The Empowered Healing Podcast

Dr. Justina Floyd, Zoe Van Kirk
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

Empowered Healing is a mental health podcast hosted by two licensed therapists, Zoe Van Kirk and Dr. Justina Floyd, dedicated to helping listeners navigate life’s challenges with insight, resilience, and self-compassion. Through candid conversations, expert interviews, and real-world strategies, the hosts explore topics like trauma recovery, anxiety, relationships, self-growth, neuroscience, and the mind-body connection. With a warm, relatable approach, Empowered Healing blends professional expertise with personal stories to create a safe space for healing and empowerment.

  1. 12/03/2025

    Trauma Informed Care: Beyond Counseling - Schools, Healthcare, Workplaces & Communities

    How does trauma-informed care look outside the therapy office? This episode dives into real-world applications of TIC in classrooms, healthcare clinics, workplaces, justice systems, and community programs. We break down what meaningful trauma-informed practice looks like in each environment and offer concrete interventions, scripts, and environmental shifts. Perfect for educators, healthcare workers, administrators, and anyone building safer systems.

    Trauma Informed Care: Beyond Counseling - Schools, Healthcare, Workplaces & Communities

  2. 11/24/2025

    Trauma Informed Care: In the Therapy Room

    Through grounded conversation, we unpack ways to build safety through predictability, co-regulation, pacing, consent-based language, and collaborative decision-making. You’ll learn how to avoid re-traumatization, honor client autonomy, and use your presence as a clinical tool. You’ll Learn: How to create safety and predictability from the very first sessionHow to use empowerment-focused, strengths-based languageWays to integrate grounding, pacing, and nervous system regulationHow to incorporate consent and choice in every therapeutic momentStrategies to navigate power dynamics and avoid retraumatizationPerfect For: Counselors who want to embody trauma-informed practice, from interns to seasoned clinicians looking to deepen their craft.

    Trauma Informed Care: In the Therapy Room

  3. 11/17/2025

    Trauma-Informed Care: The Foundation and Six Principles That Change Everything

    Trauma-informed care (TIC) is everywhere, but often misunderstood. In this foundational episode, we unpack what TIC is and what it isn’t. We explore the core principles, why TIC is essential in mental health, education, healthcare, and community settings, and how unintentional harm happens when systems ignore trauma. We explore how trauma impacts the brain, body, and relationships and introduce the six core principles of Trauma-Informed Care: Safety, Trustworthiness & Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration, Empowerment, and Cultural/Historical/Gender Awareness. You’ll Learn: What trauma-informed care is (and what it’s not)How trauma shapes nervous system responsesA deep dive into the 6 SAMHSA principlesWhy TIC is a universal approach, not a specialtyHow these principles create safety and trust for clientsLanguage shifts that reduce shame and increase safetyMistakes even well-intentioned providers makeHow to start adopting a TIC mindset todayPerfect For: Counselors and other mental health professionals, educators, students, supervisors, and wellness professionals seeking a strong foundation in trauma-informed practice. Resources Mentioned in Episode: Dr. Resmaa Menekem's My Grandmother's Hands

    Trauma-Informed Care: The Foundation and Six Principles That Change Everything

  4. 09/08/2025

    Complex Trauma: The Science of Healing CPTSD

    CPTSD can feel overwhelming, but healing is possible. In this episode, we dive into the most effective treatments for Complex PTSD, from trauma-focused therapies like EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and somatic work to community support, attachment repair, and emerging approaches like psychedelic-assisted therapy. We’ll explore why traditional approaches don’t always fit, how the brain and body relearn safety, and what it means to move from survival into healing. If you’ve ever wondered what recovery from CPTSD can actually look like, this conversation offers both science and hope. https://maps.org/advancing-research/

    Complex Trauma: The Science of Healing CPTSD

  5. 08/27/2025

    Complex Trauma: Sacred Wounds, Queer Identity & Spiritual Betrayal

    What happens when the places that promise love, family, or faith become the very sources of shame and rejection? In this episode, Sacred Wounds: Queer Identity & Spiritual Betrayal, we unpack how Complex PTSD disproportionately impacts LGBTQIA+ folks and survivors of religious trauma. We explore the neuroscience of chronic identity-based trauma, the deep wounds left by spiritual abuse, and why these experiences often fracture self-worth and belonging. Most importantly, we share pathways of healing from chosen family and somatic practices to reclaiming spirituality on your own terms. This is an episode about survival, reclamation, and remembering that your truth is sacred.

    Complex Trauma: Sacred Wounds, Queer Identity & Spiritual Betrayal

  6. 08/20/2025

    Complex Trauma: An Introduction to CPTSD

    What happens when trauma isn’t just one event, but a lifetime of repeated wounds? In this episode, we explore Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). We discuss what it is, how it differs from PTSD, and why it’s so often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. We break down the neuroscience of chronic trauma, the impact on identity and relationships, and why LGBTQIA+ folks and survivors of religious trauma are disproportionately affected. Most importantly, we’ll talk about the pathways toward healing — from somatic practices and community care to reclaiming safety, belonging, and sacredness. If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too broken,” or unseen in your trauma, this episode is for you.

    Complex Trauma: An Introduction to CPTSD

  7. 07/28/2025

    Neurodivergence and Hormones: ADHD in Women, Hormones, and the Hidden Cycle

    Why do so many women with ADHD feel like they’re falling apart in their 30s, 40s, or during certain weeks of the month? In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked link between hormonal shifts and ADHD symptoms in women. From premenstrual crashes in the luteal phase to the chaos of perimenopause, we dive deep into how fluctuating estrogen levels impact focus, mood, executive function, and burnout. We also unpack why so many women go undiagnosed until adulthood, how their symptoms have been masked or misunderstood, and what support can actually look like. Whether you’ve lived with a diagnosis for years or are just beginning to ask the questions, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live in a neurodivergent body across a lifetime. Topics include: ADHD symptom differences in women The role of estrogen and dopamine Luteal phase crashes and menstrual mood swings ADHD during perimenopause and menopause

    Neurodivergence and Hormones: ADHD in Women, Hormones, and the Hidden Cycle

  8. 07/01/2025

    Neurodivergence and Misdiagnosis

    What happens when the story you’ve been told about your brain is wrong? In this episode, we unpack the common patterns of misdiagnosis among neurodivergent people—especially those who are autistic, have ADHD, or both. We explore how misdiagnosis happens, why it’s so common in women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ folks, and how finding the right diagnosis can shift a person’s entire understanding of themselves. Most people think autism is diagnosed in childhood—but for many, it isn’t. This episode focuses on the increasing number of adults being diagnosed as autistic, often after decades of misdiagnosis or confusion. We explore what late diagnosis feels like, why it happens, and how it can bring both grief and healing. Autism diagnoses are on the rise—and with it, so are questions. Are we overdiagnosing autism, or are we finally catching up to reality? In this episode, we break down the myths and truths behind the data, explain why diagnosis rates are increasing, and address the real reasons people are being identified later in life. What We Cover: Why autism and ADHD are so often misdiagnosed The emotional and psychological impact of receiving the wrong label Who’s still being left out of the diagnostic processHow diagnostic criteria and public awareness have changedWhy autism rates are rising (and why that’s a good thing)Why late diagnosis is valid, powerful, and life-changing

    Neurodivergence and Misdiagnosis
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Empowered Healing is a mental health podcast hosted by two licensed therapists, Zoe Van Kirk and Dr. Justina Floyd, dedicated to helping listeners navigate life’s challenges with insight, resilience, and self-compassion. Through candid conversations, expert interviews, and real-world strategies, the hosts explore topics like trauma recovery, anxiety, relationships, self-growth, neuroscience, and the mind-body connection. With a warm, relatable approach, Empowered Healing blends professional expertise with personal stories to create a safe space for healing and empowerment.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Justina Floyd, Zoe Van Kirk
  • Years Active
    2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Justina Floyd, Zoe Van Kirk
  • Show Website
    The Empowered Healing Podcast