In this episode Jackie takes a minute to reflect on lessons learned from one of the most collectively dark years in our recent history.  2020 was dark and hard in many personal ways as well as being difficult collectively as we all struggled with the challenges brought by COVID-19.  Many families are celebrating the holidays with an empty seat at the table and dealing with other losses brought by this year.  There is value that comes from "seeing in the dark" and many important lessons are only learned as we adjust our vision while in the dark.  

In this episode Jackie talks about reclaiming what we have lost from life and from hurt. Can we remember the parts of ourselves that are untarnished?  Who we were before you were being asked to be anything other than you? 

The holidays can be a very difficult time for people. We can try to put on a smile and try to pretend like everything is ok, when really we are only pretending.  For those, going through a difficult time or a "dark night of the soul", this time of year can be especially heavy.  This episode is for those who are facing a challenge, asking tough questions, facing difficult truths and making hard changes.  

In this episode, Jackie interviews Michelle Mays about healing from betrayal trauma.  Michelle founded the Center for Relational Recovery, a counseling and training center focused on providing leading-edge treatment to sex addicts, partners of sex addicts, trauma survivors, and those struggling with relationship issues.  Michelle's work is grounded in the work that all change happens in relationship and that our attachment to others is both the most meaningful and at times the most challenging parts of our lives.  

In this episode Jackie responds to a listener's questions related to trauma responses.  Knowing and understanding what yours are is an important step in managing them when they get triggered. 

In this episode Jackie talks about the line from Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karinnana "Happy Families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."  What does this mean?  And how can we learn to be happy, be relational and have connection and vulnerability in our relationships?

We all have experiences where a situation triggers a trauma response in us.  Something from the past feels as though it is happening again in our present.  Our body responds, our thoughts and feelings follow and we are in a trauma response.  What can we do to shorten the time spent in trauma response?  How can we work our way out of our trauma response and back into our current time where we have options and resources?

In this episode Jackie talks about the pain of betrayal trauma.  Betrayal trauma has a significant impact on both the brain and the nervous system of the betrayed partner and makes it difficult for them to return to a state of calm and safety.  Included are steps for healing betrayal trauma.

In this episode, Jackie talks about the practice of Sabbath. Of consecrating a time each week for rest, renewal, and delight.   Sabbath is more than the absence of work; it is not just a day off when we catch up on television or errands. It is the presence of something that arises when we consecrate a period of time to listen to what is most deeply beautiful, nourishing, or true. It is time consecrated with our attention, our mindfulness, honoring those quiet forces of grace or spirit that sustain and heal us.