Send us a text

Bea Palya, singer, songwriter, and vocal artist, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for a heartfelt conversation about healing, creativity, and the power of the human voice.
 
Speaking with honesty and clarity, Bea reflects on the profound shifts that followed her divorce and the pain that took her to a very low point. She shares how music became the light she held onto, and how writing songs and using her voice helped her move through grief, rebuild her inner world, and reconnect with herself. Her story is a reminder that the darkest moments can become the ground where something new and meaningful begins to grow.
 
🔗 Tune in for a gentle and deeply authentic exploration of the voice as a healing tool, the resilience that emerges in difficult times, and the unexpected ways creativity can guide us back to balance.
 
About Bea:
Bea Palya is a Hungarian singer and vocal artist known for her emotionally rich sound and her ability to weave personal storytelling with profound musical expression. Through decades of performance, teaching, and artistic exploration, she has developed a unique approach to voice work that blends music, embodiment, and emotional honesty. Her work continues to inspire people to use their own voice as a pathway to healing, freedom, and inner connection.
 
00:00:00 – Welcome and Introduction to Bea Palya
00:01:46 – Musical Childhood and Folk Rituals
00:02:30 – First Breakup and Therapeutic Singing
00:05:11 – Songwriting and Emotional Expression
00:06:22 – Creating the “Sing Yourself to Freedom” Method
00:07:34 – From Performer to Teacher
00:08:43 – Singing in Community and Connection
00:09:17 – Emotional Resonance of Folk Songs
00:10:53 – Music’s Physical Impact
00:11:51 – Divorce, Rebirth, and Writing Anthems
00:15:24 – Covid, Growth, and Online Teaching
00:17:34 – Fear of Success and Expanding Reach
00:19:38 – Roots, Loneliness, and Ambition
00:23:50 – The 4 Pillars of Her Voice Method
00:29:55 – Breaking Perfectionism Through Singing
00:36:21 – Voice, Sexuality, and Energy Work
00:55:56 – Using Voice in Trauma Recovery
01:27:47 – Live Song Performance and Final Reflection
 
For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/ 
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Bea Palya:
https://www.instagram.com/palyabea/%E2%80%8B
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
 
#LivingALifeInBalance #podcast #mentalhealthpodcast #music #soundhealing #emotionalintelligence #wellbeing #therapy #resiliencebuilding #innergrowth #mentalwellness #podcastepisode #youtubepodcast #mentalhealth #healing #wellness #wellbeing #support

Send us a text

Cheryl Donaldson, MA, LMFT, LPC, Founder of Helping Families Flourish, LLC, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for an honest and practical conversation about emotional growth, family dynamics, and the inner world of children and adolescents.

Drawing from her own early struggles, academic challenges, and family experiences, Cheryl reflects on the moments that shaped her understanding of resilience and motivation. She shares how the coping mechanisms she developed as a young person now guide the way she supports parents, teens, and families in her clinical work.

🔗 Tune in for a wise, supportive, and deeply human exploration of what it means to grow, parent, and find balance in an ever-changing world.

About Cheryl:
Cheryl is a seasoned mental health clinician with over 20 years of experience supporting families, parents, and teenagers through modern challenges. 
She holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College and began her career serving at the American International School in Vienna. Today, her focus is on empowering families and adolescents with guidance that fosters confidence, resilience, and lasting well-being.

00:00:00 – Early Struggles and Motivation
00:03:27 – Academic Challenges and Family Dynamics
00:06:00 – Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Growth
00:10:37 – Parenting, Learning Styles, and Strengths
00:14:48 – Emotional Intelligence and Adolescent Support
00:18:45 – Cheryl’s Clinical Practice and Common Issues
00:21:15 – Helping Children Manage Anxiety and Friendship
00:24:57 – Social Struggles, Bullying, and Resilience
00:28:28 – Family Moves and Emotional Adaptation
00:33:40 – Career, Identity, and Purpose Abroad
00:42:08 – Building Connection and Navigating EXPAT Life
00:47:17 – Family Bonds, Friendship, and Finding Home
00:51:44 – Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)
00:53:39 – Soul Work, Spirituality, and Self-Compassion
00:58:41 – Integrating Soul into Clinical Practice
01:04:44 – Leadership, IFS Principles, and Organizational Culture
01:10:54 – Communication, Curiosity, and Workplace Wellness
01:20:01 – Balance Practices and Final Wisdom

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/ 

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/ 
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/ 

Follow Cheryl Donaldson:
https://stillpointpsych.com/about/cheryl-donaldson/

You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#LivingALifeInBalance #podcast #mentalhealthpodcast #familydynamics #emotionalintelligence #parentingteens #adolescentwellbeing #therapyforfamilies #resiliencebuilding #innergrowth #mentalwellness #podcastepisode #youtubepodcast #HelpingFamiliesFlourish #mentalhealth #healing #wellness #wellbeing #support

Send us a text

Sat Dharam Kaur, ND, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for a deeply human conversation about healing, purpose, and spiritual growth.

From her early family challenges to her transformative meeting with Dr. Gabor Maté, Sat Dharam shares how her personal journey gave rise to Beyond Addiction and Compassionate Inquiry, both program rooted in compassion, awareness, and community. She reflects on the ways trauma shapes our lives, and how practices like Kundalini Yoga and naturopathy can help restore balance to the nervous system and reconnect us with our true selves.

🔗 Tune in for a heartfelt exchange on resilience, purpose, and the path toward inner balance.

About Sat: Sat Dharam Kaur is a renowned Naturopathic Doctor, Kundalini Yoga teacher, and author who has dedicated her life to helping others heal and transform. A long-time student of Yogi Bhajan since 1976, she has trained countless teachers and practitioners through her programs. She is also the visionary creator of Beyond Addiction and The Healthy Breast Program, two holistic approaches that integrate yoga, meditation, and lifestyle medicine to support emotional resilience and vibrant wellbeing.

00:00:00 – Motivation and Early Influences
00:01:00 – Meeting Gabor Maté and Launching Beyond Addiction
00:02:10 – Personal Background and Early Family Challenges
00:03:40 – Mother’s Trauma, Addiction, and Family Dynamics
00:05:00 – Becoming a Helper and Finding Purpose
00:06:12 – Creativity, Learning, and Academic Struggles
00:08:22 – Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Support
00:11:17 – Reading, Philosophy, and Intellectual Curiosity
00:12:29 – Discovering Kundalini Yoga and Naturopathy
00:14:25 – First Spiritual Experience and Awakening
00:16:46 – Yoga as a Tool for Emotional Healing
00:17:53 – The History and Philosophy of Kundalini Yoga
00:22:20 – Demonstration and Benefits of Yogic Movement
00:27:39 – Regulating the Nervous System through Yoga
00:30:32 – Trauma, Adaptability, and the Body
00:31:02 – Sikhism, the Turban, and Spiritual Identity
00:33:07 – Sikh Philosophy and Living in Harmony
00:43:53 – Nature, Permaculture, and Embodied Living
00:48:31 – Creating Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté
00:53:26 – Therapist Presence and the Importance of Self-Work in Healing
01:04:53 – Somatic Practices and Building Supportive Communities
01:15:18 – Purpose, Passion, and the Evolution of Consciousness

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/

Follow Sat Dharam Kaur:
https://satdharamkaur.com/
https://www.instagram.com/satdharamkaur/?hl=en

You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#gabormaté #gabormate #drgabormate #traumainformed  #trauma  #traumahealing #traumarecovery #purpose #purposedriven  #purposedrivenlife #purposefulliving #purposeoflife  #purpose #spirituality  #spiritual #spiritualjourney #spiritualgrowth #ptsd  #ptsdtreatment #ptsdhealing  #ptsdrecovery #ptsdawareness

Send us a text

Dr. Brian Pennie joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance to share an inspiring story of recovery, awareness, and transformation.

After more than fifteen years of heroin addiction, Brian reached a point of complete collapse, a moment that marked the beginning of his awakening. In this conversation, he opens up about his childhood trauma, the cycle of addiction, and the neuroscience of change.

Together, they explore the connection between the brain, body, and behavior, touching on the biology of trauma, the power of acceptance, and the science of happiness, resilience, and human connection.

🔗 Tune in for a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, transformation is possible.

About Dr Pennie: Brian is a neuroscientist and resilience specialist, and also works as an advisor and business coach to some of Ireland’s leading CEOs. Through a combination of his own inspiring story alongside the application of proven tools and techniques, he is determined to identify and unleash the hidden potential in others.

00:00:00 – Introduction & Meet Dr Brian Pennie
00:02:25 – Motivation and Lightbulb Moment
00:03:31 – Childhood Trauma and Family Environment
00:06:55 – Progression into Addiction
00:09:41 – Heroin Use and Functionality
00:12:04 – Collapse and Tipping Point
00:13:03 – Detox and Surrender
00:16:10 – Neuroscience of Seizures
00:19:35 – Rock Bottom and Spiritual Shift
00:22:55 – Minor Relapse and Redefining Recovery
00:26:44 – Language, Self-Talk, and Recovery
00:29:12 – Addiction, Motivation, and Visibility
00:31:55 – Substance Use and Brain Development
00:34:37 – Hope and Brain Rewiring
00:36:08 – Support Systems and Ireland’s Addiction Services
00:38:19 – Homelessness and Addiction Cycle
00:39:13 – Societal Change and Hope
00:40:54 – Awareness as Catalyst for Change
00:43:26 – Values-Based Living
00:45:29 – Neuroscience of Happiness
00:48:09 – Balance, Pleasure, and Moderation
00:50:06 – Social Homeostasis and Connection
00:52:28 – Listening to the Body and Inner Voice
00:55:58 – Acceptance as a “Biohack”
00:57:50 – Observer Mindset and Detachment
01:00:52 – Therapies & Biology of Trauma
01:11:34 – Safety, Connection, and Isolation
01:14:44 – Brain Health Fundamentals
01:24:11 – Exercise, Sport, and Longevity
01:37:01 – Language, Self-Talk, and Affirmations
01:50:27 – Media, Social Media, and Children’s Brains
02:00:38 – Daily Balance Practices
02:04:01 – Final Advice: Action Over Knowledge

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/

Follow Dr Brian Pennie:
https://brianpennie.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brianpennie78

You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/


#addictiontreatment #trauma #addictionrecovery #drgabormate #recovery #traumainformed #podcast #balance #traumahealing #substanceabuseawareness #support #health #healing #therapist #healthy #healthylifestyle #neuroscience #relapseprevention #relationship 

Send us a text

Licia Sky, Co-Founder and Global Ambassador of the Trauma Research Foundation, which she leads alongside her husband, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk,  joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance to explore how healing begins when we reconnect with the body and learn to hold both joy and grief with compassion.

Licia shares moments from her own journey, including a near-death experience that transformed her understanding of life, love, and presence. She reflects on the power of embodied awareness, how the body remembers what the mind forgets, and why slowing down is essential to finding balance.

Together, they discuss the future of psychedelic therapy, the importance of integration and guidance, and how music, movement, and community can help us return to ourselves.

🔗 Tune in for a deeply human conversation about embodiment, trauma, and the art of coming back to balance.

About Licia:
A somatic educator, artist, and bodyworker, she guides individuals and trains professionals in using movement, voice, mindfulness, and creative expression as tools for healing and connection. With over 40 years of experience as an artist, musician, and therapist, her approach weaves together polyvagal theory, parts work, and the latest research on trauma and the body.

00:00:00 – Early Trauma and Spiritual Experience
00:02:06 – Journey into Trauma Work and Meeting Bessel van der Kolk
00:04:24 – Intuition and Listening in Healing
00:05:58 – Childhood Mysticism
00:07:34 – Multicultural Upbringing and Identity
00:12:03 – Generational Trauma and Family History
00:14:16 – Spiritual Experience at Age 12
00:22:34 – Integration and Search for Understanding
00:26:16 – Improvisation, Self-Learning, and Creativity
00:27:34 – Bodywork, Flashbacks, and Validation
00:30:40 – Working with Challenging Clients
00:33:48 – Lessons in Humility and Human Connection
00:35:04 – Intuitive Bodywork and Therapeutic Boundaries
00:36:47 – Meeting Bessel van der Kolk and Relationship
00:43:28 – Role at the Trauma Research Foundation
00:46:50 – Psychedelics and Ketamine Therapy
00:53:37 – Importance of Integration and Individualised Care
00:58:16 – Cultural Differences in Mental Health
01:05:05 – Singing, Vulnerability, and Healing
 
For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Licia Sky:
https://liciasky.com/index.html
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#Liciasky #besselvanderkolk #traumarecovery #trauma #traumahealing #drgabormate #healing #motivation #health #wellness #wellbeing #podcast #support #holisticaddictionrecovery #love #connection #balance #grief #griefsupport 

Send us a text

In this episode of Living a Life in Balance, Abdullah Boulad sits with Emi Lizuka, Mindfulness and Somatic Experiencing Therapist at The Balance, to explore how awareness, compassion, and safety shape the way we heal.

Emi shares her personal journey of overcoming narcissistic abuse and single motherhood, and how those experiences led her to teach mindfulness and trauma-informed practices. She explains how self-compassion, co-regulation, and body awareness can transform the nervous system and rebuild a sense of connection to ourselves and to those around us.

Together, they discuss what safety truly means, how empathy works in the brain, and why being authentic with ourselves is the foundation of emotional healing.

🔗 Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on trauma, mindfulness, and the gentle power of presence.

About Emi:
Emi is an experienced mindfulness and somatic therapist. Her work integrates neuroscience, compassionate inquiry, and trauma-informed care to help individuals reconnect with their bodies, cultivate self-compassion, and restore balance through awareness and understanding.

00:00:00 Introduction & Emi’s Healing Philosophy
00:02:01 Self-Compassion & Mindfulness Practice
00:08:15 Surviving Narcissistic Abuse & Single Motherhood
00:14:24 Post-Separation Healing 
00:15:55 Becoming a Mindfulness Teacher
00:17:53 Neuroscience of Empathy
00:21:54 Defining Mindfulness
00:24:24 Trauma Studies & Co-Regulation
00:28:31 Essence of Compassionate Inquiry
00:31:53 Triggers, Social Media, and Public Life
00:38:56 Somatic Experiencing & Safety
00:42:13 Defining Safety & Connection
00:45:27 Trauma, Ownership, and Empowerment
00:48:07 Cultural Differences in Connection
00:51:09 Self-Authenticity
01:00:45 Practicing Self-Compassion
01:05:15 Why We’re Hard on Ourselves
01:06:32 Parenting, Vulnerability, and Holding Space
01:14:19 Mindful Communication & Presence
01:22:04 Client Transformations
01:24:25 Final Wisdom: Savour the Moment

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/ 
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/ 
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/ 
 
Follow Emi Lizuka:
https://www.instagram.com/mindfulnesswithemi 
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/... 
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#podcast #healing #motivation #love #presence #relationship #recovery #trauma #safety #connection #relationships #mindset #mindfulness #mindsetmatters #mindsetshift #mindfulliving #mindbodyconnection #alignment #wisdom #communication #parenting

Send us a text

In this episode of Living a Life in Balance, Abdullah Boulad sits with Dr. Simon Feldhaus, Medical Doctor at The Balance, to explore the link between the gut, brain, and overall health.
 
Dr. Feldhaus shares how functional and micronutrient medicine can prevent disease, slow aging, and support the body’s natural healing ability. He explains how stress, sleep, diet, and mindset influence our biology and why empathy and education are key to true wellbeing.
 
🔗 Tune in for a grounded conversation on prevention, vitality, and the future of health.
 
About Dr. Feldhaus: Simon is a highly qualified specialist in general medicine with certifications in Phytotherapy and Interventional Pain Therapy. He has been trained in both modern and complementary medicine, allowing him to utilize a breadth of experience in both fields. His therapeutic approach focuses on Regulatory Medicine, Orthomolecular Medicine, Mitochondrial Medicine, Phytotherapy, Complementary Oncology, Integrative Sports Care, and Health Prevention.
 
Introduction and the Gut-Brain Connection (00:00:00)
What Motivated Simon to Become a Doctor (00:02:25)
Medical Training and Functional Approach (00:04:12)
Empowering People Through Education (00:06:09)
What Is Functional Medicine? (00:08:37)
The Role of Empathy in Healthcare (00:12:08)
The Body’s Self-Healing Potential (00:15:05)
The Mind, Brain, and Gut Axis (00:16:18)
The Power of Gratitude and Positive Thinking (00:24:03)
Mindfulness and Being Present (00:26:14)
Toxicity, Micronutrients, and Environment (00:28:08)
The Microbiome and Mental Health (00:33:04)
Gut Diversity, Diet, and Individualization (00:41:35)
Autoimmunity, Allergies, and the Gut (00:49:05)
Genetics vs. Epigenetics (00:52:32)
Chronic Stress and Biological Aging (00:59:00)
Fight-or-Flight and Modern Disorders (01:02:21)
Information Overload and Stress in Children (01:14:33)
Sleep, Brain Detox, and Recovery (01:25:08)
Therapeutic Sugars and Brain Energy (01:32:17)
Longevity and the Future of Prevention (01:59:51)
 
For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Dr Simon Feldhaus:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-feldhaus-49435033/
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#healing #podcast #longevity #love #braingutconnection #empathy #mindset #stressrelief #stress #anxiety #mindbodyconnection #chronicillness #mentalhealth #wellness #wellbeing #recovery #health #healthy #healthylifestyle #healthtips #healthandwellness #doctor 

Send us a text

In this insightful episode, Saskia van Houten, Psychotherapist at The Balance, explores what it truly means to heal from the inside out. She shares how therapy helps shift the body from survival to safety, why belonging and connection are vital to our wellbeing, and how unspoken pain often hides behind competence and control. With honesty and grace, Saskia reflects on her own journey through loss and transformation, reminding us that healing is not a straight path but a process of rediscovering safety, love, and meaning.
 
As a psychotherapist, she bridges neuroscience, emotion, and lived experience—showing that when the mind feels safe, the heart begins to open.
 
🔗 Tune in for an honest conversation about trauma, belonging, and the courage to heal.
 
About Saskia: Clinical and organizational psychologist with a private practice where she supports clients both online and in person. Holding two master’s degrees, she originally specialized in eating disorders and self-image, later expanding her expertise through postgraduate training in trauma treatment, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Schema Therapy.
Beyond her clinical work, Saskia is a published author and a frequent contributor to Dutch television and radio, where she shares her insights on mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Personal Crisis and Growth (00:00:00)
Saskia’s Motivation and Career Path (00:02:13)
Therapeutic Training and Modalities (00:05:27)
Child and Adolescent Specialization (00:08:52)
Therapeutic Techniques and Customization (00:09:48)
Multiple Facets of Personality (00:12:26)
Self-Esteem and Relationship Dynamics (00:16:16)
Attachment, Guilt, and Repetition of Patterns (00:20:07)
Creating Safe Therapeutic Environments (00:22:24)
Repairing Childhood Wounds in Therapy (00:27:13)
Processing Childhood Experiences (00:29:48)
Inner Child Work and Imagery Rescripting (00:32:20)
Social Belonging and Fear of Rejection (00:37:04)
Self-Esteem, Public Perception, and Criticism (00:41:37)
Therapist’s Role: Past the Protector Part (00:46:15)
Comparison, Success, and Personal Values (00:48:34)
Self-Love, Boundaries, and Intentions (00:53:02)
Letting Go and Seasons of Life (01:03:20)
Therapist’s Personal Story: Twin Identity (01:05:17)
High-Functioning Depression and Autism (01:08:30)
Self-Image, Mirror Exercise, and Self-Love (01:13:33)
Happiness, Self-Love, and Life’s Ups and Downs (01:24:05)
Parenting, Reflection, and Imperfection (01:27:21)
Personal Setbacks and Recovery (01:30:45)
Post-Traumatic Growth and Choice (01:40:35)

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Saskia Van Houten:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saskiageraertsvanhouten/
https://www.instagram.com/psycholoog_saskia/
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/

#healing #podcast #traumainformed #motivation #trauma #love #safety #neuroscience #emotional #emotions #experience #health #healthy #healthylifestyle #recovery #relationship #support #therapist #therapy #supportme #humanity #human #mindset #body #mentalhealth 

Send us a text

In this compassionate and thought-provoking episode, Gita Chaudhuri, Director of Psychotherapy at The Balance, guides us through the complex terrain of grief. From personal loss to collective mourning, Gita offers a grounded and deeply human understanding of what it means to grieve.

She explores the difference between normal and complicated grief, how pain is not a problem to be fixed but a reflection of love, and why rituals, both personal and cultural, matter in our healing process. With warmth and clinical clarity, Gita shares how therapy can help us navigate the chaos of loss, make space for transformation, and carry forward what we’ve lost without letting it define us.

As a psychotherapist, Gita combines psychological depth with spiritual insight, holding space for grief in all its forms, from the death of a loved one to sudden trauma to the quieter, everyday losses that shape our lives.

🔗 Tune in for an honest conversation about grief, love, and the long, winding road toward healing.

About Gita:
Gita Chaudhuri is the Director of Psychotherapy at The Balance, where she leads a multidisciplinary team supporting clients through trauma, grief, and emotional recovery. With over 20 years of experience, Gita brings a rare ability to hold emotional depth, cultural nuance, and therapeutic precision—all in service of helping people find meaning in their pain and the courage to move forward.

What Is Grief? (00:00:00)
The Stages of Grief: Messy, Nonlinear & Unique (00:02:58)
When Grief Becomes Complicated (00:06:00)
Losing a Parent vs. Losing a Child (00:08:27)
How Therapy Helps Us Grieve (00:11:15)
Denial, Oscillation & Emotional Protection (00:13:06)
Grief Across Cultures: Rituals & Expression (00:14:24)
Personal Story: Abdullah on Losing His Father (00:17:23)
Children & Grief (00:20:30)
How Grief Transforms Us (00:23:01)
Grief in the Body: Physical & Cognitive Effects (00:26:21)
Crying, Cultural Norms & Emotional Release (00:30:46)
Traumatic Loss, Anniversaries & Long-Term Support (00:39:12)
Guilt, Forgiveness & the Grief Journey (00:42:41)
How Attachment Shapes Our Grief (00:47:16)
Stuck Grief, Obsession & When to Seek Help (00:50:07)
Sudden Death vs. Anticipated Death (00:54:19)
Suicide, Terminal Illness & Self-Determined Death (01:02:09)
Rituals, Religion & Making Meaning After Loss (01:11:06)
When to Seek Therapy: Normal vs. Complicated Grief (01:23:03)
Religion, Spirituality & Signs from the Beyond (01:27:04)
Energy, Afterlife & Legacy: What Remains After Loss (01:32:02)
Final Words: Grief as Transformation & Trusting the Process (01:38:13)

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
Follow Gita Chaudhuri:
https://www.psychopraxis-palma.com/home.html
https://es.linkedin.com/in/gita-chaudhuri-7235611b/en

You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/

#healing #podcast #traumainformed #grief #drgabormate #love #death #psychology #psychologyfacts #recovery #loss #parenting #health #trauma #legacy #challenge #transformation #transition #mourning #human #support #griefsupport #wellness 

Send us a text

In this deeply honest episode, Jacobo Rengifo Cavestany, Relapse Prevention Therapist at The Balance, shares his personal journey through addiction, grief, and recovery. He speaks about the shame of hiding his struggles, the impact of losing his sister, and the spiral into depression that followed.
 
Jacobo opens up about what it really means to hit rock bottom—manipulation, relapse, and suicidal thoughts—while also reflecting on the moments that helped him begin to heal: therapy, trust, and learning to face emotions rather than escape them.
 
Today, as a practitioner, Jacobo transforms his lived experience into guidance for others. He explains why empathy, honesty, and individualized recovery are at the heart of his work, and what long-term healing really looks like: imperfect, non-linear, but deeply human.
 
🔗 Tune in for an unfiltered conversation about addiction, loss, and recovery—and the strength it takes to start again.
 
About Jacobo: Having walked the path of addiction and recovery himself, Jacobo brings a unique blend of lived experience and therapeutic expertise to his work. He understands the complexity of relapse, the weight of shame, and the courage it takes to heal. Through empathy and authenticity, he helps others find their own way forward.
 
00:00:00 – Early Addiction & Shame
00:00:53 – Introduction & Episode Overview
00:02:06 – Hiding Addiction & Family Discovery
00:04:52 – Gambling, Confession & Sister’s Suicide
00:06:07 – Grief, Depression & Emotional Collapse
00:08:35 – Tools for Coping with Depression
00:09:13 – First Addictions, Emotional Avoidance & Early Exposure
00:10:50 – Childhood, Genetics & Environment
00:12:05 – Behavioral vs. Substance Addiction
00:14:04 – Losing Control & Emotional Numbing
00:19:15 – Stealing, Manipulation & Rock Bottom
00:22:58 – Substance Use & Suicidal Thoughts
00:24:00 – Bullying, Isolation & Social Challenges
00:25:38 – Rehab, Resistance & Starting Recovery
00:28:43 – Time, Motivation & Individualized Recovery
00:32:43 – Addiction as the Only Light Left
00:34:04 – Relapse, Guilt & Learning Through Failure
00:38:13 – Trust, Therapy & Emotional Healing
00:41:05 – Emotional Education, Honesty & Technology’s Impact
00:44:11 – Storytelling, Empathy & Sister’s Memory
00:51:58 – Processing Loss & Unanswered Questions
00:53:22 – From Patient to Practitioner: Why He Now Helps Others
00:57:13 – Therapy Models & Building Trust with Clients
01:08:17 – Preparing for Life After Rehab
01:13:42 – Substituting Addictions & What Recovery Really Means
01:25:32 – Long-Term Recovery & Final Advice
 
For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/
 
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/
https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/
 
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
 
Follow The Balance RehabClinic:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/
https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/

#healing #podcast #addictionrecovery #addictiontreatment #addiction #wellbeing #wellness #mentalhealth #relapseprevention #relapse #recovery #support #substanceabuseawareness #gambling #grief #depression #anxiety #guilty #isolation #empathy #shame #rehabilitation