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TRIGGER WARNINGS

• Childhood trauma / Complex PTSD
• Addiction & substance abuse (parental addiction)
• Child neglect / abandonment (children left alone)
• Foster care / kinship care experiences
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse (discussed)
• Death / overdose death (parent + child loss)
• Grief and mourning
• Suicidal ideation (past; discussed)
• Mental health crisis
• Incarceration (mentioned)
• Family dysfunction / estrangement

In this deeply honest conversation, I’m joined by Malisa Hepner—therapist, podcast host, public speaker, and creator of healing workbooks like Safe to Be Seen and The Beauty of Imperfection: Good Is Enough. Melissa shares her lived experience as a survivor of Complex PTSD, including early childhood instability, foster care/kinship care, parentification, and the long-term impact of trauma on emotional availability, boundaries, and relationships.

We also talk about the messy, real-time work of healing—how forgiveness can’t be forced, why toxic positivity can be harmful, and what it looks like to stop overthinking and start living grounded and present. Malisa opens up about profound grief after losing her son to an accidental overdose, and how she’s learning to “ride the waves,” receive support, and keep choosing love without bypassing pain.

This episode is tender, intense, and full of wisdom—especially if you’ve ever felt like life made you “be strong,” or you’re trying to find your way back to yourself.

Find Malisa on Instagram (and all her links + podcasts) and check out her shows Emotionally Unavailable and Unquiet Soul.

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