Honestly, Alicia

Alicia

Encouraging emotional health in followers of Jesus, through stories and conversations that inspire and inform.

  1. 08/27/2025

    S3/E8 Breaking the Cycle: Faith, Therapy, and Healing Generations Deep- With Gina Birkemeier

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with licensed professional counselor and author, Gina Birkemeier, to explore the complex but crucial topic of generational trauma. Gina's new book, Generations Deep, offers a roadmap for understanding how our past can impact our present and future. In this episode, we discuss: Understanding Generational Trauma: What is it, and why do our bodies and minds keep repeating unhealthy cycles from our family's past? The Nervous System & Familiarity with Dysfunction: How our nervous systems can get wired to feel comfortable in chaos, and what that means for our well-being. Faith and Therapy: We challenge the myth that being a Christian and going to therapy are at odds. Gina explains how faith and professional counseling can work together to bring about profound healing. Defining Trauma: A clear and helpful breakdown of "Big T" versus "little t" trauma, and why both are valid and deserve attention. Emotionally Corrective Experiences: Learn what these are and how they can help rewire your brain and body for healthier responses. Attachment Styles: A quick guide to understanding your attachment style and how it influences your relationships. Emotions and Bodily Sensations: Practical advice on what to do with overwhelming feelings and physical sensations, and how to process them in a healthy way. Connect with Gina Birkemeier: -Website: https://www.ginabirkemeier.com/ -Book: generationsdeep.com -Social Media: Find Gina at My Outloud Voice on FB & Instagram

    47 min
  2. 04/02/2025

    S3/E4 Resilience and Recovery, 2 Years Later- With Andrew Behrens

    Today, we're getting an update on the guest of our most downloaded episode. Two years ago, Andrew, shared his heart-wrenching story of losing his wife to suicide while navigating life as a single father to his then 4-year-old son. We're catching up to see how his journey of grief and recovery has evolved, and how he's building a beautiful new chapter. You'll want to share this episode with anyone who might benefit from hearing Andrew's story of resilience and hope. In This Episode We Cover:-Healing Differences: Andrew shares his insights into how his healing process differs significantly from his son's, highlighting the delicate dance of what is his own grief versus his son's. -The Pool of Grief: We revisit one of my favorite metaphors, the "pool of grief". -Building a Healing Environment: Andrew and his current wife, Alexis, have intentionally created an environment that fosters emotional awareness and healing. He shares practical strategies and insights into their approach. -The Necessity of Revisiting the Past: Andrew offers a powerful perspective on why revisiting past trauma and life-altering circumstances is crucial for healthy forward movement and emphasizes the dangers of minimizing or ignoring these experiences. -Finally; the "What is Happening?!"Segment: We lighten the mood with a funny story from Andrew's son. Thank you for joining us on this deeply personal and inspiring journey with Andrew. We hope his story offers comfort and hope to anyone navigating their own path of grief and recovery. Helpful Links: Andrew's Original Episode Part 1-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s1-e7-resilience-and-recovery-in-the-wake-of/id1663015428?i=1000602036969 Andrew's Original Episode Part 2-https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s1-e8-resilience-and-recovery-in-the-wake-of/id1663015428?i=1000604090909 EMDR Explained-https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a form of psychotherapy designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions related to traumatic experiences.  How EMDR Works: EMDR involves the patient focusing on a traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as: Eye movements, Tapping on opposite sides of the body, and Alternating sounds in the two ears. This stimulation is believed to help the brain process and desensitize the traumatic memory, reducing its emotional impact and distress.  Benefits of EMDR: EMDR has been shown to be an effective treatment for PTSD, reducing symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and avoidance. It may also be beneficial for other mental health conditions, such as: Anxiety, Depression, Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Chronic pain.  Suicide & Crisis Lifeline-https://988lifeline.org/ *If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline- 988

    46 min
  3. 03/06/2025

    S3/E3 God's Call to Family; Empowering Followers of Jesus to Serve Vulnerable Children Wisely-With Stephanie Robinson

    Did you know Christian individuals give approximately $2.5 billions dollars per year to orphanages and institutionalized care around the world? Today we chat with Stephanie Robinson, an expert in this area, Stephanie has worked in holistic community development and family preservation for 11 years with a focus in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. She holds a Master’s Degree in International Community Development through Northwest University. In the conversation we dive into the complex world of orphan care. Stephanie's journey is far from typical, she shares about what caused her to question the very concept of orphanages after living in Haiti, to building Konbit Haiti, an organization dedicated to family-based solutions. We highlight the root causes of why parents feel pressured to relinquish their children in developing countries, the negative impact of institutionalized care, and the power of community-driven change. We also touch on the opportunities and pitfalls of short-term mission trips. And hear about the work Stephanie is doing with Faith to Action, an organization that serves as a resource for Christ-followers who are seeking to respond to the needs of orphans and vulnerable children around the world...and… well, let's just say, you won't believe her story about a pot-bellied pig, on a motorcycle in streets of Haiti. Get ready to have your heart opened and your understanding challenged. Helpful Links: https://www.stephdrobinson.com/ -Writer, researcher, and advocate for children and families around the world. https://www.faithtoaction.org/ -Faith to Action Initiative seeks to elevate best practices in care for orphaned and vulnerable children, with free educational resources. https://www.konbithaiti.org/ -Helping Haitian communities thrive https://www.konbitcollective.com/ -Keeping families together through ethical employment

    39 min

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Encouraging emotional health in followers of Jesus, through stories and conversations that inspire and inform.