This is Part 2 of my conversation with accredited psychotherapist and co-author of You're Not the Problem, Katie McKenna—and it's also the final episode of Season 6 of the Healing Gals Podcast!
In Part 1, Katie and I explored the wounded healer: the person who may be drawn towards a caring profession because of experiences in childhood that taught them to become highly attuned to other people's needs.
In this episode, we take that conversation further.
We explore why wounded healers can struggle with boundaries, rest and asking for help. We talk about hypervigilance, the fear of being "in trouble", rejection, learning to identify a safe person and what healthy relationships can teach us about healing.
We also explore the saviour complex, the difference between helping and rescuing, and one of the biggest questions of the episode:
What if something you think is your personality is actually a trauma response?
At the beginning of the episode, I also speak about my experience working in mainstream residential care, the state of our social care and juvenile justice systems, and the recent concerns around young people engaging in dangerous behaviour for social media attention. This opens up a wider conversation about patriarchy, the systems we create and how we can begin bringing more nurturing, relational and community-centred values into our own lives.
• Wounded healers and boundaries
• Why rest can be difficult
• Struggling to ask for help
• Learning to receive
• Hypervigilance
• Fear of being "in trouble"
• Fear of rejection
• Identifying a safe person
• Healthy relationships and healing
• The saviour complex
• Helping vs rescuing
• Your personality vs your trauma responses
• Patriarchy and our social systems
• Young people, belonging and social media
• What a more nurturing culture could look like
This conversation is particularly personal for me because I worked in mainstream residential care for 12 years and identify as a recovering wounded healer.
Perhaps healing isn't about becoming less caring.
Perhaps it's about learning that you can care deeply for other people without abandoning yourself.
Katie is an accredited psychotherapist and co-author of You're Not the Problem. She specialises in parentification, emotional abuse and breaking generational trauma.
You can find Katie and take her nervous system quiz at:
www.katiemckenna.ie
If you have gotten anything helpful from Season 6 of the podcast, and you feel you'd like to send a few euro as thanks on my Buy Me A Coffee Link you can do so here: buymeacoffee.com/Healinggalspodcast
Thank you so much!
Season 6 is proudly sponsored by DARA Mats — luxury yoga mats designed to support your wellness journey both on and off the mat.
Visit www.daramats.com and follow @daramats on Instagram.
Don't forget to use the exclusive Healing Gals listener discount shared during the episode.
Healing Gals Podcast is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, therapy or mental health support.
If this episode brings up anything difficult for you, please reach out to a qualified healthcare professional or trusted support service.
Ireland Support Services:
Samaritans — 116 123
Pieta — 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
Text About It — text HELLO to 50808
HSE Mental Health Services
And that's a wrap on Season 6. ❤️
Thank you for listening, sharing, supporting and being part of Healing Gals.
Remember, you are good enough exactly as you are.
