Broken. Adjust. Heal...

In this episode, Stephanie shares how being rejected from 15 graduate programs for speech-language pathology over two years became the turning point that led her to her true calling in social work. Through stories of academic competition, isolation, and repeated disappointment, she illustrates how resilience is built over time, how closed doors can be divine redirection, and why choosing to be a victor rather than a victim transforms both your life and the lives of others. 5 Key Takeaways

• (00:00:01) – Stephanie introduces her journey of being rejected from 15 graduate programs and frames it as a story of resilience and purpose.

• (00:03:30) – She describes the intense competition and cliquish culture in her undergraduate program and how feeling like an outsider strengthened her ability to stand on her own.

• (00:06:22) – Despite a stellar GPA and strong experience, repeated grad school rejections force her to lean on her long-practiced muscle of coping with disappointment.

• (00:12:13) – A chance conversation at a family night with a psychologist reveals social work as a path aligned with her passion for supporting families, not just patients.

• (00:18:38) – Stephanie reframes setbacks as opportunities to choose being a victor rather than a victim, urging listeners to keep showing up and trusting what they can't yet see.

Resources:www.ahrigolden.com Text or call 988

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In this deeply personal episode, Stephanie Shaffer shares the story of being forced to move from her safe, familiar life in Massachusetts to California as a teenager—a transition so terrifying that she contemplated ending her life. She reflects on the anticipatory grief, fear, and insecurity she carried about her leg and birth defect, and how this painful move ultimately became the catalyst for profound growth, closer connection with her mother, academic success, and a new sense of purpose. Stephanie offers encouragement and practical support for anyone facing suicidal thoughts or overwhelming change, reminding listeners that even the deepest emotional pain is temporary and that there is hope on the other side of despair. 5 Key Takeaways

• (0:00) – Stephanie introduces Broken Adjust Heal and frames this episode as the story of her traumatic move from Massachusetts to California and the emotional toll it took.

• (0:07) – As a teen, she experiences intense anticipatory grief and fear about leaving her lifelong friends and the safety of being accepted with her leg difference.

• (0:07–0:14) – In a moment of paralyzing despair, she contemplates suicide but stops herself when she remembers her grandmother's death by suicide and refuses to put her family through that pain again.

• (0:14–0:15) – The shared grief over the move bonds Stephanie and her mother, and she later realizes that her biggest critic about her leg was herself—not her friends or family.

• (0:15–0:18) – The move pushes her out of her comfort zone, leading to academic success, new confidence, and a life path grounded in purpose; she urges anyone with suicidal thoughts to reach out for help, including calling 988.

Resources: www.ahrigolden.com Text or call 988

Connect with Stephanie: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok

In this deeply personal episode, Stephanie shares how two devastating events in her youth—her sister's near-fatal accident and her grandmother's death by suicide—profoundly shaped her understanding of grief, anxiety, and resilience. She reflects on the power of being truly heard, the generational impact of untreated mental illness, and how these experiences inspired her life's work supporting others through agonizing loss.

• (0:01) – Stephanie introduces Broken Adjust Heal and her mission to turn personal pain into a source of purpose and support for others.

• (3:51) – As a child, Stephanie forms a profound, maternal bond with her sister Kristin and discovers that giving others what she needs emotionally helps her feel loved and secure.

• (7:16) – Kristin's sudden accident and hospitalization plunge Stephanie into shock, fear, and intense grief, showing the importance of honest, non-fixing emotional support in crisis.

• (20:09) – Just after Kristin's return from the hospital, Stephanie learns that her grandmother died by suicide, forcing her to confront both family mental health history and her own fears about anxiety and depression.

• (28:52) – Reflecting on her grandmother's struggles and her own, Stephanie emphasizes compassionate listening, the need for informed mental health support, and reframes grief as an ongoing process of adjustment, not just acceptance.

Quote:

"Our deepest pain, our deepest losses, are our greatest lessons and opportunities for change."

Resources: www.ahrigolden.com

Text or call 988 Connect with Stephanie: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok

In this deeply personal episode of Broken, Adjust, Heal, Stephanie shares her journey of growing up with a rare, life-threatening vascular birth defect called Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS). Stephanie shares the emotional landscape of shame, invisibility, resilience, and connection. From early childhood memories of a leg brace and stares, to the quiet pain of feeling "different" yet unheard, she reveals how her experience ultimately became a source of empathy, purpose, and professional calling. Stephanie closes with practical guidance for listeners on how to identify their needs and take compassionate action on their own behalf.

• (0:03:10) – A childhood memory of an orthotic brace marks the first time she realized she was different and became self‑conscious.
• (0:07:28) – She describes the duality of emotions—wanting to hide and wanting to belong—as a normal part of being human
• (0:17:27) – Stephanie explains living with profoundly rare Klippel–Trénaunay syndrome and feeling like an outsider while others treated it as "no big deal."
• (0:25:40) – She offers a simple, actionable three-step process: identify what you feel, name what you need, and ask how you can give that to yourself—reminding listeners that support like the 988 crisis line is always available.

Quote: "Two things can exist: I am sad and I am grateful. I am scared and I am brave."

Connect with Stephanie: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok

In this powerful opening episode, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former hospice social worker. Stephanie Shaffer, shares formative experiences from the emergency room and hospice care that shaped her understanding of grief, loss, and the true meaning of support at the end of life. Through vivid stories of sudden and slow deaths, including the passing of her own grandfather, Stephanie offers compassionate insight into how we can show up for others—and ourselves—when it matters most.

• [0:00:51] – The purpose of the podcast Stephanie introduces Broken Adjust Heal as a space to explore grief, loss, depression, anxiety, and resilience through her own transformative life stories.
• [0:08:49] – The power of community versus isolation Witnessing one man leave the hospital alone and another surrounded by dozens of loved ones reveals how crucial a support system is during sudden loss.
• [0:12:41] – Build your support system before you need it We must invest in relationships and community when life is calm so they're there to hold us when life inevitably gets hard
• [0:15:25] – What the dying may need in order to let go A hospice patient's final breath comes only after her son's heartfelt words, showing how affirmation, love, and presence can help someone release.
• [0:21:10] – Release the pressure to "make it in time" Stephanie's experience with her grandfather's death reframes missing a final moment: it's ultimately about what the dying person needs, not our timelines.

Quote: "We need to develop our support system when things are well, so it's there for us when things go south—because they will."

Connect with Stephanie: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Tiktok