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.

What if everything you thought you knew about grief was oversimplified? Therapist Taylor Strong challenges the notion that grief follows a neat, linear path through five stages, revealing instead the complex and deeply personal nature of loss.

"Grief is this really unique human experience that's specific to who we are and our relationship with the person," Taylor explains. Rather than a straightforward journey from denial to acceptance, grief often manifests as an unpredictable cycle of emotions that can shift dramatically within the same day. One moment might bring peace that a loved one is no longer suffering; the next might bring profound questioning about why they had to leave at all.

The physical manifestation of grief—what Taylor calls "somatic grief"—is equally complex. Some experience insomnia while others can't stop sleeping. Some feel emotions intensely while others experience numbness as their nervous system protects them from overwhelming pain. These varied responses aren't signs of grieving "incorrectly" but reflect the unique ways our bodies process profound loss.

Perhaps most illuminating is Taylor's insight into what grievers truly need versus what well-intended supporters often provide. Comments like "they're in a better place" or "they're no longer in pain," while meant to comfort, can actually create disconnection. What grievers need isn't solutions but presence—someone who can witness their pain without trying to fix it. As Taylor beautifully puts it: "I understand that this person is experiencing something complex and deep, and if I can just be here for them and hold space, that is a gift in itself."

Whether you're navigating your own grief journey or supporting someone through theirs, this conversation offers profound guidance on honoring the messy, non-linear process of living with loss while finding connection and meaning along the way.

Check out these links to learn more about Taylor Strong and Rise Therapy Center:

Link to Taylor: https://www.risetherapycenter.com/taylor

Link tonTaylor's Blog: https://www.risetherapycenter.com/blog/holding-space-for-grief-the-power-of-sitting-in-someones-pain

Find Taylor on Instagram: @taytalkstherapy

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.

What happens when your entire sense of self becomes tied to what you achieve rather than who you are? And Still We Rise invites therapist, Madison Reed, to explore the hidden dangers of performance-based identity – a phenomenon affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, not just high-achievers.

Madison reveals how this identity crisis manifests when we derive our worth primarily from external validation, achievements, and roles rather than intrinsic qualities. Whether it's through academic success, career advancement, or even family roles, performance-based identity creates a fragile foundation that can collapse when we inevitably face setbacks.

This episode examines how the achievement mindset often begins in childhood through well-intentioned praise focused on achievements rather than character, then amplified through society's expectations and social media's highlight reels. Madison shares insights from her clinical work, noting approximately 75% of her clients struggle with some form of this issue, from "gifted kid burnout" to full-blown midlife crises.

We explore practical strategies for rediscovering authentic identity, including grounding techniques, finding "comfort people" who see beyond your achievements, and reconnecting with core values through meaningful self-reflection and exploration. Madison emphasizes that overcoming performance-based identity isn't about abandoning ambition, but rather finding purpose aligned with your authentic self.

The most powerful revelation? What most people truly desire isn't achievement itself, but the feelings of peace, love, and freedom they believe achievement will bring. By focusing directly on these core needs through authenticity rather than performance, we can create lives that feel meaningful regardless of external metrics of success.

Enjoy this episode and check out Madison at

https://www.risetherapycenter.com/madison

If you would like to work with Madison, email us at

info@risetherapycenter.com

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.

And Still We Rise is a Podcast hosted by Cristine Seidell, a licensed psychotherapist, group practice owner and mental health advocate. This podcast is a place for all to come and learn about past patterns, be inspired to new ways of navigating life and becoming their most authentic selves!

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.

Healing has become such a buzzword in our conscious, awakening world—but what actually is it? In this deeply reflective exploration, we unpack the true nature of healing as an ongoing process rather than a destination.

The healing journey follows a distinct cycle that begins with awareness—that moment when our bodies alert us something isn't right, whether through relationship patterns, self-destructive behaviors, or somatic responses like unexplained physical symptoms and panic attacks. Your body is the alarm system trying to bring unconscious patterns into the light. We examine how to identify these patterns and trace them back to their childhood origins, where they likely formed as survival mechanisms.

Then comes the challenging threshold of acceptance, where many of us get stuck yearning for justice while struggling to accept we can only control our own healing path. This pivotal moment requires us to acknowledge that while we didn't create these patterns, we're responsible for how we continue them today. The journey culminates in inspired action—that beautiful space where authenticity, purpose, and joy become possible again as we reconnect with who we truly are beneath the layers of wounding.

Perhaps most importantly, we explore the shadow side of healing—how the language of transformation can be manipulated and weaponized. True healing is quiet, embodied rather than proclaimed. It creates a presence that feels grounding and kind without judgment or superiority. Whether you're beginning your healing journey or supporting someone else's, remember that genuine healing always returns us to love, both for ourselves and others. You're good, you're worthy, and you're valuable exactly as you are.

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.

In this The Ego Project+ Bonus Episode, we continue the discussion on the ego and detachment.

In the bonus episode:

-Lisa shares how she misunderstood detachment and how it impacted her life and relationships
-Cristine shares her personal struggles and healing around detachment
-Cristine and Lisa offer tips and techniques we can all use to help us detach from outcomes and have healthier relationships

Disclaimer:
The Ego Project is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The opinions shared should not be considered psychological or medical treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please seek professional help or call 911.

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.

On this episode, we discuss the ego and detachment.

Topics include:
-What is detachment?
-How detachment and dissociation are often confused
-How detaching from outcomes can enhance creative projects
-How healthy detachment can improve our relationships and connection with self

Disclaimer:
The Ego Project is for entertainment, educational, and informational purposes only. The opinions shared should not be considered psychological or medical treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please seek professional help or call 911.

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.