Healing Mothers' Club

Danik Bernier

Welcome to the Healing Mothers' Club - the club no one signs up for, but so many of us belong to. This is the space where we learn to parent our kids AND ourselves after childhood trauma so we can live a full, authentic life. We’re all healing moms – whether you’re a mom to humans wanting to break the cycle of trauma in the family you’ve created, or you're a human in need of self-mothering to regulate your nervous system so you can stop the self-sabotage cycle – we’re all part of the same club. I invite you to join me, Danik Bernier, host of this podcast, healing mom, EMDR Certified therapist and Nervous System Coach on this journey towards trauma liberation and nervous system regulation. You can also find me on Instagram, @healingmothersclub. Check out the show notes for the link for a FREE coaching consultation. DISCLAIMER This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

  1. FEB 2

    Simone's Story: Epigenetics, Motherhood, and Intergenerational Trauma

    In this episode, Danik shares the full story of her great-grandmother Simone, who was institutionalized in the early 1950s in rural French Ontario, and explores how intergenerational trauma can live on in our bodies decades later. Through archival medical records, family history, and lived experience as a mother, Danik weaves together epigenetics, patriarchy, psychiatric violence, and motherhood—revealing how trauma, abandonment wounds, and survival patterns are passed down, and how awareness can become the beginning of healing. In this episode, we explore: Simone’s institutionalization, medical trauma, and the reality of motherhood under 1950s patriarchal systemsHow intergenerational trauma and epigenetics can show up in motherhood, anxiety, and the nervous systemWhy understanding our ancestors’ stories can release long-held emotional and somatic wounds If this episode resonated, follow Danik on Instagram @danikhelpsmoms where she shares ongoing series on intergenerational trauma, cycle-breaking, and nervous system-informed motherhood. And if you’re beginning your own healing journey, consider what support you need to safely explore your family history—you don’t have to do this alone. DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, is not a mental health assessment tool, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

    26 min
  2. 11/24/2025

    Setting Boundaries With Toxic Grandparents During the Holidays

    Today on the Healing Mothers' Club, we get real about what it takes to actually create and uphold boundaries with your children's toxic grandparents. If your children's grandparents fall somewhere on the emotional immaturity spectrum, chances are they have displayed toxic behaviours -- and the holidays can be the perfect storm for unhinged emotionally immature behaviour. Most blogs and Instagram reels will suggest you clearly communicate your boundary. But unfortunately, when dealing with emotionally immature people, we just can't expect our demand for respect will be met. In this episode, we cover : The fact that setting and upholding boundaries is probably still something that is very new. For most adult children of emotionally immature parents, setting and upholding boundaries is something they start contemplating when having children.How simply sticking with boundary scripts can set you up for a full blown trauma response (we aim for a trauma recall here, very different)How EMDR-inspired coaching cultivates the inner safety needed to effectively enforce boundaries so you can prove to yourself that YOU are the safe adult in your life. Connect with Danik! On Instagram, @danikhelpsmomsJoin my coaching newsletter so you don't miss special announcements! DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, is not a mental health assessment tool, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

    16 min
  3. 11/17/2025

    When Parenting Hacks Don't Work for Your PDA Autistic Child with Dr. Carolyn Solo, PhD, LCSW

    Welcome back to the Healing Mothers Club! Have you ever wondered why popular parenting hacks don't work for your child who presents with signs of Autism? This episode is for you. Dr. Carolyn Solo, PhD, LCSW joins the club and shares: How her personal journey raising 3 daughters, one of whom is PDA Autistic, led her to a complete shift in parenting - from behavioural approaches to nervous system approaches;What PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance or, as we like to call it, Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) is all about and how to accommodate the nervous system;How she was able to find safety within, despite going against what parenting professionals recommended + traditional schooling Connect with Carolyn: On Instagram for EMDR therapyOn Instagram for EMDR intensives business coachingListen to her podcast, Future Template Parent if you're an EMDR therapist curious about offering intensives in your practiceDownload her free guide if you're an EMDR therapist curious about intensives Connect with Danik: On InstagramDownload the free guide to Anger + Regulation Resources mentioned in the episode: Rabbi Shoshana, The PDA Safe CirclePDA North AmericaCasey Ehrlich, Ph.D., At Peace ParentsAmanda Diekman, Low Demand Parenting DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, is not a mental health assessment tool, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

    47 min
  4. 11/03/2025

    Instagram's Most Frequently Unanswered Question: Why Can't I Send My Kid in Time-Out?

    Welcome to the first episode of the first official season of the Healing Mothers’ Club podcast! I’m your host, Danik Bernier, fellow healing mom of 2, Certified EMDR therapist, EMDR consultant-in-training, and parenting coach for moms with childhood trauma wanting to break the cycle. Today, we kick off the new season by answering one of the most frequently unanswered questions on the most popular parenting accounts on Instagram: if I can’t give my kid a time-out, what should I do with them when they were intentionally "bad" ? I break this down with as much nuance as possible : I explain the reason why time-outs became so popular and why they are now considered an ineffective and potentially traumatizing parenting toolI answer the question by explaining why co-regulation is what makes most sense on a nervous system levelI go in detail as to what you can expect when using co-regulation as your go-to tool for big feelings AND unwanted behaviours (intentional or not) ✨Get your FREE + UNIQUE parenting strategy today by scheduling a free (no obligation) consultation with me. We’ll also discuss if coaching is right for you. Click here to schedule. Next week we’ll talk about self-regulation and how good parenting starts with a baseline for inner safety. Follow me on Instagram: @danikhelpsmoms DISCLAIMER: This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, is not a mental health assessment tool, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.

    38 min

About

Welcome to the Healing Mothers' Club - the club no one signs up for, but so many of us belong to. This is the space where we learn to parent our kids AND ourselves after childhood trauma so we can live a full, authentic life. We’re all healing moms – whether you’re a mom to humans wanting to break the cycle of trauma in the family you’ve created, or you're a human in need of self-mothering to regulate your nervous system so you can stop the self-sabotage cycle – we’re all part of the same club. I invite you to join me, Danik Bernier, host of this podcast, healing mom, EMDR Certified therapist and Nervous System Coach on this journey towards trauma liberation and nervous system regulation. You can also find me on Instagram, @healingmothersclub. Check out the show notes for the link for a FREE coaching consultation. DISCLAIMER This podcast is not meant to replace psychotherapy from a licensed mental health professional, does not give medical advice, and does not provide a diagnosis. This podcast is meant for educational and entertainment purposes only.