Avoidance and Control

Monique Gomez
  • 5.0 (8)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you avoiding places and people to feel more comfortable? Welcome to the Avoidance and Control Podcast, together we will uncover these common reactions of our nervous system and learn to use them to our advantage to get our voices heard and needs met. Join me as we step out of society's view of health and focus on skills over symptoms. Host Monique Gomez former mental health clinician turned Trauma and Resilience Life Coach, will simplify the science to help you navigate being a human with reactions, tools to support, and how her coaching to reach compassion beyond your imagination.

  1. 12/08/2025

    Burnout to Inviting More Peace with Rachel Richards

    Burnout doesn’t just show up as exhaustion—it creeps into our nervous system, our finances, our confidence, and even our ability to breathe through daily life. In this honest and grounding conversation, I’m joined by my dear friend and talented photographer, Rachel Richards, as we unpack the hidden layers of burnout, including money fears, panic attacks, survival mode, and the pressure to “hold it all together.” In This Episode: - Workaholism/ Societal or Generational patterns - Book Recommendations for Healing, Self-Sabotage, and Creativity - Identity Shifts Rachel Richards is an award-winning Phoenix-based photographer and filmmaker, and the heart behind Rachel Richards Photo + Film, who specializes in deeply intentional, in-home, documentary-style family storytelling. In addition to her client work, she creates botanical black-and-white fine art prints derived from her personal creative and mindfulness practice, available at Rachel Richards Fine Art. Rachel's Photo- Film Website Fine Art Prints Rachel Richards

    46 min

  2. 12/01/2025

    Boundaries without Guilt: The Swinging Door Analogy

    Want to stop going back to people who hurt you or make you "feel" crazy? Then use the Swinging door as the fairy Godmother of boundaries. I get it you are a recovering people pleaser and putting a boundary in place like; saying no, or that you cannot, or simply not responding to someones upset... is what this anaology helps us remove guilt and continue to stand in our power. Monique is a former therapist turned trauma coach, who love to bring compassion to how we react. The Swining Door anaologty is just that a way of thinking about relationships so we can show up and CHOOSE ourselves; so we then can have energy for others. $50 Introductory Coaching Session Not The Chancla: How Awareness of Our History Creates Compassion to Rewrite Our Future Dare to Heal Resource Page

    13 min

  3. 11/24/2025

    Chaotic Identity Driven Cycle of Abuse By Kristen Searcy

    True intimacy is hard to find and build upon, especially when our own identity starts to erode. Licensed Clinical Social Worker Kristen Searcey shares her female-pronged cycle of abuse in this Part 2 Episode. The episode is designed to help you see behaviors in yourself and others and seek support from a mental health specialist. Kristen Searcy is an EMDRIA certified EMDR Trauma Therapist and the founder of A Desert In Bloom Therapy in Phoenix. She specializes in helping women heal from complex trauma, domestic violence and eating disorders, blending clinical expertise with an artist's soul. Her work guides women toward the freedom to live fully in the present and to sing their own heart song again. Kristens Website Psychology Today A Desert In Bloom Instagram IF you or someone you know is not doing okay call or text 988 for mental health support and crises. https://988lifeline.org/ Other Support links NAMI Support Lines/ Details Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Link to apply for an OOP (order of protection) in Maricopa county General Information https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/orders-of-protection/ Link to apply (you must create a login on AZ Point to file) https://azpoint.azcourts.gov/  Domestic Violence Shelter (one main screener for all DC shelters in AZ)DV STOPhttps://turnanewleaf.org/services/sexual-and-domestic-violence-services/dvstop/ Arizona Address Confidentiality Program Applicationhttps://azsos.gov/services/address-confidentiality-program/application-assistants Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project https://www.azbf.org/domestic-violence-legal-assistance-project

    51 min
  4. Journal Reflection: Evaluating Attachment & Healing Old Wounds

    11/17/2025

    Journal Reflection: Evaluating Attachment & Healing Old Wounds

    Have you ever felt stuck in a relationship—romantic, friendship, or even professional—where you keep giving, hoping they’ll change, and wondering why you feel so responsible for their healing? This appears with my clients -alot. We are stuck in the old abandonment story or wound. I actuallyt just realized I do this as well. I behave as if I am going to be abandoned. I strive and push myself so that people I love do not get a chance or idea of leaving me. The Abandonment wound is real. We can reflect and redirect our choices from it! Comment, Like or Share this episode if it was supportive. 45 Minute Intro Session⁠ ⁠Free Resources⁠ ⁠Events (AZ and Virtual)

    16 min

  5. 11/10/2025

    Unpacking the Modern Cycle of Abuse: Power, Control, and Human Patterns

    The old narratives about abuse don’t always fit what we see today.This week, I’m joined by Kristen Searcy, whose revolutionary Model of Abuse challenges everything we think we know about violence and control. We’re talking about how real change begins when we focus on consistent behaviors, not clinical labels. Kristen Searcy is an EMDRIA certified EMDR Trauma Therapist and the founder of A Desert In Bloom Therapy in Phoenix. She specializes in helping women heal from complex trauma, domestic violence and eating disorders, blending clinical expertise with an artist's soul. Her work guides women toward the freedom to live fully in the present and to sing their own heart song again. A Desert In Bloom Psychology Today Page Instagram

    50 min

  6. 11/03/2025

    What is Abuse: A Salutogenic Perspective

    Welcome to Season 4 of the Avoidance and Control podcast. Enjoy this warm-up episode to get your brain thinking opposite of the "fix it Model" Humans don't need to be "fixed", we need logic, inner knowing, and regulation. In This Episode: - 3 tips for stepping out of the Old story (trauma/Abuse/ etc) - Components of Salutogenics (moving toward Health) - Reduce the stigma that you are the only one going through this.. Harm, abuse and control-- we've all experienced it in different ways. Book an Introduction call or sample other resources below 45 Minute Intro Session Free Resources Events (AZ and Virtual)

    12 min

  7. 03/29/2025

    Healing Beyond Psychotherapy with Annamarie Green

    How do you feel about diagnoses—do they help you understand yourself or make you feel stuck? In this powerful finale, Annamarie Green explores why true healing starts with your energy, not just a label. If you’ve ever felt like there’s more to healing than managing symptoms, this one’s for you. In This Episode: 3 core Levels of HealingAnxiety LanguageHow to Chord Cut DIY Annamarie Resources: Anxiety Languages Freebie Soul Surgeon Enrollment

    35 min

  8. 03/10/2025

    The Healing Power of Breathwork with Janet Bonner West

    You know those moments in life when everything feels like it's crumbling—finances, emotions, even your sense of self? I've been there. And so has my dear friend, former coaching client, and now incredible somatic breathwork practitioner, Janet Bonner West. Janet went from feeling broke, stuck, and hiding from her truth to discovering the power of breathwork—a practice that completely transformed her emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. And now? She’s bringing that same healing energy to The Resilience Tour Retreat as one of our breathwork facilitators! In This Episode: How Somatic Breathwork works with your Nervous SystemDisconnection to SelfConnection to body as first step  Janet Bonner West, a Somatic Breathwork Practitioner and Health Coach, combines 27 years of experience as a physician assistant with her expertise in behavioral health. After her own journey through trauma and chronic pain, she now helps clients restore balance and well-being through breathwork and restorative health coaching. Janet believes in the power of self-healing and empowers individuals to reconnect with their innate intelligence. Janets Facebook Page Resilience Tour Retreat Resilience Tour Resources Mental Health Resources: Hotline NAMI Hotline Resources Education- Health Topics Moniques Episode Mentions: What is Dissociation? Why Patterns Come Back YouTube Video - Meet The Resilience Tour Founders Book a Call with Monique Moniques Website

    39 min
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Are you avoiding places and people to feel more comfortable? Welcome to the Avoidance and Control Podcast, together we will uncover these common reactions of our nervous system and learn to use them to our advantage to get our voices heard and needs met. Join me as we step out of society's view of health and focus on skills over symptoms. Host Monique Gomez former mental health clinician turned Trauma and Resilience Life Coach, will simplify the science to help you navigate being a human with reactions, tools to support, and how her coaching to reach compassion beyond your imagination.

Information

  • Creator
    Monique Gomez
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Monique Gomez
  • Show Website
    Avoidance and Control