Deciphering Growth

This week on Deciphering Growth, we explore the deep and lasting wounds caused by conversion therapy and faith-based rejection.

Tiffany Graves and Eric Stone unpack how therapy meant to help can sometimes do profound harm — especially when it targets a person’s identity. We talk about identity rupture, internalized shame, moral injury, and how to support the LGBTQ+ community with compassion and authenticity.

🧠 In this episode:

• What happens when therapy retraumatizes

• The trauma behind “hate the sin, love the sinner”

• Why moral injury and spiritual abandonment matter

• PTSD/CPTSD symptoms tied to religious rejection

• What true allyship actually looks like

✨ This is a real one. Tune in, reflect, and if it’s too much today — come back when you’re ready.

#DecipheringGrowth #PrideMonth #MentalHealth #ReligiousTrauma #ConversionTherapy #LGBTQSupport #TherapyPodcast

🎧 Pride, Healing, and Chosen Family | Deciphering Growth

In this special Pride Month episode, Tiffany Graves and Eric Stone dive into the rich history of Pride, the trauma still faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, and the healing power of chosen family. They reflect on the somatic toll of identity-based trauma, the nuances of navigating Pride events with neurodivergence, and how solidarity—not just tolerance—can reshape our collective healing.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• The Stonewall Uprising and Cincinnati’s complex LGBTQ+ history

• Religious trauma and systemic invalidation

• Navigating Pride with anxiety, sensory overload, or grief

• Creating safety in relationships and recognizing supportive community

• How allies can show up meaningfully year-round

👣 Reflect with us:
✨ What part of yourself deserves more celebration this month?
✨ How has your understanding of Pride evolved?

🎧 Subscribe and share if this episode resonates. We’d love to hear your reflections.
#Pride #LGBTQ #MentalHealthPodcast #ChosenFamily #QueerHealing #ReligiousTrauma #TherapyTools #DecipheringGrowth

This week, we’re joined by reporter and weekend anchor Lindsay Stone to talk about the mental health toll of journalism.

Lindsay walks us through what it's like to report on crime scenes, interview grieving families, and return to “normal life” without ever really processing what she's witnessed.

We explore:

• Vicarious trauma in high-intensity careers

• The silence around mental health in journalism

• The emotional labor of reporting on tragedy

• What it takes to stay human behind the mic

💬 Join the conversation, and don’t forget to rate and review.

What happens when childhood pain doesn’t stay in childhood? In this episode of Deciphering Growth, Tiffany Graves and Eric Stone explore the long-term effects of childhood trauma and what it really means to reconnect with the inner child.

We dive deep into:

• How childhood wounds show up in adult behavior and relationships

• Why logic alone can’t heal the nervous system

• EMDR vs. IFS: What works, what doesn’t, and how to know what’s right for you

• The problem with glorifying resilience in traumatized children

• Why anger gets normalized—but sadness gets shamed

Whether you're a therapist, trauma survivor, or someone just starting your healing journey, this episode holds space for honest conversations, real-world examples, and therapeutic insight with warmth and respect.

What happens when family patterns blur into emotional wounds that last a lifetime?

In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we unpack the hidden impacts of toxic parenting — exploring enmeshment, narcissistic dynamics, and parentification.

Join us as we break down:

• How toxic family patterns form

• Why emotional wounds from childhood can linger for decades

• The struggles with guilt, boundaries, and self-worth that often follow

• What healing can realistically look like

  
  

We're not here to place blame — we're here to name patterns, offer validation, and encourage growth. Healing starts with understanding. 🌱

Listen now and start reclaiming your story.

Childhood emotional neglect often flies under the radar—but its effects can echo well into adulthood, impacting relationships, identity, and mental health.

In this episode, we explore:
🔹 The neuroscience behind emotional neglect
🔹 How it reshapes our brains and attachment styles
🔹 Subtle signs that show up in adulthood—like imposter syndrome, people-pleasing, and perfectionism
🔹 How we can begin to break the cycle without getting stuck in blame

Whether you're a mental health professional, a parent, or someone on your own healing journey—this episode is for you.

🎙️ New Episode Alert: "Deciphering Hate – Navigating Trauma, Free Speech, and Controversy"

In this thought-provoking episode of Deciphering Growth, we dive deep into the complexities of hate, trauma, and the boundaries of free speech. From recent local protests to the global implications of hate speech, Tiffany and Eric explore the emotional and psychological impacts of hate on individuals and communities. 🌍💔

We break down hard conversations, question the limits of freedom of expression, and discuss how hate groups can re-traumatize individuals and communities. This is a heavy conversation, but an important one. ✨

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive topics such as hate groups, hate speech, and violence. Please take care of your mental space, and if needed, feel free to skip this episode and return when you're ready. 💙

💬 Tune in now and join the discussion on how we can protect our peace in a world where hate is still prevalent. Remember, we're all in this together. 💪

#DecipheringGrowth #MentalHealth #HateSpeech #FreeSpeech #TraumaHealing #CommunitySupport #Podcast #MentalHealthAwareness #BreakTheStigma

What happens when faith and trauma intersect across generations? In this episode of Deciphering Growth, we dive into religious and spiritual trauma, exploring how belief systems shape family dynamics, identity, and personal healing.

We break down:

🔹 The difference between religious trauma vs. spiritual trauma

🔹 How shame, guilt, and fear are used to control behavior

🔹 The impact of intergenerational religious norms

🔹 Where faith can be a source of strength vs. harm

If you’ve ever questioned your religious upbringing, felt pressure to conform, or struggled with faith-based wounds, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Deciphering Growth!

#ReligiousTrauma #FaithAndHealing #DecipheringGrowthPodcast #SpiritualAbuse #IntergenerationalTrauma #HealingJourney

🚨 New Episode Alert! 🚨
🎙️ "Deciphering Growth" is back, and this time, we're tackling a big one— The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk.

This book has been a go-to on trauma for years, but does it hold up? 🤔 Tiffany Graves & Eric Stone dive into the good, the bad, and the very questionable parts of this widely praised book.

🔥 We discuss:
✅ What the book gets right about trauma & healing
❌ The problematic perspectives on victims & therapy
⚖️ Whether this book is still the trauma resource
👀 Surprising controversies about the author

Let’s just say… it gets spicy. 🌶️ You don’t want to miss this one!

📢 What are your thoughts on The Body Keeps the Score? Love it? Hate it? Let’s talk in the comments! ⬇️

#TraumaInformed #MentalHealthPodcast #TheBodyKeepsTheScore #BookReview #DecipheringGrowthPodcast #TherapyTalk

Join us on Deciphering Growth as we dive into childhood trauma, the holidays, and seasonal triggers 🌿🧠

🎙️ Tiffany Graves & Eric Stone explore:
🔹 How Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shape our stress responses
🔹 The unseen impact of holiday traditions & seasonal changes
🔹 The brain science behind trauma & emotional regulation
🔹 Practical ways to support yourself & others through difficult seasons

This episode is packed with insights that will help you understand your own experiences and be more empathetic toward others. 🌱✨

#DecipheringGrowth #MentalHealth #TraumaAwareness #ACEs #Healing #Podcast