Feeling and Healing

Danielle Z, MFT
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

A place where @danielle.z.mft talks about mental health, creating safe spaces for feeling and healing, and WHOLE living.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 55: When You Have No Choice But to Be Strong: A Story of Rebuilding and Resilience with Claire Quick

    What happens when the safety of corporate life no longer fits who you're becoming? And what happens when the life you planned doesn't unfold the way you imagined? In this raw and honest conversation, Danielle sits down with Claire Quick, Entrepreneur and Coach, to talk about the messy, uncomfortable truth of leaving the predictable path behind and redefining success when your original vision falls apart. We explore what it really takes to rebuild emotional resilience when you're navigating the unknown, the profound grief and identity shift that comes with infertility, and how life you to redefine not just what success means, but who you are entirely. This isn't a highlight reel. It's a conversation about the moments when you have no choice but to keep going, trust yourself, and build something entirely new from the ground up... Including a new version of yourself and what a successful life actually means to you! If you've ever felt trapped between who you were and who you're becoming, this episode is for you.

  2. 4d ago

    SPECIAL EPISODE: The Surprising Connection Between Breathing and Chronic Pain with Dr. David Rubenstein

    Can the way you breathe actually affect chronic pain, stress, sleep, and even how well your brain functions? Most people think of breathing as something that simply keeps us alive. But what if the way you breathe could be connected to chronic pain, oxygenation, stress, emotional regulation, and your body’s ability to heal? In this episode of the Feeling and Healing Podcast, Danielle Z sits down with Dr. David Rubenstein, a Chronic Pain Specialist and Creator of the Total Relief Method, to explore the surprising connection between breathing, the diaphragm, the brain, and chronic pain. Whether you’re interested in chronic pain, stress management, breathing techniques, brain health, or the mind-body connection, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on how the body works as an interconnected system. This episode covers: - How Dr. David’s personal experience with chronic pain inspired the Total Relief Method - Why traditional approaches to chronic pain may sometimes provide only temporary relief - The difference between concentric and eccentric muscle contractions - How the brain controls movement and muscle function - Why the diaphragm plays an important role in spinal stability - The surprising connection between breathing and low back pain - How breathing mechanics can affect the neck, shoulders, and jaw ⏱️: 00:00 Introduction 00:15 Meet Dr. David & the Total Relief Method 00:36 The personal story behind his chronic pain work 02:03 Discovering eccentric contraction 04:19 Working with clients and discovering unique movement patterns 06:37 Why the brain—not just the painful area—matters 07:23 The surprising role of breathing in chronic pain 08:00 The diaphragm and spinal stability 08:32 Chronic pain patterns in yoga instructors 09:55 Testing and retraining the diaphragm 11:29 How the diaphragm affects the spine 12:38 Primary vs. accessory breathing muscles 14:07 Mechanical hypoxia explained 15:18 The impact of diaphragm retraining 16:29 Oxygen, sleep, stress, and recovery 17:18 Why oxygen delivery to cells matters 18:33 The connection between breathing and healing 19:16 How the diaphragm and chest work together 20:32 Why the brain is the future of medicine 21:21 Oxygenation and stress reduction 22:28 Why the brain protects breathing and the airway 23:25 Breathing, cortisol, inflammation, and pain 24:27 Oxygenation, mood, and emotional health 25:04 Breathing during stress and anxiety 25:44 Breathing, focus, and clear thinking 26:35 The reactive brain vs. higher brain function 27:10 How stress and breathing affect the organs 28:04 The mind-body connection 28:28 Why we sometimes “forget” to breathe 28:58 Stress, breathing, and the jaw/TMJ 29:18 Why chronic stress keeps building 💬 Connect with Dr. David and Total Relief Method Website: https://totalreliefmethod.com 💬 Connect with Danielle Z Website: https://www.daniellezmft.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.z.mft Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellezilg X: https://x.com/daniellez_mft LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellezilg ▶️ Watch More Episodes https://youtu.be/SXHWoaV01VY?si=XMX5qkf0rgQ1rsjI https://youtu.be/ys6lyHpgdGI?si=30_tW6UQ6pq_CmkS https://youtu.be/fZCFOtLtkoc?si=_lKuGhW-cIncv5qb 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about mental health, chronic pain, stress management, emotional wellness, brain health, nervous system regulation, healing, psychology, and the mind-body connection. 📜 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, nutritional, legal, or financial advice. The information discussed in this episode is not a substitute for professional medical care or diagnosis. 💖 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment with your biggest takeaway, and share it with someone interested in chronic pain, breathing, stress, mental health, or holistic approaches to healing. © Feeling and Healing Podcast

  3. 5d ago

    SPECIAL EPISODE: How Religious Trauma Impacts Your Identity with Morgan Piercy

    Have you ever questioned the beliefs you were raised with—and wondered who you are outside of them? Religious deconstruction can be a deeply emotional and complicated process. It can involve questioning long-held beliefs, navigating religious trauma, grieving relationships and communities, and rebuilding your identity from the ground up. In this powerful episode of the Feeling and Healing Podcast, Danielle Z sits down with Morgan Piercy, a licensed professional counselor who specializes in complex trauma, neurodiversity-affirming care, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, religious trauma, deconstruction, and life design. Whether you are questioning your faith, healing from religious trauma, rebuilding your identity, struggling with people-pleasing, or simply wondering whether your current life reflects your deepest values, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives, validation, and encouragement for the journey of self-discovery. This episode covers: - What religious deconstruction is and why it can be emotionally challenging - How religious trauma can affect identity, relationships, and mental health - The difference between your roles and your core sense of self - How to identify and live according to your core values - Why people-pleasing can become a barrier to authentic living - Identity reconstruction after leaving or questioning a religious system - The grief and loss that can accompany religious deconstruction ⏱️: 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Meet Morgan Piercy 00:38 From Engineering to Mental Health 03:10 Morgan’s Religious Deconstruction Journey 04:28 The Grief and Loss of Deconstruction 05:17 Rebuilding Your Identity 06:12 Discovering Your Core Values 07:34 Identity, Roles, and Your Core Self 08:36 How to Identify Your Core Values 09:38 People-Pleasing and Authentic Relationships 10:15 When Deconstruction Changes Relationships 11:21 Navigating Political Polarization 12:35 Understanding High-Control Groups and the BITE Model 14:06 Informed Consent and High-Control Environments 15:36 Anger, Resentment, and Leaving Religious Communities 16:24 Boundaries vs. Emotional Cutoff 17:35 How to Communicate Healthy Boundaries 18:53 The “Let Them” Concept and Relationship Nuance 20:56 Religious Trauma and a Changing Society 21:47 Psychological Flexibility and Willingness 22:00 IFS and “No Bad Parts” 22:47 Challenging the Belief That We Are Fundamentally Bad 24:06 Fear, Control, and Religious Beliefs 25:12 Reconstructing Your Belief System 26:48 The Grief That Comes With Growth 28:28 Rebuilding Community After Religious Deconstruction 💬 Connect with Danielle Z Website: https://www.daniellezmft.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.z.mft Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellezilg X: https://x.com/daniellez_mft LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellezilg 💬 Connect with Morgan Piercy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deconstructionkc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deconstructionkc Website: https://www.deconstructionkc.com/ ▶️ Watch More Episodes https://youtu.be/SXHWoaV01VY?si=XMX5qkf0rgQ1rsjI https://youtu.be/ys6lyHpgdGI?si=30_tW6UQ6pq_CmkS https://youtu.be/fZCFOtLtkoc?si=_lKuGhW-cIncv5qb 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about mental health, trauma recovery, religious trauma, emotional healing, relationships, self-awareness, identity, personal growth, nervous system regulation, and living a healthier, more intentional life. 📜 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or mental health advice. If you are struggling with religious trauma, complex trauma, your mental health, or major life transitions, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. 💖 If this episode resonated with you, please like, comment with your biggest takeaway, and share it with someone who may need encouragement on their healing and self-discovery journey. © Feeling and Healing Podcast

  4. Sep 7

    Episode 54: From Existing to Living: Choosing Growth Over Comfort with Michael Barnes

    There's a difference between living and existing. Existing is safe. It's predictable. It's the same routine, the same thoughts, the same version of yourself on repeat. Existing feels like survival, like you're checking boxes, getting through the day, staying small enough to avoid discomfort. Living asks more of you. Living requires you to step outside the familiar. To feel the fear and move anyway. To choose growth even when staying comfortable feels easier. In this episode, Danielle and Michael Barnes, Life Coach, Speaker, and Author, explore what it means to break free from the pattern of existing and step into truly living. Your comfort zone isn't keeping you safe. It's keeping you small. And you weren't meant to stay small.

  5. Aug 31

    Episode 53: Coming Back to Yourself: A Heart-to-Heart on Eating, Feeling, and Healing with Jane Pilgner

    There's a moment when you realize you've been living outside of yourself. When eating becomes a pattern instead of nourishment. When your body feels like something to manage instead of home. When you're moving so fast that feeling becomes too much, so you reach for something, anything, to slow the spiral. In this conversation, Danielle sits down with Jane Pilgner, a Master-Certified Binge-Eating Coach, to talk about what's really happening beneath binge eating, body image struggles, and the patterns that keep us stuck. Together they explore:- What your body is actually trying to tell you- How slowing down isn't about mindset or willpower – it's about nervous system regulation- The gentle, powerful work of coming back to yourself This isn't about fixing or controlling. It's about witnessing. About creating space. About choosing to feel WHOLE in a body that's been asking for your attention all along. Choose presence. Trust your body. Come back to yourself.

  6. Aug 24

    Episode 52: The Language of the Body: Somatic Healing, Poetry, and Regulation with Amanda Sproles

    Your body has a language. And it's been trying to tell you something. In this episode, Danielle sits down with Amanda Sproles, Somatic Coach and Founder of Harmony Within, to dive into the world of somatic healing – exploring how to safely do body-based work, retrain your nervous system, and find what actually works for YOU. From understanding the mind-body connection to honoring what your nervous system needs, this episode is about coming home to your body and learning to listen to its wisdom. If you've felt disconnected from your body, stuck in your head, or unsure how to begin somatic work safely, this conversation is for you!

  7. Aug 17

    Episode 51: Spiritual But Not Religious? What It Means and Spiritual Distress Explained with Christine Davies

    Have you ever wondered what the actual difference is between spirituality and religion? Or why you can leave a religion but still feel spiritually empty? Or how to know if what you're experiencing is depression, burnout, or something deeper – spiritual distress? In this episode, Danielle sits down the Christine Davies, Speaker, Writer, Educator and Spiritual Practitioner, to dive into: - Spirituality vs. religion – what they are, how they differ, and why both matter - What spiritual distress looks like (and why it's more common than you think) - The role of spiritual direction – and why you might need a guide, not a guru - How to reconnect with your soul without losing yourself in someone else's truth If you've been feeling spiritually disconnected, questioning everything you once believed, or searching for meaning but coming up empty – this is the conversation you've been needing!

  8. Aug 13

    SPECIAL EPISODE: How to Find Yourself in a World of Social Media and AI with Lawrence C. Harris

    Have you ever wondered who you really are underneath your job, your appearance, your beliefs, and everything the world tells you that you’re supposed to be? In this thought-provoking episode of the Feeling and Healing Podcast, Danielle Z, sits down with Youth Speaker, Lawrence C. Harris, to explore self-worth, identity, social media, artificial intelligence, critical thinking, and the power of curiosity. Lawrence shares how his own experiences with mental health challenges and childhood adversity inspired him to begin helping teens and young adults believe in themselves, think differently about their future, and make better choices. Together, Danielle and Lawrence unpack the growing influence of social media and AI on young people’s mental health, self-esteem, body image, and perception of reality. The conversation then goes deeper into self-discovery and the importance of questioning the beliefs we inherit from our families, communities, culture, and society. This episode covers: - Lawrence C. Harris’ personal journey and why he began working with teens and young adults - The impact of social media on youth mental health and self-worth - How social media can create unrealistic expectations around appearance and success - The growing influence of artificial intelligence on body image and perception - Why comparing yourself to people online can lead to insecurity and self-doubt - How social media can blur the line between reality and performance - The importance of knowing who you are beyond your career, appearance, and labels - Why self-discovery requires asking uncomfortable questions - How journaling can help with identity and personal growth ⏱️: 00:00 Introduction 00:37 Lawrence’s personal story and his work with youth 01:54 Social media and its impact on young people 03:34 How online messaging affects self-worth 04:10 Social media, comparison, and beauty standards 05:15 AI and the future of mental health 06:45 What is LARPing and how social media creates false realities 07:44 Comparing yourself to things that aren’t real 08:47 The pressure to present a perfect image online 09:47 How AI could warp our perception of reality 10:30 AI, education, and critical thinking 12:31 Do you actually know your own truth? 13:24 Who are you beyond your labels? 15:47 Journaling and the process of self-discovery 17:11 Therapy, growth, and finding yourself 17:29 Why curiosity matters 18:52 Curiosity, compassion, and a polarized world 19:10 Understanding “us versus them” thinking 21:10 Questioning inherited beliefs 23:18 Identity, intersectionality, and social conditioning 25:03 Navigating a rapidly changing world 25:53 Understanding versus misunderstanding 26:38 Why being willing to be wrong matters 27:24 How beliefs can be shaped to protect our worldview 29:10 Why curiosity can create more compassion 💬 Connect with Lawrence C. Harris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrencec.empowers Website: https://www.lawrencecharris.com 💬 Connect with Danielle Z Website: https://www.daniellezmft.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielle.z.mft Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.zilg X: https://x.com/daniellez_mft LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellezilg ▶️ Watch More Episodes: https://youtu.be/SXHWoaV01VY?si=XMX5qkf0rgQ1rsjI https://youtu.be/ys6lyHpgdGI?si=30_tW6UQ6pq_CmkS https://youtu.be/fZCFOtLtkoc?si=_lKuGhW-cIncv5qb 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about mental health, self-worth, personal growth, self-discovery, youth empowerment, emotional intelligence, social media, AI, relationships, identity, and living a healthier, more intentional life. 📜 Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, psychological, or mental health advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. © Feeling and Healing Podcast

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About

A place where @danielle.z.mft talks about mental health, creating safe spaces for feeling and healing, and WHOLE living.

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle Z, MFT
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Danielle Z, MFT
  • Show Website
    Feeling and Healing