You’ve been showing up to therapy. You’re naming your patterns, doing the work and still wondering: Why am I not feeling better?

In this episode, Sarah is joined by trauma and EMDR therapist Ashley Fox to explore why therapy can feel stagnant, confusing, or even discouraging at times and how those exact moments might reflect slow, meaningful change beneath the surface.

Together, they unpack three reasons therapy might feel like it’s not working, including:

• Why insight isn’t the same as nervous system readiness
• What it means when emotional discomfort increases in recovery
• How “nothing happened today” sessions are often signs of deepening trust
• The role of relational healing, body awareness, and pacing in long-term change

If you’re navigating trauma or eating disorder recovery and questioning your progress, this conversation will help you recognize the more nuanced signs of healing and reconnect with the work you’re doing.

Be sure to:

 → Subscribe to Reclaim You for more conversations on healing, embodiment, and recovery
→ Visit https://www.sarahherstichlcsw.com/ashley-fox-trauma-therapist-pennsylvania to learn more about Ashley’s clinical work and availability at Reclaim Therapy

Thanks for listening to The Complex Trauma Podcast!

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Learn more about EMDR & trauma therapy in Pennsylvania with Reclaim Therapy

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or nutritional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Remember, I'm a therapist, but I'm not your therapist. Nothing in this podcast is meant to replace actual therapy or treatment. If you're in crisis or things feel really unsafe right now, please reach out to someone. You can call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, text them, or head to your nearest ER.

The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the opinions of any organizations or institutions. Reliance on any information provided by this podcast is solely at your own risk.