In this episode, our conversation centers on redefining midlife and menopause not as a period of decline but as a transformative threshold. The conversation challenges long-standing cultural narratives that tie women's value to youth and productivity. Guest Julie Cardoza, a licensed marriage and family therapist, shares her insights and experiences on navigating midlife. Julie provides midlife-informed programs, somatic tools, and nature-based healing practices to support women's personal transformation. She highlights the profound opportunities present during this stage and underscores the importance of embracing these changes with curiosity. The episode also delves into the nervous system's role and how hormonal shifts affect mental and physical health. Julie emphasizes the need for rituals and community support to navigate this transition, fostering a sense of empowerment and sovereignty.00:00 Introduction to Midlife and Menopause00:59 Challenging the Decline Narrative02:31 Embracing the Midlife Journey with Julie Cardoza05:38 Julie's Personal and Professional Journey10:48 Defining Midlife and Menopause18:20 The Importance of Rituals and Thresholds26:05 The Nervous System and Midlife26:53 Understanding the Role of Estrogen and Progesterone27:46 The Impact of Hormonal Changes on Stress and Resilience30:07 Unmasking in Midlife: Hormonal Shifts and Neurodiversity31:45 Embracing the Crone Archetype and Midlife Transformation35:18 Creating Rituals and Embracing Impermanence41:49 The Importance of Quality of Life and Presence43:29 Taking Up Space and Sharing Wisdom45:14 Connecting and Supporting Midlife Women

Guest Bio:

ulie Cardoza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant with over two decades of experience in behavioral health care. She is also the founder of Heartscapes, LLC—an integrative holistic coaching and wellness company supporting women in midlife through menopause-informed programs, somatic tools, and nature-based healing practices.

In both her therapy and coaching work, Julie helps clients move through thresholds of burnout and disconnection into deeper embodiment, nervous system regulation, and personal transformation. Her approach blends EMDR, polyvagal theory, expressive arts, and ritual to support healing at the intersections of trauma, identity, midlife, and hormonal change.

She believes midlife isn’t the end of something—it’s the threshold of becoming. And she’s passionate about helping women reclaim their voice, power, and well-being in this transformative season of life.

Connect with Julie Cardoza LMFT:

• https://www.juliecardoza.com
• https://www.heartscapesllc.com
• Instagram: @jcardzlmft

Connect with Cassie Krajewski LCSW:

• https://www.inneratlastherapy.com
• https://www.iristrainingcollective.com
• Instagram: @inneratlastherapy

In this episode of Taking Up Space, host Cassie Krajewski is joined by Erika Yourdan, trauma therapist and EMDR specialist, for a powerful and illuminating conversation on generational trauma.

Together, they explore what generational trauma is, how it shows up in our lives, and the ways it’s passed down through both family dynamics and epigenetics. But this conversation doesn’t just focus on what’s heavy — it also highlights the strengths, adaptations, and resilience that are part of our inheritance.

Erika introduces the concept of "warrior genetics" — the idea that alongside trauma, we also carry ancestral strengths that can be accessed and mobilized for healing. They dive into how therapists can identify these strengths, as well as the importance of looking for "glimmers" — those micro-moments of hope, safety, and connection.

For clinicians, this episode offers grounded, practical strategies for assessing and treating generational trauma, including how to adapt EMDR to work with complex family legacies. Erika also shares a free downloadable guidefeaturing 10 powerful history-taking questions to deepen trauma assessment through a generational lens.

Whether you're a therapist or someone curious about your own healing, this episode offers a compassionate, hopeful, and deeply insightful approach to understanding and transforming what we carry — and what we can choose to let go of.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Download: History Taking with Generational Trauma

• Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Card Deck

• Erika Yourdan’s upcoming training on EMDR & Generational Trauma  LIVE:  August 21-22, 2025  | 8AM - 11:30AM MTN. Offered on demand after

Connect with Cassie Krajewski:
@inneratlastherapy | inneratlastherapy.com
@iristrainingcollective | iristrainingcollective.com

Guest Bio:

Erika is an LMFT-Supervisor, an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow, EMDRIA approved consultant, and an EMDRIA approved CE provider. She is a licensed addiction counselor and a licensed chemical dependency counselor practicing in both Texas and Colorado. Erika is the practice founder for The Sum of You Counseling, PLLC, in Abilene, Texas where she regularly offers EMDR intensives and specializes in complex and generational trauma, substance use, and EMDR with couples and families. Erika is an assistant professor at National University where she provides a 1:1 teaching model to students pursuing their Master’s in Marriage in Marriage and Family Therapy. Both in therapy and in teaching roles, Erika approaches with curiosity, compassion, and an invitation to gently lean into the unknown. Outside of work, Erika enjoys connecting with nature, game nights, and watching movies with her family.

Connect with Erika:

• Work with Erika: www.thesumofyoucounseling.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesumofyoucounseling
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-yourdan-phd-lmft-supervisor-lac-lcdc-a8ba58193/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumofyoucounseling/

In this expansive and heartfelt conversation, Cassie sits down with therapist, healer, and joy-seeker Amy Rose Lynch, LCSW (she/they), whose approach to therapy and life is anything but traditional — and deeply, refreshingly human. This conversation discusses therapy, identity, embodiment, and the liberating practice of choosing joy.

Amy brings a radically honest and intuitive approach to therapy, shaped by her lived experiences as a biracial (Mexican and Irish), queer, neurodivergent, ethically non-monogamous, and highly sensitive person. Together, Cassie and Amy explore how healing happens not in spite of complexity, but through it.

Together, they explore:

• Why embracing joy (especially in small, "unproductive" moments) is both revolutionary and necessary

• How Amy integrates non-traditional practices like tarot, ancestral work, and humor into therapy

• What it means to practice therapy through a decolonized, embodied, intuitive lens

• The impact of embracing neurodivergence, spiritual connection, and ethical non-monogamy in both life and practice

• The beauty of relationships that don’t fit the mold — and how therapy can honor our complexity

• How Amy is redefining success, rest, and meaning as she enters her 40s

Whether you're a therapist, a curious human, or someone craving permission to live more fully in your truth, this episode is a deep exhale — a reminder that healing can be joyful, sacred, and unapologetically real.

Guest Bio:

Amy Rose Lynch (she/they) is an LCSW in private practice and is continually curious about all things decolonizing therapy (shoutout Dr. Jennifer Mullan), trauma healing and metabolization, somatics, polyvagal theory (she loves a flexible nervous system) and learning and growing with the Tarot as well as keeping it as real as she can. Person to person and nervous system to nervous system.

Amy is a mother, a partner, queer, neurodivergent, ethically nonmonogamous, highly sensitive, deliberate about regulating her dopamine levels, biracial (of Mexican and Irish descent) and funny to boot. Amy is a joyful survivor of childhood trauma and finds it a sacred calling to use her training and life to walk alongside others in this wide, wild world.

More from Amy Lynch:
🌐 Website: Wild Open Joy
📝 Sign up for her newsletter, book a session, or read her reflections
📱Follow Amy on Instagram: @wildopenjoy

Let’s Connect:
🧠 Learn more about Cassie and Inner Atlas Therapy: inneratlastherapy.com
📧 Subscribe to Cassie's newsletter
💬 Leave a review & share the episode with someone who needs a little joy and realness today

In this episode, we welcome Nisha Patel, a therapist, sobriety coach, and speaker, who shares her personal journey of achieving sobriety and transitioning into helping others through their own recovery processes. Nisha discusses her decision to pursue a career in therapy following her own sobriety, which has now spanned over 16 years. She opens up about the challenges of staying sober, the importance of aligning personal and professional life, and how she helps others navigating similar paths. From practical tips to deeper reflections, this conversation is a treasure trove for anyone interested in mental health, holistic wellness, and finding purpose beyond addiction. She offers insights into her holistic approach to wellness that integrates mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Nisha emphasizes the importance of personal alignment and shares practical strategies for navigating sobriety, maintaining healthy relationships, and creating a fulfilling life post-sobriety. The conversation also touches on the growing sober curious movement, societal perceptions of sobriety, and how Nisha helps individuals connect with their true selves to lead purpose-driven lives.

In this Episode, We Talk About:

Nisha's Journey to Sobriety

Navigating Sobriety and Personal Growth

Challenges and Strategies in Maintaining Sobriety

Building Trust and Inner Connection

Redefining Relationships and Social Interactions

Owning Your Sobriety Narrative

Thriving Beyond Sobriety

Embracing Sobriety and Taking Up Space

Starting the Journey of Curiosity

The Sober Curious Movement

 Holistic Health and Wellness

The Role of Caretakers in Personal Change

Creating a Life of Freedom

Guest Bio:

Nisha Patel is a dedicated professional committed to guiding individuals toward healing and leading a fulfilling life. As the owner of TheNishe, Nisha’s work is rooted in her deep commitment to empowering others to find healing and purpose. Whether working one-on-one, in group settings, or speaking to large audiences, Nisha brings a wealth of experience, compassion, and expertise to her practice.

Nisha’s holistic approach is tailored to meet each person, offering not just emotional support but also practical tools to create lasting change. With a strong foundation in evidence-based practices, Nisha is a licensed professional counselor and sobriety coach. She is skilled in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), hypnotherapy, and brainspotting, using these techniques to help individuals navigate challenges and reach their full potential.

Connect with Nisha:

https://thenishe.com

IG: nishapatelcoaching

Support the Show by Buying Cassie a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/cassiekrajewski

Connect with Cassie:

https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/

FREE Workbooks for Download:

https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/shop

Mental Health Professionals Train with Cassie:

https://www.iristrainingcollective.com/

In this episode of Taking Up Space, Cassie sits down with Dr. Michelle, a Denver-based physical therapist who’s redefining what healing can look like—especially when it comes to movement and eating disorder recovery.

Together, they explore what it means to return to your body through safe, supported, and attuned movement. Dr. Michelle shares how she helps clients rebuild trust with their bodies, drawing from her expertise in pelvic health and functional movement, while always centering consent, nervous system safety, and body autonomy.

We talk about why traditional approaches to exercise often fall short in recovery—and how mindful, intentional movement can become a source of empowerment rather than punishment. Dr. Michelle also shares her vision for expanding this work through continuing education, advocating for more physical therapists to be trained in eating disorder-informed care.

Whether you're in recovery, support someone who is, or work in a healing profession, this conversation offers a grounded, compassionate look at why movement belongs in the room—and how we can reclaim it on our own terms.

As a weight-inclusive and HAES® informed practitioner, Dr. Michelle recognized the need for greater pelvic floor literacy within the world of eating disorder recovery and completed training as a pelvic floor physical therapist.  She has worked with individuals in eating disorder recovery that have experienced gastrointestinal distress, constipation, bloat, distension, pelvic pain, along with abdominal wall muscle dysfunction – all of which make it hard to participate in progress toward recovery.  Likewise, she has noted a parallel between individuals with eating disorders and women pre/postpartum regarding decreased body awareness and body dysmorphia, coordination, and drive to return to exercise.  Dr. Michelle offers creative solutions to individuals experiencing these issues AND actively invites her clients to reclaim and live in their bodies.

Guest Bio: Dr. Michelle is one of the few eating disorder sensitive and informed physical therapists. She has been providing physical therapy care to individuals with eating disorders for the last 16 years and has woven pelvic health intervention into her practice for the last 6 years. Strength Within Physical Therapy & Wellness, Dr. Michelle’s private practice located in Denver, Colorado, is where she blends her background as a yoga/fitness instructor with her physical therapy skills for rehabilitation, injury prevention, and education to encourage clients to participate in movement and “healthy” reconnection with the body. Throughout her career, Dr. Michelle has advocated for physical therapy to be a recognized profession in the field of eating disorders and, in February 2020, became the first physical therapist to become a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist (CEDS) through iaedp™. Several months later she obtained the Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Approved Supervisor (CEDS-S) designation. In her free time, she enjoys reading and learning ALL the things, dancing and listening to great music, exploring the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and chasing after her 2 kiddos who are just growing up way too fast!

Connect with Dr. Michelle:

https://strengthwithinpt.com/

IG @strengthwithinpt

Connect with Cassie:

https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/

https://www.iristrainingcollective.com/

In this powerful convo with Eli Harwood (@attachmentnerd), we explore how attachment shapes not just our connections with others, but also how we trust, care for, and take up space in our own bodies.

Eli, an author of two books focusing on securely attached relationships, shares her journey influenced by her own experiences of childhood trauma and therapy. She delves into the importance of understanding attachment patterns and fostering secure attachments with both ourselves and our children. Throughout the conversation, Eli emphasizes the necessity of shifting from a control-focused to a connection-focused parenting approach, highlighting the significance of trust and mutual support in forming healthy relationships. Additionally, the discussion touches on how recognizing and healing our own relationship with our bodies and emotions can positively influence our children, creating a legacy of resilience and self-awareness.

She reminds us: Kids can feel what we don’t heal. And that includes how we talk about food, bodies, and emotions. By shifting from control to trust, connection, and self-compassion, we can rewrite the narrative—not just for our relationships, but for our own embodied experience. Hit play & let’s redefine what it means to take up space—in our bodies and in the world.

Guest Bio: Eli Harwood is a licensed therapist, author, and educator who has more than 17 years of experience helping people process relational traumas and develop secure attachment relationships with their children and partners. Eli has three children, one husband, two cats, and an extraordinary number of plants.

Connect with Eli:

https://attachmentnerd.com/

IG @ attachmentnerd/

Support the show by giving a follow, rating, or review - help spread the pod's message of Body Liberation for All Bodies

Connect with Cassie:

Cassie's practice: https://www.inneratlastherapy.com

Taking Up Space Workbook FREE

Come Home to Yourself Guide FREE

Download here: https://www.inneratlastherapy.com/shop

In this episode of Taking Up Space, we sit down with Alison Leslie, a Bloomington-based therapist, EMDR trainer and consultant, and somatic experiencing practitioner, to explore the transformative power of embodiment in healing. Alison shares her personal and professional journey—how she moved from being a recreational enthusiast to a dedicated therapeutic practitioner—and the ways in which embodiment serves as a bridge between our internal and external worlds.

While embodiment is often a buzzword in wellness circles, Alison sees it as a dynamic and evolving practice of attuning to thoughts and bodily sensations without judgment. She discusses how her training in somatic experiencing deepened her understanding of self-awareness, both in her personal life and clinical work.

Many of us live in our heads, disconnected from our bodies—sometimes without even realizing it. Alison explains how disembodiment can show up in everyday life, from frequent clumsiness to a lack of awareness of personal space. She encourages listeners to approach their own embodiment with gentle curiosity, making small shifts to notice how their bodies interact with the world.

Embodiment is more than a personal practice—it’s also a tool for social justice. Alison discusses how being present in one’s body enhances co-regulation, resilience, and collective organizing. This attunement allows individuals to show up fully in activism and community work.

Guest Bio:

Alison is a licensed clinical social worker who lives in Bloomington, IN and owns her own private practice, Empower Healing.Alison approaches therapy through the lens of presence and attunement and believes in being a guide to help clients find their own internal healing powers. She has a background in animal-assisted services and includes the human-animal bond and nature in the therapeutic experience. Alison Leslie is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and Transforming Touch Therapist as well as an EMDRIA-approved therapist, consultant, and trainer.

www.empower-healing.com

IG: @empowerhealingcc

In this enlightening episode of 'Taking Up Space,' we welcome Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, a renowned internal medicine physician specializing in eating disorders. Dr. Gaudiani discusses her extensive experience and innovative approach to treating eating disorders through her outpatient clinic in Denver. Highlighting the importance of feminist, autonomy-forward, and relationship-focused care, Dr. Gaudiani emphasizes the need for medical interactions that respect and understand the patient's personal journey. The episode also delves into the biological and personal motivations behind Dr. Gaudiani's dedication to this specialized field, her advocacy for inclusivity, and the integration of social justice into medical practice. Additionally, the conversation touches on complex syndromes like POTS and MCAS that often accompany eating disorders, emphasizing the importance of holistic and informed care. Dr. Gaudiani shares valuable insights into how she helps patients connect with and understand their bodies better, fostering a path to recovery that honors their whole selves.Guest Bio: 
Jennifer L. Gaudiani, MD, CEDS-C, FAED, is the Founder and Medical Director of the Gaudiani Clinic. Board Certified in Internal Medicine, she completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale. Dr. Gaudiani served as the Medical Director at the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders prior to founding the Gaudiani Clinic, which is a Denver-based outpatient medical clinic dedicated to people with eating disorders and disordered eating. The Gaudiani Clinic provides weight inclusive medical care and embraces treating people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and genders. The Gaudiani Clinic is licensed to practice in 48 US states via telemedicine and offers international professional consultation and education.
Dr. Gaudiani has lectured nationally and internationally, is widely published in the scientific literature as well as on blogs, is a Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders, and is a former member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders Medical Care Standards Committee. Dr. Gaudiani’s first book, Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders (Routledge, 2018) is available on Amazon.Connect with Dr. G and her Team: 

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Have you ever noticed the parallels between your relationship with food and body and your relationship with money? In this enlightening episode of Taking Up Space, we sit down with financial therapist and intuitive eating counselor Wendy Wright LMFT to explore the complex and often overlooked intersection of money, food, and mental wellness. Wendy shares her unique approach to financial therapy, a field that merges financial coaching with emotional support, helping clients build healthier relationships with money.

Drawing parallels between our relationships with money and food, Wendy introduces her metaphor of "money and milkshakes" to illustrate the shared anxieties and societal pressures surrounding these essentials. Through personal stories and real-world examples, Wendy breaks down how financial therapy invites curiosity and compassion, moving away from rigid, shame-based approaches to finances and instead fostering flexibility and self-acceptance.

Whether you experience anxiety, avoidance, or dissatisfaction with your financial situation, Wendy’s insights reveal the deep emotional layers beneath our money habits. Join us as we dive into a conversation about self-worth, control, and how financial therapy can be a pathway to healing. This episode offers a gentle invitation to rethink your relationship with money, empowering you to step into a more compassionate and fulfilling financial journey.

Guest Bio:

Wendy Wright is a Financial Therapist known for her expertise in merging psychology and finance. With credentials as a licensed therapist, money coach, author, and business owner, Wendy is a trailblazer in her field.

Wendy offers a therapeutic approach to money that helps you name the blocks that get in the way of your best financial life. Her career path includes time in mortgage banking, real estate, house flipper, and business owner! She blends these varied experiences and credentials to create a unique financial therapy approach. Based in Denver, CO, she offers virtual services worldwide.

It is the blend of the therapeutic and the financial that can help you find more clarity and freedom in your relationship with money, spending, saving, and debting.

Wendy offers specialized support for all aspects of financial therapy, giving a safe, non-judging place to work through issues. Her work spans areas such as Wealth Transfer Dynamics, Entrepreneurs, C Suite professionals, Individuals, Couples, Mentoring new financial therapists.

Wendy has been featured recently in Quickbooks blog and the podcast This is Uncomfortable. Other media mentions include : The Financial Diet, We Gotta Talk with Sonni, CNBC Personal Finance, It's Not a Crisis podcast, nav.it podcast, and The Mental Health and Wealth Podcast. You can find her at financialtherapysolutions.com for virtual appointments and online offerings.

When she is not helping others find freedom in their relationships with finances, she is likely on her yoga mat, the ski slope, or a hiking trail!

Get 50% off Wendy's online course The Intersection of Money and Milkshakes!

Wendy's Website: financialtherapysolutions.com

Wendy's Instagram: @financialtherapysolutions

At some point in our lives, all of us will have experiences of crashing into our bodies in ways that we couldn't have anticipated. In this episode, we host Monica Pearson, a therapist specializing in perinatal health based in Vancouver, British Columbia. We delve into Monica's unique background, including her transition from a genetic counselor to a therapist focusing on fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum challenges. Monica shares her personal journey, including her struggles with body shame and premature ovarian insufficiency, and how these experiences shaped her understanding and approach to helping others. The conversation also touches on the impacts of patriarchy, the importance of body attunement, and how ancestral and family stories shape individual experiences. We explore themes of embodiment, the mind-body connection, and the emotional and psychological aspects of fertility and parenthood. Monica emphasizes the importance of compassionate inquiry and self-attunement, offering deep insights into the transformative experiences of becoming a parent. Monica discusses her roles as a doula and lactation consultant and provides insights on navigating postpartum transitions, including the often-overlooked emotional struggles of non-birthing partners. The discussion is framed within a broader spiritual context, considering the interconnectedness of our physical and emotional selves as part of the earth.

Guest Bio: 

Monica Pearson is a Registered Clinical Counsellor in Vancouver, BC. Her practice is dedicated to those people moving through the profound transitions inevitable when attempting to become a parent. Her career began in medical genetics as a genetic counsellor, but was disrupted by her own journey to parenthood which inspired her fascination and respect for this life transition. After training as a birth doula and a lactation consultant, it was finally the conversations she was having with individuals and families that held the greatest curiosity and significance to her. A final leap into therapy has led to a private practice in perinatal mental health where she and her clients explore parts work and EMDR to foster a greater compassion and understanding for themselves and their lives.
Connect with Monica at her practice website: https://www.theintentionalpath.ca/