Hey Tabi!

Tabitha

Welcome to "Hey Tabi!" the podcast where we talk about the hard things out loud, with our actual lips. We'll cover all kinds of topics across the mental health spectrum, including how it intersects with the Christian faith. Nothing is off limits here & we are not "take-two-verses-and-call-me-in-the-morning."I'm Tabitha Westbrook & I'm a licensed trauma therapist (but I'm not your trauma therapist). I'm an expert in domestic abuse & coercive control & how complex trauma impacts our health & well-being. Our focus here is knowledge & healing - trauma doesn't have to eat your lunch forever. There is hope! Now, let's get going!How to connect:https://www.tabithawestbrook.com/Therapy Website: (We are able to see clients in NC & TX)https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/Instagram:@tabithathecounselor@_tjatpDisclaimer: This podcast is not therapy & is for informational purposes only. If you need therapy I encourage you to find an awesome therapist licensed where you are that can help you out!!

  1. 5D AGO

    From Dysregulation to Calm: A Practical Toolkit

    We slow down and practice simple tools to move from survival to safety, using consent-based exercises, micro-practices, and imagery to regulate the nervous system. We talk about building a 911 card, explore glimmers, and use music and compassion to make calm more reachable. If you need some embodied coaching, we are happy to walk alongside you and help develop that strong toolkit with you. Our contact information is in the show notes and in the description. You can find us at www.thejourneyandheprocess.com. Wanna say hi? Send a text!  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    17 min
  2. JAN 26

    The Hidden Damage of Emotional Suppression and How to Heal

    What happens when emotions are ignored, suppressed, or labeled as “wrong”? For many trauma survivors—especially those raised in Christian spaces—emotional suppression doesn’t lead to peace or holiness. It leads to anxiety, shame, disconnection, and relational breakdown. In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Emma Ward to talk honestly about the hidden damage of emotional suppression—and how real healing begins. Together, they explore: Why emotional suppression is so common in Christian cultureHow unprocessed emotions show up as anxiety, anger, shame, or numbnessThe difference between having emotions and being ruled by themHow trauma impacts emotional awareness and the bodyWhat Scripture actually shows us about emotions (including Jesus’ own emotional life)Emma also shares the heart behind her E-motion Monsters emotional literacy cards and why learning the language of emotion is essential for healing, healthy relationships, and embodied faith. Find Emma: E-motion Monster Cards - https://e-motionmonsters.com/ The Ahava Way (therapy & intensives) - https://theahavaway.com/ Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    48 min
  3. JAN 19

    When the Church Gets It Right: How Abuse Survivors Actually Heal

    What does it actually look like when the Church gets it right for survivors of abuse? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and coercive control expert Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dawn Jones, founder of Restored to Thrive, a church-based ministry supporting women healing from domestic abuse/coercive control, and relational trauma. So often, abuse survivors experience silence, minimization, or spiritual bypassing in church spaces. But this conversation offers something different: a real-life example of a church that chose survivors over systems—and the healing that followed. Together, Tabitha and Dawn talk openly about: How coercive control and emotional abuse show up in Christian marriagesWhy traditional marriage counseling can be dangerous in abusive relationshipsWhat abuse survivors actually need from pastors and church leadersHow safe, trauma-informed church communities foster real healingThe life-saving impact of being believed, supported, and protected🔗 Resources Mentioned: Leslie Vernick – The Emotionally Destructive Marriage, https://leslievernick.com/Called to Peace Ministries, https://calledtopeace.org/National Domestic Violence Hotline (U.S.): 1-800-799-7233Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    53 min
  4. JAN 12

    All Abuse is Physical Abuse - Neuroscience Proof and Tips to Help Survivors Heal

    All abuse is physical abuse—even when there are no visible bruises. In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and domestic abuse expert Tabitha Westbrook explains the neuroscience behind coercive control and why survivors often experience brain fog, memory problems, anxiety, emotional numbness, and difficulty concentrating long after the abuse has ended. Drawing from current neuroscience research and clinical experience, Tabitha walks through how coercive control and chronic emotional abuse can cause real brain injuries, including emotional concussions and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI)—and why this is so often missed, minimized, or misdiagnosed. If you’ve ever thought: “I should be better by now”“I know I’m safe, but my body doesn’t believe it”“My brain just doesn’t work like it used to”“Why am I still struggling?”This episode may finally help things make sense. In this episode, we cover: Why all abuse is physical abuse from a neuroscience perspectiveHow coercive control changes brain function and blood flowEmotional concussions and trauma-related brain injuries explained simplyWhy survivors are frequently misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or ADHDCommon brain-based symptoms survivors blame on themselvesHow healing is possible through whole-person, trauma-informed careWhy rest, nervous system regulation,Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    35 min
  5. JAN 5

    Restoried Healing For Trauma Survivors with Melissa Affolter

    What happens when trauma silences your story, and what does it take to speak it aloud again? In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with biblical counselor that does not suck Melissa Affolter to explore the healing power of story for survivors of trauma. Together, they talk about why trauma often leaves people wordless, how shame gets stored in the body, and why healing requires more than insight or “right thinking.” This conversation centers on the sacred role of presence, safe community, and being witnessed without being rushed or fixed. You’ll hear about: How telling your story helps integrate body, brain, and soulThe cost of carrying an untold story aloneWhy growth after trauma is not linearHow spiritual harm complicates healing & gently rebuilding faithRestoried, a trauma-informed support group for women (and how you can participate)This episode is for survivors who feel stuck, exhausted, or unsure how to make sense of their story - and it's for helpers who want to understand trauma with more compassion and depth. 🔗 Resources & Links Learn more about Restoried and Melissa Affolter’s work: 👉Restoried: https://www.melissaaffolter.com/restoried-support-groups 👉Melissa's site: https://www.melissaaffolter.com/ Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    54 min
  6. 12/29/2025

    When Churches Make Abuse Worse (And How They Can Change) with Matt Chandler

    What happens when a pastor admits, “We made it worse”? In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with pastor Matt Chandler for an honest conversation about how uninformed church systems have harmed abuse survivors - often unintentionally, but deeply. Tabi didn't provide any questions in advance and Matt didn't shy away from anything asked. Together, they explore what happens when churches lack training in domestic abuse, coercive control, & trauma dynamics, & how good intentions can still cause devastating harm. Matt speaks candidly about past failures, institutional blind spots, & what true repentance & reform actually requires. Inside this conversation: ⛪️ Why abuse is often missed in Christian marriages and churches ⛪️ How church systems can unintentionally side with abusers ⛪️ Why trauma-informed training is essential for pastors and elders ⛪️ What accountability and repentance should look like in the Church Where to find Matt: https://www.pastormattchandler.com/ Matt's latest book - Awake and Alive: A 30-Day Challenge to Revive Your Faith - https://a.co/d/gLywHJp Where to get trained: Pastors that would like to get educated on abuse or schedule a Protect the Flock training for your church, reach out to Called to Peace Ministries - https://calledtopeace.org/. Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    50 min
  7. 12/22/2025

    The Ultimate Truth About Emotional Abuse in Christian Marriage (Every Survivor Needs to Hear This)

    Is emotional abuse being hidden behind Christian language like submission and forgiveness? In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with bestselling author Leslie Vernick to expose the truth about emotional abuse in Christian marriage, and why so many survivors are told to stay silent and endure harm. If you’ve ever wondered: Is my marriage emotionally abusive?Does God want me to stay in an abusive marriage?Am I being abused or just “too sensitive”?This conversation offers clarity, validation, and biblical truth without shame. You’ll learn how to recognize emotionally destructive patterns, understand why submission without choice becomes oppression, and begin trusting your instincts again. Resources: Leslie Vernick - https://leslievernick.com/ The Emotionally Destructive Relationship - https://amzn.to/3Kz7c6J The Emotionally Destructive Marriage - https://amzn.to/4919P9E Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    54 min
  8. 12/15/2025

    Resisting Without Becoming The Oppressor

    When we’ve lived through abuse, or we spend our lives helping others heal from it, it’s shockingly easy to accidentally pick up the same tools, patterns, and power dynamics we’re trying to dismantle. In this deeply honest conversation, trauma therapist, Tabitha Westbrook, and biblical counselor that does not suck, Chelsey Gordon explore how survivors, advocates, and church leaders can resist becoming the very systems of oppression they’re fighting against. Whether you’re a survivor learning to trust again, a ministry leader navigating influence, or someone passionate about justice and healing, this episode offers compassionate insight, spiritual grounding, and real-world practical guidance. 🔍 In This Episode, We Talk About: • The hidden ways survivors may replicate abusive patterns without realizing it • Why community, humility, and honest feedback are essential for healing • What Scripture actually calls us to when we feel defensive, afraid, or justified • How to hold truth, justice, compassion, and discernment together • The “Voldemort effect”: why the pursuit of power will cost us our souls • How to create relationships where accountability doesn’t feel like attack • Practical wisdom for breaking cycles, in ourselves and in our churches This is a tender conversation, grounded in compassion for survivors and clarity for leaders who want to do better. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I responding from my wounds or my wisdom?” Wanna say hi? Send a text! At The Journey and The Process we strive to help you heal. Our therapists are trauma specialists who use evidence-based tools like EMDR, Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems to help you heal - mind, soul, and body. Reach out today to start your healing journey. https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/  This book is for every Christian woman who has been harmed sexually, whether that happened in childhood, adulthood, or even within your coercive controlling marriage, and you're longing to feel safe in your body again. We talk about the hard stuff, shame, desire, faith, and even questions like, is this sin or is this trauma?You don't have to untangle it alone. Body & Soul, Healed & Whole is for you. Get a copy here today - https://a.co/d/8Jo3Z4V 🎧 Subscribe to Hey Tabi for more expert conversations on trauma, faith, and healing. Order Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control Wanna support Hey Tabi? Buy me a coffee here - https://buymeacoffee.com/heytabi 📩 Connect with Tabitha: 💻 Tabitha's Website - www.tabithawestbrook.com 📲 Tabitha's Instagram - www.instagram.com/tabithathecounselor 🎙️ Podcast Homepage - https://heytabi.buzzsprout.com 💻 The Journey & The Process Website - www.thejourneyandtheprocess.com 📲 The Journey & The Process Instagram - www.instagram.com/_tjatp Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & watch podcast episodes there 👍 If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share to help others who need this information! 🚨 Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy and is intended for educational purposes only. If you're in crisis or need therapy, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional. Need to know...

    52 min
5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Welcome to "Hey Tabi!" the podcast where we talk about the hard things out loud, with our actual lips. We'll cover all kinds of topics across the mental health spectrum, including how it intersects with the Christian faith. Nothing is off limits here & we are not "take-two-verses-and-call-me-in-the-morning."I'm Tabitha Westbrook & I'm a licensed trauma therapist (but I'm not your trauma therapist). I'm an expert in domestic abuse & coercive control & how complex trauma impacts our health & well-being. Our focus here is knowledge & healing - trauma doesn't have to eat your lunch forever. There is hope! Now, let's get going!How to connect:https://www.tabithawestbrook.com/Therapy Website: (We are able to see clients in NC & TX)https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/Instagram:@tabithathecounselor@_tjatpDisclaimer: This podcast is not therapy & is for informational purposes only. If you need therapy I encourage you to find an awesome therapist licensed where you are that can help you out!!

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