destructive communication cycles. As Sara reminds us, "Communication is just a form of connection seeking"—and validation might be the key to the connection you've been missing.

Thank you for tuning into And Still WE Rise! If you would like to learn more about me or the work our practice is doing, feel free to follow us on Instagram at:

@atltherapygirl and @risetherapycenter

Or check us out at www.risetherapycenter.com

Disclaimer: And Still We Rise is meant to provide perspective and meaningful conversations around mental health topics. It is not meant to provide specific therapeutic advise to individuals. If anything in these podcasts resonates, ASWR recommends consulting with your individual therapist or seeking a referral from your primary care physician.