In this final episode of Season 3, Katie talks with Amber about her experience with coaching at Oak Mountain Coaching. They discuss navigating birth trauma, motherhood, and mental health, and how coaching offers tools and support beyond traditional therapy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why coaching can be more actionable and connection-focused than therapy
• Understanding the freeze response and reducing self-blame
• Practical tools like butterfly tapping and bilateral stimulation
• The benefits of virtual coaching and ongoing support

Connect with Amber:

• Instagram: @fierce.not.fragile
• Podcast: Wild and Fierce Podcast

If you’ve been considering coaching, lean into that nudge...investing in yourself is worth it!

Don't forget to subscribe and stay tuned for Season 4 dropping in early 2026!

Thanks for being here!

-Katie O @katieostresscoaching

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Episode Summary:

In this episode, we dive deep into the topic of childhood trauma—what it is, how it manifests in adulthood, and the ways it can shape our beliefs, behaviors, and relationships. Katie shares personal experiences and professional insights, exploring the spectrum of trauma, from overt events to the absence of emotional safety and connection. The episode also covers common adult adaptations, the importance of self-compassion, and how coaching can support healing and growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• Defining childhood trauma: not just big events, but also the absence of safety, attunement, and connection.
• Personal stories of growing up with emotional neglect and the impact on self-worth and relationships.
• The spectrum of trauma: from abuse and chaos to neglect, perfectionism, and parentification.
• How trauma is a state of overwhelm without support, not just a single event.
• Common adult patterns: people-pleasing, hypervigilance, fear of conflict, over-responsibility, and difficulty setting boundaries.
• The process of internalizing adult messages and forming limiting beliefs in childhood.
• The role of the nervous system and body in carrying trauma responses into adulthood.
• The importance of repair, self-compassion, and learning new ways to create safety and connection as adults.
• How coaching and somatic techniques can help process and heal from childhood trauma.

Notable Quotes:

• "Trauma is not an event. It's how alone we felt in that event."
• "Our adaptations are brilliant and beautiful, and now as adults we get to learn how to befriend ourselves."
• "Childhood trauma does not have to be a life sentence."

Resources & Contact:

• Instagram: @KatieOStressCoaching
• Email: [email protected]
• If this episode brings up strong feelings or memories, please reach out for support.

If you resonated with this episode or have questions, connect with Katie for a chat about support or coaching. Stay tuned for more episodes diving deeper into specific patterns and healing strategies.

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In this episode, Katie sits down with physical therapist Lisa Becker-Schmall, whose work centers on women’s health, pelvic floor conditions, and chronic illness. Together, they unpack the mind-body connection, how physical and emotional pain overlap, and how providers can recognize when it’s time to collaborate or refer clients for additional support.

• Lisa’s work in pelvic health, hypermobility, dysautonomia, and women’s health across life stages
• Why replicating pain in an evaluation helps guide treatment
• When pain isn’t physical—and how emotional, relational, or trauma-related factors can show up as physical symptoms
• The vulnerability of seeking help for pelvic pain and how to hold space with care
• How PTs and mental health providers can collaborate without crossing scopes
• The importance of asking open, supportive questions when heavier emotional content arises
• Real examples of pain linked to emotional experiences, grief, and unresolved narratives
• How to know whether you need physical care, mental/emotional support, or both
• Why finding providers who “vibe” with you matters—and that it’s okay to seek someone who aligns with your needs

Physical pain is often influenced by emotional and psychological layers—and healing is most effective when providers work collaboratively, stay in their lane, and refer when needed. If something feels “missing” in your care, it’s okay to seek someone who sees the whole picture.

Instagram: @lisa.b.schmall — DMs welcome for connection or inquiries.

Instagram: @katieostresscoaching — and don't forge to subscribe and follow for future episodes!

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In this guided practice, we explore the “emotional flare-up hangover”—the shame, guilt, and looping thoughts that often follow a reactive moment. Instead of beating yourself up, this episode walks you through moving from shame → understanding → repair with compassion.

• Why shame spirals happen after emotional flare-ups
• How survival responses override “I should have known better”
• Grounding the body through breath and simple affirmations
• Naming what happened without judgment
• Understanding the protective parts within you
• Shifting into curiosity: What signs did I miss? What could help next time?
• Repairing with yourself and others using clear, gentle accountability

You’re not striving for perfection—you’re learning to show up with awareness. Your reactions aren’t your identity, and giving your protective parts compassion is a powerful step toward repair.

Don't forget to subscribe and follow on Instagram for more: @katieostresscoaching

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In this heart-centered and thought-provoking conversation, Katie sits down with mind-body physical therapist and breathwork facilitator Kento Kamiyama to explore the essence of spirituality—beyond religion, dogma, or labels. Together, they dive into what it truly means to feel connected, whole, and real.

Kento shares his own journey of learning to pause, release perfectionism, and find meaning through connection—rather than constant self-improvement or “fixing.” Katherine and Kento unpack the ways spirituality, vulnerability, and playfulness intersect with emotional and physical healing, and how pain can often be an invitation to reconnect with ourselves and others.

You’ll hear candid stories, reflections on the link between fear and pain, and reminders that healing isn’t about becoming pain-free—it’s about realizing you’re never truly alone in the process.

Whether you’re a healer, a client, or simply someone curious about the intersection of body, mind, and spirit, this episode offers grounded insights and inspiration for living and healing with more presence and compassion.

Connect with Kento:

Find Kento on Instagram at @kento.bodymind.coaching to learn more about his holistic approach to physical therapy and mind-body connection. He also hosts monthly breathwork sessions that help you deepen your relationship with yourself and release stored emotional energy.

✨ Special Offer:

If you’ve listened all the way through this episode, DM Kento the code “stressmess20” on Instagram for 20% off your first breathwork session!

🌿 Connect with Katie:

Continue the conversation and explore mind-body-spirit wellness with host Katie O’Leary on Instagram at @katieostresscoaching. Don't forget to like & subscribe for more!

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In this solo episode, Katie reflects on a quote by London-based psychotherapist Sirit Chawla:

Katie shares how this perspective shapes her work as a trauma and chronic stress coach. She explores why true healing isn’t about being “fixed” by an expert but about building connection, safety, and understanding.

She also discusses the pressure providers feel to have all the answers, how shame keeps people stuck, and why authenticity and compassion are essential in any healing relationship.

• Healing happens through connection, not fixing.
• Providers don’t need to have it all together to be effective.
• Speaking shame aloud with understanding is deeply healing.
• Growth requires patience, guidance, and honest connection.

Follow along on Instagram @katieostresscoaching and online at www.oakmountainmh.com

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In this heartfelt and hilariously honest episode, Katie O’Leary sits down with Amber Grimmett, founder of Fierce, Not Fragile.

Together, they dive into the beauty and chaos of personal growth, the power of owning your story, and how laughter can transform even the toughest seasons. This is an episode full of warmth, truth, and the kind of friendship that reminds you healing doesn’t have to be quiet or perfect. 💛

• How Amber built Fierce, Not Fragile to empower women to reclaim their strength
• Why humor and authenticity are essential tools for healing
• Letting go of perfection and showing up as your real self
• The gift of friendship and creative collaboration

Amber Grimmett is the founder of Fierce, Not Fragile, dedicated to helping women step into their confidence, own their stories, and live boldly. She is a head coach who is a passionate advocate for women embracing their strength.

You can connect with Amber on Instagram @fierce.not.fragile and Katie is on Instagram as @katieostresscoaching

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In this raw and deeply honest episode, Katie sits down with powerlifting coach & clinician, John Flagg. The very first person who helped her find and use her voice during one of the hardest seasons of her life. What follows is a conversation that pulls no punches. Touching on trauma, the power of presence, emotional regulation, and what it really means to hold space for someone without trying to fix them.

Together, they explore:

• The moment John unknowingly became the catalyst for this very podcast
• Why saying “I’m proud of you” might land the wrong way.. and what to say instead
• How to support someone through pain without needing to fix or rescue them
• Reframing emotions as messages, not problems
• The underrated magic of curiosity over judgment
• Using the barbell as a mirror for emotional and mental health
• The phrase that helps re-center when things feel out of control: “Control the controllables”

If you're someone trying to show up more fully for yourself and the people you love, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you listen, how you lead, and how you heal.

• Instagram: @john.rebuild_stronger
• Website: https://rebuildstronger.net

• Instagram: @katieostresscoaching
• Website: www.oakmountainmh.com

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to share it with someone you love or leave a review!

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Have you ever been told to “just be more confident” — but no matter how many affirmations you say in the mirror, it just doesn’t feel true? That’s because confidence, healing, and self-worth can’t live in the mind alone. In this episode, Katie dives deep into why the body is essential in trauma healing — and what happens when we focus only on talk therapy and cognitive awareness without including the body.

Katie breaks down the difference between narrative memory (what we know happened) and procedural memory (what the body remembers), showing how trauma responses like freezing, pleasing, or shutting down are rooted in the body’s learned survival mechanisms.

You’ll hear real client examples, learn what it means to “update” the body’s memory, and discover how integrating somatic (body-based) techniques — like pendulation and bilateral stimulation — can help you truly feel safety, confidence, and trust from the inside out.

Don't forget to subscribe and follow along on Instagram @katieostresscoaching.

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In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Katie sits down with Dr. Jocelyn Wallace—a pelvic health coach who helps women heal from hysterectomies, pelvic floor injuries, and chronic gynecological conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis.

Together, they explore the connection between childhood trauma, body image, and long-term health, and how survival responses from early life often shape our relationship with food, our bodies, and the healthcare system.

Jocelyn shares her personal story of growing up with severe fibroids, navigating bullying, emotional suppression, disordered eating, and the eventual turning point that led her to reclaim her body through strength training and health coaching.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s struggled with trusting their body, has a history of chronic stress or trauma, or wants to understand how deeper emotional wounds can manifest physically—and how healing is still possible.

• Instagram: @drjocelynwallace
• Website: www.drjocelynwallace.com

• Instagram: @katieostresscoaching
• Website: www.oakmountainmh.com

If this episode resonated with you, don't forget to share it with someone you love or leave a review!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.