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Transitioning to midlife can be challenging for mental health.

In this episode of From Survivor To Thriver, we sat down with Elizabeth Cush to delve into the complexities of midlife transitions, anxiety, and personal healing. Elizabeth, a licensed clinical professional counselor and women's life coach, shares her journey from childhood trauma to becoming a beacon of hope for midlife women.

Join us as we discuss how past experiences shape our present mental health and the significance of meditation and self-compassion. Elizabeth also talks about the importance of recognizing emotional needs, the power of lived experiences, and strategies for overcoming anxiety in your daily life.

Elizabeth Cush is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC), a women’s life coach, and a business owner in Annapolis, MD. She’s also the host of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast.

She’s learned, through her own experiences, that healing is not a one-size-fits-all model, and that healing can happen at any age.

Today, as a coach, she helps midlife women, who feel overwhelmed and unfulfilled, embrace and embody their inner wise woman so that they can fully enjoy the beautiful life they’ve created.

In this episode, we discuss…

• What it means to be “midlife”
• How Elizabeth struggled with her mental health after abuse and the healing and validation she found in therapy
• How she learned to find self-compassion after PTSD
• The power of learning how anxiety and trauma impact our nervous system
• How meditation can help you through your mental health struggles
• Day-to-day activities you can do to manage anxiety
• The importance of learning how to manage emotions
• Internal Family Systems and how they impact your personality
• The things your brain does to keep you safe
• How Elizabeth decided to focus on helping women

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Elizabeth! If you would like to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Elizabeth’s website: https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakenyourwisewoman/

Visit our website

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Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“Building a kinder relationship with myself also helped with managing the feelings and the emotional distress and anxiety.” -Elizabeth

“Identifying the situation doesn't just make the things go away, but having that lens of understanding just changes your perspective of it.” -Marc

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Have you ever participated in a men’s group?

The paradigm of masculinity has shifted drastically in the last few decades and it can be hard to navigate alone. In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Brad Gophenee who is passionate about helping men grow and find belonging through somatic coaching, groups, trainings, and education.

Join us as we discuss the challenges facing men in our society, the complexities of the father-son relationship and how it impacts our lives, the significance of how we express anger, and how life-changing it can be for men to find connection and community in men’s groups.

Brad Golphenee is a Director of Training & Education for EVRYMAN and a Professional Somatic Coach for Men. Brad has been involved with Men's Groups for 15 years and has been professionally working with both men & women for 10 years.

He has lived in Ski Resort Communities most of his life, holds a BSBA from the University of Denver, and has continuing education in Somatic Experiencing for Trauma. He lives in Sandpoint, Idaho with his wife of 30 years, Maria, and their animals including horses, sheep, chickens, and golden retrievers.

Brad loves working with Fathers in a way that breaks trauma cycles and frees up the next generation. He also loves working and training other coaches to use more body-centered methods in their practices. If Brad is not working with a client or planning the next group retreat, he can be found skiing, paddleboarding, hiking, horseback riding, or clearing land on his tractor.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How the paradigm of masculinity has changed in our society
• How workshops can help men stop the trauma patterns
• The complexities of father-son relationships
• The difference between trauma and anxiety or depression
• How men’s groups can help men grow and mature
• The power of community, connection, and belonging
• The importance of feeling and sharing emotions
• The truth about anger and the way we express it
• The difference between reactive behavior and responsive behavior
• How mountain towns can impact your mental health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Brad! If you would like to learn more from him, make sure to visit his website and check out the Evryman website.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Brad’s website: www.bradgolphenee.com

Visit the Evryman website: https://evryman.com

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

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Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“The old masculine paradigms just don't fit in our culture right now. And so to have specific trainings or even to have other men to work with really makes a difference.” -Brad

“In my men’s group, we always talk about the importance of community, c

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Have you ever been a caregiver for a loved one?

When someone we love is sick and in need of care, it can be easy to forget our own needs and step into the role of caregiving. This, however, can lead to depression, PTSD, or other serious mental health issues for the caregiver.

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Erin Copelan who was a caregiver to her husband while he battled cancer and to her grandmother. Erin experienced the trauma of both of these experiences and had to learn how to care for herself too while managing this great responsibility.

Join us as Erin discusses perceived grief, the symptoms of PTSD and depression, the transition from spouse to caregiver then back to spouse, guilt, and so much more.

Erin Copelan is a speaker, best-selling author, licensed massage therapist, and real estate investor. In 2009, she was appointed sole Caregiver to her husband as he was diagnosed with cancer, underwent multiple surgeries, and a successful liver transplant.

In her book Welcome to Caregiving: The Things Caregivers Never Talk About, she writes a LOT about her mental health and the effects caregiving had on her, including believing she could outsmart depression and episodes of PTSD.

With caregiving experience that spans over a decade in multiple states with multiple medical centers, Erin was called to share her stories with the underserved caregiving community. She was called to share hope, community, and love. She loves writing, the ocean, snuggling her kitties, and learning pottery.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The mental health continuum
• The challenges that come with being a caregiver
• How PTSD can manifest after being a caregiver
• The transition from spouse to caregiver back to spouse
• Signs and symptoms of PTSD and depression while caregiving
• What caregiver burnout is and how it manifests
• The power of perceived grief
• How to practice self-care while caregiving

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Erin! If you would like to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Erin’s website: https://erincopelan.com

Follow Erin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erin_copelan/

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“Once they're better, you don't always just get better. You don't get better in parallel with the people you are caring for.” -Erin

“You can’t avoid the trauma as a caregiver, but you can try to help

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Has your mental health ever been impacted by the things you see on the news? You’re not alone.

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Julie Rose, who struggled with this to the point that she started avoiding it completely. Today, she shares the story of how she learned to manage her anxiety and start sharing the news in her own way that leaves people feeling informed and empowered rather than anxious and scared.

Hearing the news doesn’t have to fill you with dread and anxiety. Join us as Julie shares how there really is a better way to be informed about the world without sacrificing your mental health.

Julie Rose has been a radio journalist for 20 years, reporting for NPR local stations and network shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. In 2015, she began hosting a nationally syndicated live interview show on Sirius XM 143 called Top of Mind.

But, after several years on the air every day, she began fighting the urge to avoid the news completely, because of how anxious and angry it made her feel. She knew she couldn’t be alone in that. So, in 2022, a new format for Top of Mind became the answer.

Now a weekly podcast, the show tackles tough topics in a way that’s honest and probing, but also leaves people feeling empathetic and empowered. Julie has since become an advocate for bridging divides in public discourse, something needed more now than ever before because news avoidance and polarized information sources are a serious problem. She feels strongly that we can’t just avoid the news and expect to build the communities we want to live in.

Julie has received a Gracie Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards for her work in her field.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The impact the news can have on your mental health
• The power of simply acknowledging what you’re feeling
• How Julie came to create her podcast
• Balancing solution-oriented, unbiased views on the news
• The importance of curiosity and creative thinking in conversations
• What to do instead of skimming the news headlines

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Julie! If you would like to hear the news from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Julie’s website: https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind

Follow Julie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topofmindpod/

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“I realized that if I acknowledged the anxiety and the negative stuff that I was feeling, it would actually pass.” -Julie

“I seek out stuff that challenges me and pushes me toward a chasm of understanding of ‘I think this, they think that, so th

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What does grief mean to you?

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Audrey White, a grief coach, to explore what it truly means to grieve. Having experienced significant loss herself, Audrey has navigated the path to acceptance and found meaning in her losses. In this episode, she shares her story and discusses how she now helps others with their grief.

Join us as we discuss the stigma surrounding it, how to help someone you love through it or work through it yourself, and the power of vulnerability and community especially while grieving.

Audrey White is the co-author of Grief Coaching: Paving a Path from Pain to Peace and CEO of the Grief Coach Academy, the #1 coach training program dedicated to training coaches on how to help people through grief.

Her passion for healing is borne from her own journey through grief and loss. In 2020, Audrey lost eight family members, including her mother. In 2022, her brother was tragically killed by his wife, who subsequently took her own life. With her expertise in dealing with life’s setbacks, grief, and stress, Audrey has helped countless individuals find hope and healing during times of trauma and loss.

Her journey is one of heartbreak, surrender, and perseverance to find the joy of living again.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How death is just like birth
• What it means to grieve and why society doesn’t want to talk about it
• The power of making meaning of loss
• Why vulnerability is a superpower that connects us
• The importance of community and intention while grieving
• Why we have to give ourselves time to feel and work through grief
• What the Peace Method is and how it can be used to work through grief

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Audrey! If you would like to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website, follow her on Instagram, and follow her on LinkedIn.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Audrey’s website

Follow Audrey on Instagram

Follow Audrey on LinkedIn

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“Death is birth. It is just like birth. And we know how to do birth. We hold vigil. We go through the pains. And then we release.” -Audrey

“​​I'm not sure how much achievement there would be in the world if we didn't think we had to do things and earn things.” -Marc

“This is why we do this show together. It's about showing our audience that as individuals and especially as men, we can share our feelings and open

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In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Phyllis Leavitt to discuss her story and the crucial need for collective mental health. Phyllis shares the importance of understanding the psychological underpinnings of societal issues, breaking cycles of abuse, and the importance of fostering individual and national healing.

Phyllis Leavitt graduated from Antioch University with a Master’s in Psychology and Counseling in 1989. Phyllis co-directed a family-based sexual abuse treatment program called Parents United in Santa Fe, New Mexico, until 1991 and then went into private practice full-time for the next 30-plus years.

She has worked extensively with abuse and dysfunctional family dynamics, their aftermath, and some of the most important elements for healing.

Our focus today is on her latest book, American Therapy: A New Approach to Hope and Healing for a Nation in Crisis, which delves into what perpetuates abuse at every level, the probable outcomes for individuals and the nation if cycles of violence and abuse continue unchecked, and, crucially, how to elevate the principles of individual and family healing to national awareness and implement them for the greater American family.

She has also published two other books, A Light in the Darkness and Into the Fire, which chronicle her personal healing journey.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How our family conditioning impact our thoughts, behaviors, and feelings
• The global and historical context of collective trauma
• How post-traumatic stress manifests in different people
• What we personally find acceptable vs. what we allow on a larger scale
• The power of bringing the lens of psychology to our human experiences
• How the collective is living in constant fight or flight mode
• The potential impact of collective healing
• The stigma around therapy and mental illnesses
• Why we have to start taking responsibility for ourselves

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Phyllis! If you would like to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on LinkedIn.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Phyllis’s website

Follow Phyllis on LinkedIn

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“We need each other. If your heart is hurting, can you let yourself need someone who might help you heal your heart?” -Phyllis

“Every single thing we do that's loving and kind and generous and cooperative, and any effort we make to resolve conflict peacefully and without violence is a contribution to the entire population of this world.” -Phyllis

“There are n

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Are you aware of the life-changing impact microdosing can have on your mental health?

​​In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sit down with Leslie Draffin to discuss her transformative journey. Leslie shares how she left what she thought was her dream job due to its toll on her mental health and discovered the healing power of psychedelic medicine.

Join us as she explains what microdosing is, how to do it safely with professional guidance, and the healing potential of psychedelics. Leslie also reveals how she found her true passion in helping others through their psychedelic healing journeys.

Leslie Draffinis a somatic psychedelic guide & sensual embodiment coach focused on helping women embrace their bodies, sex, and psychedelics. While she was super successful on the outside -including being a TV news anchor making 6-figures -her inner world was a MESS. She suffered from anxiety, binge drank & starved herself so she didn’t have to feel her uncomfy feelings.

After years in therapy, and trying every spiritual modality she could think of, Leslie found psychedelic mushrooms. Today, she supports conscious women & menstruators who want to heal themselves & connect more deeply with the divine through intentional micro-dosing, womb reconnection, pleasure activation & cyclical living.

Leslie believes sacred Earth medicine has the power to bring us home to ourselves, awaken our authenticity, and heal the trauma locked within our subconscious

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The profound mental health struggles that led Leslie to psychedelic medicine
• The day in June 2022 that changed everything for Leslie
• When Leslie decided her dream job wasn’t right for her anymore
• How healing through microdosing led Leslie to the work she does now
• The method she developed to microdose during your menstrual cycle
• What it means to microdose and how it impacts your health
• When and why to microdose versus full dose
• Why it’s so important to microdose with a professional
• How you can get started with psychedelic healing

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Leslie! If you would like to learn more from her, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Leslie’s website: https://www.lesliedraffin.com/

Follow Leslie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesliedraffin/

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“A big part of my work is helping women remember who they really are by helping them access parts of themselves through cyclical living, reconnecting with the womb, and working with psilocybin.” - Leslie

“What I have discovered ab

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What helps you find hope in your darkest hours?

For our guest in this week’s episode of From Survivor to Thriver, it’s writing. Krystal Clark found that when she writes her fantasy novels, she finds a great amount of healing from the trauma of her past.

Join us as Krystal shares her journey of resilience and personal growth. She shares how the trauma she experienced in her childhood led to her becoming a successful career coach and fantasy writer. She also shares her thoughts on emotional resilience, the power of being seen, and the impact of doing the things you love.

Krystal Clark believes she has a unique story from her childhood molestation, the lack of parental support, suicidal ideation, and anxiety to the coping mechanisms she used to numb the pain. At one point, she couldn’t even see past her wedding day.

Along the way, she found that her children were her saving grace even through the struggles of motherhood. She has used her trauma, day-to-day stress, and personal thoughts to create great fantasy stories with metaphors built into each character and plot. Krystal’s books are more than just another fantasy adventure. They are real-life scenes reimagined into the impact and influences that put us on certain paths—with decisions come consequences.

Hosting her Moving with Meaning podcast and writing has helped Krystal and others relate to her message… "I'm not alone" and "I got you”.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The healing Krystal found through writing
• The mental health struggles stemming from traumatic experiences in Krystal's life
• Krystal’s passion for emotional resilience
• The crucial role of self-awareness in emotional intelligence
• The difference between responding and. reacting
• The power of being seen and heard by those around you
• How Krystal's journey as a career coach transformed her life
• The art of listening and not just waiting to talk
• The impact of doing things you love

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Krystal! You can find all of her resources and check out her books on her website!

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Krystal’s website: https://movingwithmeaning.com/

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“As I was writing, it was just freeing. It helped me release all of these negative thoughts and feelings. And I just found hope. I found purpose in all of my past trauma and where I am today.” -Krystal

“None of us have to go it alone.” -Erik