July 09, 2025

Tattoos, Trauma, and the Journey Back to Wholeness with Kelsey Harper

50 minutes

In today’s episode, I got to sit down with Kelsey Harper.

Kelsey is a clinical psychologist, a writer, a little witchy, and a survivor herself. She offers virtual therapy for folks with trauma, complex trauma, and borderline personality disorder across different states. She also hosts the Initiated Survivor podcast, where she speaks directly to the issues facing survivors of gender-based violence and sexual violence—and shares parts of her own recovery story.

Kelsey shares how intuitive tattooing became a key part of her healing journey. We talk about how tattooing brought her back into her body, the deep intentions behind each of her tattoos, and why her tattoos feel like an anchor point as she continues unfolding into herself.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How intuitive tattooing was a key part of Kelsey’s healing process from trauma

The emotional experience of her first tattoo and how it became an anchor for protection

Why she describes her second tattoo as “crowning” and a moment of visibility

How her full rainbow sleeve feels like complete ownership of who she is

Her experience moving from Los Angeles to the Pacific Northwest and how it created space to come back to herself

What it feels like to reclaim her body and express herself through her tattoos

Her honest take on using numbing cream—and why snacks are essential

“I just want to feel whole again. And I want… whatever the whole is going to look like after this happened… knowing that I can’t go back to what I was like before, but wanting to feel whole with this having been my history.”

Connect with Kelsey:

Instagram: @kelseyjharper
Website: drkelseyharper.com
Instagram (Creative & Ceramics): @kelseysfavoritevillains

Connect with Me:

Instagram: @thejustinealmaraz
YouTube: Justine Art Studio
Website: justinealmaraz.com

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By Justine Almaraz