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What happens when your biggest fear comes true and you’re branded a monster by your own community?



In this episode I sit down with Katherine Finley, a former psychotherapist who lost her license after stepping outside the bounds of her board. She spent ten years in the field, specializing in trauma, before her career was abruptly cut short.

We talk about the patterns that led her into the rescuer role, what it was like to have her license revoked, and how she faced public shaming from her professional community. Katherine takes me into the raw moments of shame, the gut punch of being called dangerous, and the process of wearing what she calls the “villain crown.” This is a story about turning persecution into initiation and finding freedom on the other side of judgment.

You’ll Learn:

• The reason Katherine’s psychotherapy license was revoked in 2020
• What it feels like to be publicly labeled “dangerous” by colleagues
• The quiet damage of overgiving and the rescuer role in clinical work
• Why shame can become a gold mine for transformation
• The surprising link between wearing the “villain crown” and reclaiming personal power
• What happens inside the licensing system when a practitioner is accused of misconduct
• How childhood patterns of being “good” and “liked” shaped Katherine’s professional choices
• The turning point that shifted her view of villains, victims, and darkness in the world
• What changes when you stop defending yourself and hold your own sovereignty
• How a certain animal became an unexpected teacher in her healing and coaching work

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[08:12] Losing her license and the rescuer role

[13:46] The limits of defending yourself against the board

[17:42] Facing victimhood inside the licensing system

[20:37] The rupture of empathy and seeing villains for the first time

[24:15] Public shaming in her local community

[28:48] Choosing not to defend and sitting with shame

[34:21] Breaking the punishment cycle and reclaiming energy

[38:06] Finding freedom through desire and horses

[43:18] Advice for practitioners on holding space without disempowering clients

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How to connect with Katherine:

Website: sovereignheartcoaching.com

YouTube: @katherinefinley444

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