Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide

Cyndi Bennett
  • 4.8 (5)
  • CAREERS

Traditional career development not working for you as a trauma survivor? Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide reimagines professional success with your healing journey in mind. Join trauma survivor turned trauma-informed career coach, Cyndi Bennett, MBA, M.Ed., for strategies that actually work for trauma survivors seeking career growth. Subscribe for weekly tips on building a career that honors your healing journey.

  1. 1D AGO

    Turning "Failure" Into Fuel: What Your Setbacks Are Actually Telling You | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 49

    When something goes wrong in your career, your nervous system doesn't just feel setback — it feels proof. When something goes wrong in your career, your nervous system doesn't just feel setback — it feels proof. Proof that you're not enough, not ready, not cut out for this. And for trauma survivors, that voice has a history behind it. In this episode, I'm continuing the conversation from last week — where I issued a public apology to my community after leaving a coaching program that wasn't trauma-informed — and getting real about what happens after accountability. Specifically: how do you stop calling it failure and start calling it information? In this episode we explore: Why trauma survivors have a harder time with professional setbacks (and why that makes complete sense) What actually happened when I left the program — and what it clarified about my values Four things setbacks are doing that we usually miss when we're in the middle of them Why you can't think your way into a reframe until your nervous system has had its response What trauma-informed career resilience actually looks like in practice This isn't about toxic positivity or "failing forward" platitudes. It's about learning to extract something real from the hard moments — on your own timeline, in your own way. 🔗 Ready to work through a setback with someone who gets it? Book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min?month=2026-03 Timestamps: 0:00 – Hook: What happened after last week's apology 1:00 – What we've been taught about failure 5:00 – My story: what actually happened 10:00 – The four things setbacks reveal 16:00 – The nervous system piece no one talks about 21:00 – Closing + how to work with me When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    22 min

  2. MAR 17

    Why I Quit the Program Everyone Said Would Work | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 48

    Did you follow a program perfectly… and still fail? You're not alone. 💔 In this raw and honest episode, trauma-informed career coach Cyndi Bennett shares the story of how she invested thousands of dollars into a business coaching program, followed it exactly as instructed — and watched it fail. Not because she did anything wrong, but because the program was never designed for trauma survivors. If you've ever trusted someone else's system over your own instincts, this episode is for you. 🎙️ What You'll Discover in This Episode: ✅ Why mainstream business and marketing programs can actively harm trauma survivors ✅ How psychological triggers in email marketing do the opposite of what trauma survivors need ✅ The moment Cyndi realized she trusted a program more than her own nervous system ✅ What "practicing the pause" looks like in real business decision-making ✅ How to reclaim your voice and choice as a trauma survivor AND business owner ✅ Why quitting the wrong path is actually an act of resilience — not failure 💡 Key Takeaway: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop, pause, and choose a different direction — one that actually fits YOU and the people you serve. 🔗 Resources & Links: 📌 Learn more about the Resilient Career Academy: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/resilientcareercoaching-waitlist 📌 Follow Cyndi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resilient_career_academy/  00:00 – Introduction & Cyndi's Story Begins 01:15 – The Target Leave Date That Created Pressure 02:00 – Joining the Coaching Program & Investing Big 03:00 – Following the Program Exactly & Still Failing 04:00 – Why Psychological Triggers Hurt Trauma Survivors 05:00 – Zero Sign-Ups Despite Advertising Investment 05:45 – Practicing the Pause: Stopping to Evaluate 06:30 – The Realization: This Program Wasn't Trauma-Informed 07:30 – Ignoring Her Gut & the Cost of Not Trusting Herself 08:30 – You Have a Choice: Voice & Agency as a Survivor 09:30 – Canceling the Membership & Choosing a New Path 11:00 – Serving Over Selling: Cyndi's Real Goal 12:00 – Listening to Her Community Going Forward 13:00 – Encouragement for Trauma Survivor Business Owners 14:00 – Closing Message: You Are Resilient When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching] DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    15 min

  3. MAR 10

    Why Saying "NO" Feels Dangerous (And What It's Really Telling You) | Trauma & Career Ep. 47

    Does your chest tighten the moment you think about saying no? Do you automatically say yes — even when your body is screaming the opposite? You're not weak. You're not dramatic. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it learned to do. In this episode of Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide, trauma-informed career coach Cyndi Bennett unpacks why saying "no" feels threatening for trauma survivors — at work, in relationships, and even in therapy itself. She introduces the concept of fawning (the 4th trauma response most people never talk about) and what it's quietly costing you in your professional life. This isn't a script to memorize. This is a healing conversation. 00:00 – Introduction: Two "no" moments that revealed a pattern 02:15 – What this podcast is about (Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide) 03:00 – Why saying "no" is a threat response, not a skill gap 04:30 – What is fawning? The 4th trauma response 05:45 – How fawning shows up at work (overcommitting, unrealistic deadlines, silence in meetings) 07:30 – How fawning followed Cyndi into therapy 09:15 – Learning that "no" can exist in safe relationships 10:45 – The reframe: discomfort around "no" is healing information 12:00 – The 3 stages of reclaiming your "no" (all of them count) 14:00 – What fawning costs you professionally (resentment, visibility, leadership) 16:30 – The visibility paradox: why fawning makes you LESS visible as a leader 17:45 – This is a healing process, not a skill-building exercise 19:00 – You are not meant to do this alone + closing encouragement 🔗 Book a FREE 30-Minute Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min?month=2026-03 If you're a trauma survivor navigating your career while honoring your healing journey, this podcast was made for you. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    11 min

  4. MAR 3

    When Building Your Business Becomes the New Trigger | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 46

    You left the workplace because it was too triggering to survive. So why does building your business feel just as dysregulating? For a lot of trauma survivors, entrepreneurship isn't a passion project — it's an exit strategy. And when your business is your only way out, the urgency to make it work fast can activate the exact same threat responses you left employment to escape. In this episode, Cyndi names the structural tension that nobody in the business coaching world is talking about, and explores what it actually looks like to build something sustainable when your nervous system is part of the equation. In this episode: Why trauma survivors often turn to entrepreneurship as a protective decision, not just a professional oneWhat moving at the pace of your nervous system actually looks like in practiceHow urgency becomes its own trigger — and what it costs you when you push past your capacityWhat a trauma-informed approach to offer design, revenue models, and timelines looks likeThe triathlon analogy that reframes everything about pacing as a trauma survivor entrepreneurTIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The hook: when urgency becomes the new dysregulator 1:00 - Welcome & who this episode is for 2:00 - Why trauma survivors choose entrepreneurship 5:00 - Moving at the speed of your nervous system 11:00 - Growth discomfort vs. dysregulation — knowing the difference 12:30 - The triathlon analogy: pacing when you carry extra weight 19:00 - When urgency becomes the new trigger 24:00 - How survival mode shows up in your business decisions 26:30 - Building a business that holds both realities 27:00 - Five trauma-informed tips for entrepreneurs 30:00 - Reflection question & CTA  Ready to talk about what support might actually help? Book a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min?month=2026-03 Cyndi Bennett, MBA, M.Ed. is a trauma survivor and trauma-informed career coach. She hosts Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide podcast and leads the Resilient Career Academy, helping trauma survivors translate their healing wisdom into professional advancement. Cyndi's approach is grounded in her own 21+ years of navigating healing alongside a corporate career. When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    32 min

  5. FEB 24

    Coming Out as a DID System at Work | Your Trauma Wise Career Guide Ep 45

    What happens when a trauma-informed career coach comes out publicly as a DID system — and what it means for everyone navigating their career while healing? In this raw, unscripted episode, Cyndi shares three big life updates: coming out as a DID system on Monica Ostroff's Healing My Parts podcast, attending the Healing Together Conference in Orlando, and the upcoming launch of the Empowered Leader Coaching Intensive. If you're a system trying to figure out how DID shows up in your career — or you're just tired of hiding who you are at work — this one's for you. In this episode: * Why coming out as a DID system felt like freedom (and why it matters professionally) * What the Healing Together Conference taught Cyndi about resilience and community * How DID shows up differently in careers — and why nobody's talking about it * What's coming next: the Empowered Leader Coaching Intensive (8-week beta program, 15 spots) TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro & going unscripted 1:30 - Why showing up authentically is part of the healing 5:30 - Coming out as a DID system publicly 9:00 - The DID career continuum nobody talks about 11:30 - The Healing Together Conference in Orlando 15:00 - Creating DID-specific career content 16:00 - The Empowered Leader Coaching Intensive launch 📌 Interested in the Empowered Leader Coaching Intensive? https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/til 🎙️ Listen to Cyndi's conversation with Monica Ostroff on the Healing My Parts podcast — Business, Boundaries, and Being Plural: https://open.substack.com/pub/healingmyparts/p/business-boundaries-and-being-plural?r=5g1ein&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 🌿 Learn more about the Healing Together Conference by An Infinite Mind: https://www.aninfinitemind.org/healing-together-conference-1 Cyndi Bennett, MBA, M.Ed. is a trauma survivor and trauma-informed career coach. She hosts Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide podcast and leads the Resilient Career Academy, helping trauma survivors translate their healing wisdom into professional advancement. Cyndi's approach is grounded in her own 21+ years of navigating healing alongside a corporate career. #DissociativeIdentityDisorder #TraumaSurvivor #TraumaInformedCareer When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    18 min

  6. FEB 17

    Trauma-Informed Leadership for Front-Line Workers | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 44

    Front-line workers—healthcare providers, emergency responders, therapists and counselors, social workers, teachers, and service workers—face unique challenges that leadership models often weren't designed to address. When you're constantly exposed to others' trauma and distress as a job requirement, your nervous system pays a price. In this episode, we explore what trauma-informed leadership actually looks like for front-line workers. Not therapy, not lowering standards—but understanding how nervous systems respond to chronic crisis exposure and building support into the work itself. We also acknowledge the impossible balance leaders face: organizational demands for metrics and documentation alongside the human need for emotional support and compassion. Many organizations delivering trauma-informed care don't lead with trauma-informed approaches—and that's what we're here to change. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction: Why front-line workers need trauma-informed leadership [02:30] Understanding the front-line experience and nervous system impact [08:00] Five principles of trauma-informed leadership [16:00] Practical approaches for leaders and workers [20:00] Moving forward with nervous system-aware leadership When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    20 min

  7. FEB 10

    Trauma-Informed Leadership: Nervous System Leadership | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 43

    She'd been through every leadership program. She could articulate leadership principles beautifully. Her evaluations were excellent. So why did her team still seem anxious? Why did people hesitate before speaking in meetings? Because traditional leadership training misses something crucial: leadership happens at the level of the nervous system, not just words and policies. In this episode, I break down what traditional leadership training gets wrong and what actually works when you understand nervous system dynamics: The three critical misunderstandings of traditional leadership trainingNervous system fundamentals every leader needs to understandWhat leadership looks like at the nervous system levelPractical applications that change everythingWhy you're not failing - you're just working at the wrong levelIf you're a leader whose best efforts aren't producing the results you expect, this episode will change how you think about leadership. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Hook: When Everything Right Still Feels Wrong 0:30 - The Problem: Teaching Leadership to Brains That Aren't Listening 4:00 - What Traditional Training Gets Wrong 4:00 - Misunderstanding #1: Words Create Reality 5:30 - Misunderstanding #2: Psychological Safety Is a Policy 7:00 - Misunderstanding #3: Logic and Reason Drive Performance 9:00 - Nervous System Fundamentals Leaders Need to Understand 9:00 - The Window of Tolerance 10:30 - Co-Regulation: Your Nervous System Impacts Theirs 12:00 - Neuroception: The Unconscious Threat Detection System 14:00 - What Leadership Looks Like at the Nervous System Level 18:00 - The Practical Application: What Changes 21:00 - Moving Forward: Working With Biology, Not Against It 22:00 - Join the Waitlist for Leading at the Nervous System Level Ready to lead at the nervous system level? Join the waitlist: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/tilwaitlist When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    20 min

  8. FEB 3

    Leading as a Trauma Survivor: Insights From Both Sides | Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide Ep 42

    "Just create psychological safety by telling your team it's okay to make mistakes!" Everyone nodded. I felt my stomach tighten. Because I remembered being that employee - the one whose manager said all the right things, then subtly punished every misstep. When you've been on both sides of the desk - both the employee hoping for safety and the leader trying to create it - you have a perspective most leadership development programs don't address. In this episode, I explore what it's like to lead as a trauma survivor, including: The gap between what leaders think they're communicating and what trauma survivors actually hear Why popular leadership advice often falls flat (or causes harm) The dual perspective advantage: what survivor leaders see that others miss What we have to navigate that traditional leaders don't Leading from integration, not despite your trauma history If you're a leader carrying your own trauma history, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Hook: When Leadership Training Misses the Mark 0:30 - The Problem: When Leaders Don't Know What They Don't Know 4:00 - What Sounds Good But Falls Flat 4:00 - "We Have an Open Door Policy" 5:15 - "Mistakes Are Learning Opportunities" 6:30 - "Take Care of Yourself" 7:45 - "I'm Here to Support You" 11:00 - The Dual Perspective Advantage 15:30 - What We Have to Navigate That Traditional Leaders Don't 18:30 - Leading From Integration, Not Despite Trauma 21:00 - Moving Forward: Your Dual Perspective Is Your Superpower 22:00 - Join the Waitlist for Leading at the Nervous System Level Ready to lead from integration? Join the waitlist: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/tilwaitlist When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey: Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environmentReady for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Traditional career development not working for you as a trauma survivor? Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide reimagines professional success with your healing journey in mind. Join trauma survivor turned trauma-informed career coach, Cyndi Bennett, MBA, M.Ed., for strategies that actually work for trauma survivors seeking career growth. Subscribe for weekly tips on building a career that honors your healing journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Cyndi Bennett
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide
  • Show Website
    Your Trauma-Wise Career Guide