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 

[email protected]

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.

Kara Laudenslager from www.radicallywhole.com joins The Ego Project Podcast to discuss energy work, her journey as an energy healer, and how she keeps her ego in check when working with clients.

More about Kara:
Kara Laudenslager is the owner of Radically Whole and is a Brennan Healing Science Energy Practitioner and Empath. She’s also the creator of the online-course, “Radical Instincts”, which helps you tell the difference between, “is my trauma misleading me or my gut instinct guiding me?” She’s most passionate about helping women return to their truest selves through energy healing. 

Kara's Website: www.radicallywhole.com
Follow Kara on Instagram: 
www.instagram.com/radicallywholekara
Workshop "Radical Instincts": 
www.radicallywhole.com/radical-instincts-course

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.

Jena Young, hospitality entrepreneur, certified professional coach, and host of the popular Elevated Leadership Podcast, joins us to discuss Trust & Leadership.

On the Elevated Leadership Podcast, Jena highlights topics to help leaders understand how they lead themselves and how that impacts the people around them. She specializes in small business and entrepreneurial leadership and is on a mission to simplify the journey for leaders who seek peace, calm and fulfillment in what they do.

Elevated Leadership Podcast and Jena's Leadership Coaching Offerings:

We discuss:
-Self-trust and leadership
-Relationship between fear and trust
-Impact of low-trust companies and high-trust companies
-The danger of confirmation bias and how it erodes trust
-Changes that are happening in leadership (changing from hierarchical to spherical)
-How the wounded and healed ego impacts our effectiveness to self-lead and lead others

More about Jena Young:
Jena and her husband Jeff are owners and founders of Side Street Cafe, Thrive Juice Bar and Kitchen and Yellow House Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Follow Jena on Instagram

Follow The Ego Project on Instagram

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.

Ryen Blaschke joins us to discuss Internal Family Systems (IFS).

Ryen Blaschke, MA (she/her) is a Holistic Therapeutic Coach based in Boulder, Colorado. Ryen has been providing Holistic Therapeutic Coaching since 2019 with additional experience teaching workshops and coaching for several Mental Health providers. She holds a Master’s degree in Consciousness Studies and Transpersonal Psychology as well as a Life Coach Certification based in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy.

Learn more about Ryen Blaschke:
Ryen's Website
IFS Workshops Information 
IFS Workshop Dates 
Follow Ryen on Instagram   

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.

Candis Fox, Financial Wellness and Career Coach & Diversity Consultant, joins us to discuss The Ego and Money.

Candis has combined her 10+ years in cognitive science & education with her 30+ years in unconscious transformational practices to create a breakthrough new system for transforming the way you make, spend, invest, and manage money and improve the important relationships in your life.

Learn more about Candis Fox:
Candis Fox Services and Free Resources
Follow Candis on Instagram
Schedule a Free 30-Minute Consultation with Candis

Subscribe to Candis's Substack Newsletter on Money, Power, & Intimacy 

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.