The High-Functioning Disaster

Big feelings aren't "bad behavior." In Part 2 of my conversation with Jacintha Field, we unpack what's really happening under the surface, how play therapy opens doors words can't, and what simple shifts help parents show up without burning out.

We dig into:

• What emotional regulation actually means for kids (and adults)
• Why play therapy works — sand trays, art, slime, story, movement
• Scripts you can use in public meltdowns or boundary-setting moments
• How mirror behavior (modeling feelings language) shapes home life
• When to lean on movement, nature, breath, or sensory tools
• The role of trust and honesty in building lifelong parent–child connection
• This episode is for every parent, caregiver, or teacher who has ever thought, “Why is my kid freaking out over something so small?” — and wants practical tools for showing up without burning out.

Content note: This episode may mention domestic violence and grief. Please listen with care.

Disclaimer:

The content shared on The High-Functioning Disaster is for informational and conversational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or mental health advice. Everyone’s situation is unique, and what we talk about here may not apply to your specific circumstances. Please do what’s right for you, and always consult with a qualified professional for medical, mental health, financial, or legal guidance. You take care of you, boo.

🔗 Resources:

• Happy Souls Kids — [https://www.happysoulskids.com/]
• Connect with Jacintha on Instagram — @jacinthafield [https://www.instagram.com/jacinthafield/]

New episodes every Monday. Come as you are. That’s enough.

✨ Connect with The High-Functioning Disaster:

🎙 Guest inquiries: bookings [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com

📬 Get in touch: heythere [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com

🎙 More episodes & info: [https://the-high-functioning-disaster.captivate.fm/]

🎙 Discover more podcasts by Holder Haus Media: [https://holder-haus-media.captivate.fm/]

📱 Follow on IG: @thehighfunctioningdisaster [https://instagram.com/thehighfunctioningdisaster]

📺 Watch on YouTube: Uploads coming soon! [https://www.youtube.com/@HolderHausMedia]

💜 When I’m not podcasting, I’m also a Scentsy Consultant of 10+ years. If you’re into fragrance and cozy vibes, you can find my shop here: [https://sachasmells.com]

Episode Notes

Family & Child Counsellor and Art Therapist Jacintha “J” Field knows what it’s like to walk through fire. From surviving a 15-year abusive relationship to solo parenting through a pandemic, she’s turned her pain into purpose as the founder of Happy Souls Kids—a global platform helping children regulate their big feelings through play, storytelling, and creativity.

In this first part of our conversation, J shares:

• How her early relationships shaped her self-worth and healing journey
• What changed when she became a parent
• Why “present, not perfect” parenting matters most
• The perfectionism trap and learning to let go
• Real talk about parenting during separation, betrayal, and COVID chaos

Her story is raw, honest, and full of hope for parents who are doing their best in messy, unpredictable circumstances.

Content note: This episode mentions domestic violence and grief. Please listen with care.

Disclaimer:

The content shared on The High-Functioning Disaster is for informational and conversational purposes only and is not intended as professional, medical, or mental health advice. Everyone’s situation is unique, and what we talk about here may not apply to your specific circumstances. Please do what’s right for you, and always consult with a qualified professional for medical, mental health, financial, or legal guidance. You take care of you, boo.

🔗 Resources:

• Happy Souls Kids — [https://www.happysoulskids.com/]
• Connect with Jacintha on Instagram — @jacinthafield [https://www.instagram.com/jacinthafield/]

New episodes every Monday. Come as you are. That’s enough.

✨ Connect with The High-Functioning Disaster:

🎙 Guest inquiries: bookings [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com

📬 Get in touch: heythere [at] holderhausmedia [dot] com

🎙 More episodes & info: [https://the-high-functioning-disaster.captivate.fm/]

🎙 Discover more podcasts by Holder Haus Media: [https://holder-haus-media.captivate.fm/]

📱 Follow on IG: @thehighfunctioningdisaster [https://instagram.com/thehighfunctioningdisaster]

📺 Watch on YouTube: Uploads coming soon! [https://www.youtube.com/@HolderHausMedia]

💜 When I’m not podcasting, I’m also a Scentsy Consultant of 10+ years. If you’re into fragrance and cozy vibes, you can find my shop here: [https://sachasmells.com]

In the very first episode of The High-Functioning Disaster, host Sacha Holder pulls back the curtain on what it really means to look “high-functioning” on the outside while juggling chaos on the inside.

On paper, Sacha is a project manager with a wall of certifications, a color-coded calendar, and years of professional success. Off paper, she’s a wife, daughter, caregiver, bariatric patient, and survivor of mental, emotional, and sexual abuse who lives with anxiety, panic attacks, and the never-ending mental load that so many of us carry.

This isn’t a self-help podcast — it’s a self-permission podcast. Permission to be exhausted. Permission to let the to-do list go. Permission to admit you don’t have it all together.

In this short, solo introduction, Sacha shares:

• Who she really is beyond her LinkedIn bio
• Why she started this podcast after losing a job she loved
• How she navigates overwhelm with her “glass, plastic, and rubber balls” framework
• What you can expect from future episodes with guests who bring raw, unfiltered stories about burnout, grief, caretaking, trauma, and resilience

If you’ve ever smiled through anything while falling apart inside, this space is for you. Because here, life is the disaster, not necessarily you.

Welcome to The High-Functioning Disaster—a podcast about what it means to show up in the middle of chaos. If you’re holding it together on the outside while quietly unraveling on the inside, you’ve found your people.

In this short trailer, host Sacha Holder shares the story behind the show, what you can expect from upcoming episodes, and why you don’t need to be “fixed”—you just need space to be real.

✨ Starting September 1, 2025, new episodes drop every Monday. Come as you are.

🎧 Subscribe and listen anywhere you get your podcasts.

📲 Follow along on Instagram: @thehighfunctioningdisaster

📩 Get in touch or suggest a guest: [email protected]