Hey Tabi!

Have you experienced church hurt or spiritual abuse and wondered if healing is even possible?

In this deeply compassionate conversation, licensed trauma therapists Tabitha Westbrook and Colleen Ramser explore what happens after spiritual trauma—and how survivors can begin rebuilding trust in themselves, their faith, and God without rushing the healing process. Drawing from Colleen's new book, The Shattered Soul, they discuss why healing often happens through "breadcrumbs instead of a whole loaf," how trauma impacts our relationship with faith, and why gentleness—not pressure—is essential for lasting restoration.

Together they unpack spiritual enmeshment, parts work, the dark night of the soul, cynicism, healthy church community, and what it means to disentangle harmful beliefs while continuing the lifelong process of sanctification. Whether you've experienced spiritual abuse, coercive control, or simply feel disconnected from your faith after painful church experiences, this conversation offers practical wisdom, validation, and hope.

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this message today.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

📘 The Shattered Soul: Restoring Wholeness and Rebuilding Your Faith After Spiritual Trauma by Colleen Ramser:  ➡️ https://amzn.to/3TyVgWD

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

Join a vibrant community that takes you deeper into topics with a private podcast feed available on your fave podcast platform, helpful tools served right to your inbox, and quarterly Zoom calls to bring it all together! Learn more and join now -  https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Can a Christian love Jesus deeply and still struggle with anxiety?

In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with licensed mental health counselor and author Melissa Fisher to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in the Church: that anxiety is simply a lack of faith.

Together they explore how trauma affects the nervous system, why healing isn't about "trying harder," and how spiritual formation and practical mental health skills work together to help us experience lasting peace. Melissa shares insights from her book Jesus for the Anxious, discussing breath prayers, mindfulness, embodied faith, self-compassion, and why Jesus consistently meets anxious people with tenderness—not shame.

If you've ever wondered whether your anxiety means you're failing God, this conversation offers biblical hope, practical wisdom, and compassionate encouragement for your healing journey.

Resources Mentioned
📖 Jesus for the Anxious by Melissa Fisher: https://amzn.to/3TmaHkP
🌐 Melissa Fisher Counseling:
https://melissafishercounseling.com

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

Join a vibrant community that takes you deeper into topics with a private podcast feed available on your fave podcast platform, helpful tools served right to your inbox, and quarterly Zoom calls to bring it all together! Learn more and join now -  https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Can abusive men really change? Discover how the Men of Peace program helps address coercive control, accountability, and lasting transformation.

#MenOfPeace #DomesticAbuseRecovery #CoerciveControl #ChristianCounseling #HealthyRelationships

Can abusive men truly change?

In this powerful conversation, Tabitha Westbrook is joined by Dr. Chris Moles and Dr. Greg Wilson—leaders in the fields of domestic abuse intervention, coercive control, biblical counseling, and therapist training—to answer one of the most important questions facing churches, counselors, and families today.

Together they unpack the Men of Peace program, explaining why genuine change requires more than information—it requires accountability, community, humility, and repentance. You'll hear why coercive control is so difficult to overcome alone, how group intervention creates lasting transformation, and why both survivors and those who have caused harm need specialized support.

The conversation also explores the relationship between trauma and abusive behavior, the importance of addressing false beliefs, how fathers can begin rebuilding trust with their children, and why churches and counselors need better training to respond wisely to domestic abuse.

Whether you're a therapist, pastor, ministry leader, family member, or someone honestly wrestling with destructive behaviors, this episode offers hope grounded in truth while refusing to minimize the seriousness of abuse.

Resources Mentioned (some links may be affilate links):

📘 Men of Peace Cohort at The Journey and The Process: https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/men-of-peace/

📘 The Path to Peace Devotional: https://amzn.to/4pn5khc

📘 The Heart of Domestic Abuse by Chris Moles: https://amzn.to/4vTkUD7

📘 When Home Hurts by Greg Wilson: https://amzn.to/4gDhf8k

🎓 PeaceWorks Live Conference: https://www.chrismoles.org/pwl2026

🎓 Certified Coercive Control Recovery Therapist (CCCRT) Training: https://taking-every-thought-captive.teachable.com/p/cccrt

🫂 Transformational Topics Community: https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

Join a vibrant community that takes you deeper into topics with a private podcast feed available on your fave podcast platform, helpful tools served right to your inbox, and quarterly Zoom calls to bring it all together! Learn more and join now -  https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Many people assume healing happens simply by talking about what happened. But what if insight alone isn't enough?

In this conversation, I sit down with Matt Wenger, Executive Clinical Director at Begin Again Institute, to explore why experiential therapies like psychodrama often help people access places that traditional talk therapy cannot. We discuss how trauma is stored in the body, why emotional healing requires lived experiences—not just intellectual understanding—and how group therapy creates powerful opportunities for transformation.

Whether you're recovering from childhood trauma, betrayal trauma, compulsive sexual behavior, addiction, or simply trying to understand yourself more deeply, this conversation offers practical insight into how real healing happens through safety, connection, vulnerability, and corrective emotional experiences.

In this episode we discuss:
• What psychodrama actually is
• Why trauma isn't just stored in your memories
• Why many people stay emotionally stuck despite years of therapy
• How group therapy accelerates healing
• Why vulnerability rewires the brain
• The connection between addiction and unresolved trauma
• Why emotional courage—not emotional avoidance—creates lasting freedom

If you've ever wondered why you understand your trauma intellectually but still feel trapped by it emotionally, this conversation is for you.

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

Join a vibrant community that takes you deeper into topics with a private podcast feed available on your fave podcast platform, helpful tools served right to your inbox, and quarterly Zoom calls to bring it all together! Learn more and join now -  https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

When a survivor retreat feels more like church than church itself, it's time to ask why.

What happens when abuse survivors experience more safety, compassion, and authentic Christian community at a retreat than they do in their own churches?

In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook shares powerful reflections from women who have survived coercive control, domestic abuse, and spiritual abuse. Through their own words, these survivors reveal what genuine healing community looks like—and why so many faith communities still struggle to provide it.

You'll hear why being believed matters, how listening can be more powerful than fixing, and what pastors, church leaders, and Christian communities can learn from the resilience and wisdom of survivors. This conversation explores trauma healing, church culture, spiritual abuse recovery, emotional safety, and the role of compassionate presence in ministry.

Whether you're a survivor, pastor, ministry leader, advocate, counselor, or someone who wants to better understand the impact of coercive control, this episode offers important insight into creating safer, healthier faith communities.

Resources Mentioned:

🔴 Join the Transformational Topics Community: ➡️ https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Have you ever found yourself wondering where God's goodness is in the middle of a painful season?

In this special episode of Hey Tabi, Tabitha Westbrook shares a devotional originally presented at a women's retreat centered around one powerful verse from Psalm 27: "Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living."

Rather than looking at the verse in isolation, Tabitha walks through the entire Psalm, exploring how David wrestled with fear, enemies, uncertainty, and waiting on God while still choosing confidence. Through personal stories, biblical insight, and practical encouragement, this message offers hope for anyone navigating trauma, grief, coercive control, difficult relationships, anxiety, or spiritual exhaustion.

If you've struggled to trust God's presence in hard seasons, you'll be reminded that God is near, that He holds His children close, and that even in the midst of suffering there are still pockets of beauty, delight, and evidence of His goodness.

In this video, you'll learn:
• What Psalm 27 teaches about fear and courage
• How to recognize God's goodness during difficult seasons
• Why waiting on the Lord requires courage
• Practical ways to focus on what is good, lovely, and true
• Encouragement for trauma survivors and those healing from difficult relationships

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

What happens when grief, church hurt, disappointment, and cultural pressures begin shaping our faith more than the Gospel?

In this episode of Hey Tabi, Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Bible teacher, author, speaker, and podcaster Elizabeth Woodson for a rich conversation about spiritual formation, healing, discipleship, singleness, biblical literacy, and learning to trust God again after painful experiences.

Elizabeth shares insights from her book Habits of Resistance: Seven Ways You're Being Formed by Culture and Gospel Practices to Help You Push Back, exploring how social media, hustle culture, comparison, and cultural pressures subtly shape believers. Together, Tabitha and Elizabeth discuss why busyness often becomes a distraction from healing, how Jesus reveals the heart of God to those struggling with church hurt, and why discipleship must move beyond information into transformation.

They also dive into practical encouragement for single women, the importance of friendship and community, contentment in every season of life, accountability within church leadership, and the need for a healthier vision of discipleship in the modern church.

🔴 Connect with Elizabeth Woodson: 

Habits of Resistance 📖 https://amzn.to/43allge

Website ➡️ https://www.elizabethwoodson.net/

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

Join a vibrant community that takes you deeper into topics with a private podcast feed available on your fave podcast platform, helpful tools served right to your inbox, and quarterly Zoom calls to bring it all together! Learn more and join now -  https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Have you ever felt like the “problem person” at church no matter how hard you tried?

In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook explores what happens when churches unconsciously — or intentionally — scapegoat members instead of addressing dysfunction within the system itself.

Tabitha also explains how church scapegoating mirrors coercive control dynamics often seen in abusive relationships — including denial, minimization, emotional punishment, social isolation, and rewriting reality.

If you’ve ever:

• Felt spiritually unsafe in church
• Been labeled “divisive” for asking questions
• Lost community after speaking up
• Experienced church hurt after disclosing abuse
• Felt like leadership made you the problem instead of addressing real issues

…this episode is for you.

This conversation is honest, trauma-informed, compassionate, and deeply needed.

Resources Mentioned:

Transformational Topics Community - app.helloaudio.fm/feed/6907e1ce-23d2-4296-835e-5b478472f514/signup

Healthy Relationships Online Course - Use code RESET24 for 80% off - https://taking-every-thought-captive.teachable.com/p/relationships

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

If worship music makes your chest tight, if opening your Bible brings more dread than comfort, if you still believe in God but can't bring yourself to darken the door of a church — this episode is for you.

Church hurt is real, and it runs deep. It's not a crisis of faith. It's a wound — and like any wound, it makes sense that your body and soul have learned to protect themselves.

In this episode, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook walks through what's actually happening when church, Scripture, or spiritual practices feel threatening, and offers gentle, trauma-informed tools for the long road back to God — on your terms, at your pace.

You'll hear about:

• Why pulling away from church after being hurt isn't spiritual failure — it's your nervous system doing its job
• How to untangle God from the institution that harmed you
• What healthy grief and anger actually look like in the spiritual life
• Practical re-entry points for Scripture when your Bible feels loaded (including a surprisingly powerful tool: a children's Bible)
• How to know when — and how — to consider trusting a church community again

Whether you were spiritually manipulated, quietly burned out, or had theology used as a weapon against you, Tabitha brings both clinical expertise and personal experience to this conversation. No toxic positivity, no pressure to "just forgive and move on." Just honest, compassionate tools for healing.

"He is not mad at you because you're struggling with this. He looks at you with love."

Resources mentioned:

• The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones - https://amzn.to/4nLUPTV
• The Promises of God Bible by Jennifer Lyell - https://amzn.to/4fAroC7
• The Message (Bible translation) - https://amzn.to/4dEeeBs
• Restored Group Interest List — https://link.therasaas.com/widget/form/plMw2lwgpYZuDX5TXSps
• Transformational Topics Community — https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/
• Is My Church a Safe or High-Control Space? (Church Health Quiz) — https://tabitha.wispform.com/75ac488d

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.

Licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook takes an honest look at why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) often gets a bad rap in trauma work—and where it still holds real value.

In this episode, she breaks down what CBT actually is, where it came from, and why its focus on identifying and shifting automatic thoughts can be helpful—but also deeply limited when used in a rigid, one-size-fits-all way. Tabitha explores how non–trauma-informed CBT can unintentionally minimize real harm, invalidate appropriate emotional responses, and overlook the critical roles of the nervous system, attachment wounds, dissociation, and the lived experience of the body.

She also highlights more integrative “third-wave” approaches like DBT and ACT, which better account for emotional regulation and embodied experience. Importantly, she names a truth many people feel but rarely hear: some thoughts aren’t distortions—they’re accurate reflections of real pain, loss, or ongoing realities (including chronic illness), and they cannot simply be reframed away.

Drawing from her work in EMDR and faith-informed identity healing, Tabitha offers a more nuanced path forward. This episode invites listeners to move beyond therapy “camps” and toward a flexible, compassionate, and effective trauma healing toolkit.

Links:

Transformational Topics Community - https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/upcoming-events-groups/trauma-healing-support-online/.

The Beck Institute - https://beckinstitute.org/

Wanna say hi? Send a text!

At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/

 This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?

You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V

Support the show

👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information!

📖 Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control

Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi

📩 Connect with Tabitha & The Journey and The Process:
💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com
📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor
🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com

💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there

🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional.

Need to know how to find a great therapist? Read this blog post here.