Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time

TJ Woodward
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health

The Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time. Powered by Element Q Healing Center and hosted by TJ Woodward. Each week, TJ interviews authors, thought leaders, therapists, coaches, and healers dedicated to empowering and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. ABOUT ELEMENT Q HEALING CENTER Our mission is to serve each person’s journey by creating space for growth, connection, and renewal. Through identity, gender, and culturally affirming practices and trauma-focused care, we empower LGBTQIA+ community members to not only discover their voice but to embrace the strength and power within it. We honor those who came before us—brave, resilient individuals who fought tirelessly for the rights and recognition the LGBTQ+ community holds today. Their strength laid the foundation for a brighter future built on courage, healing, and transformation. ABOUT THE HOST TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery expert, bestselling author, and addiction treatment specialist who has helped countless individuals through his simple yet powerful teachings. He is also the creator of The Conscious Recovery Method, an innovative approach to understanding and treating addiction. With years of experience, TJ specializes in helping the LGBTQ+ community heal from unresolved trauma, spiritual disconnection, and shame.

  1. 3d ago

    Beyond Religious Conditioning David Ault on Louise Hay, LGBTQ+ Healing, and a New Spiritual Path

    In Season 3, Episode 12 of the Element Q Podcast, In this deeply moving conversation, TJ Woodward sits down with spiritual teacher, humanitarian, author, and minister David Ault to explore the healing power of honoring the entirety of our journey. David shares his extraordinary path from growing up in a deeply religious household to meeting Louise Hay, who became his spiritual mama, mentor, and earliest supporter. He reflects on Louise’s revolutionary work within the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS crisis and the sacred space she created for people to heal shame and experience unconditional love. Together, we explore the difference between curing and healing, the essential wholeness that exists beneath our wounds, and why transformation requires us to integrate our stories rather than reject them. David also shares the profound experiences that led him to establish the Kaleidoscope Child Foundation and how his understanding of service has evolved from helping others to recognizing our shared humanity. This conversation is an invitation to release the belief that any part of your journey was wasted and discover how every experience can prepare you to become uniquely available for a life of purpose and service. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com David Ault: https://davidault.com

    Beyond Religious Conditioning David Ault on Louise Hay, LGBTQ+ Healing, and a New Spiritual Path

  2. Sep 1

    Trauma, Sex & the Nervous System What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You with Dr. Rose Schlaff

    In Season 3, Episode 11 of the Element Q Podcast, TJ Woodward sits down with Dr. Rose Schlaff, PT, DPT, WHC, IF, a pelvic physical therapist, sexologist, and mentor in integrative sexual wellness, for an insightful conversation about the connection between trauma, the nervous system, pelvic floor health, sexual wellness, shame, and LGBTQIA+ mental health. Dr. Rose explains why the pelvic floor is an important—and often overlooked—part of whole-person mental health care. She explores how trauma can influence the body's threat response, bladder and digestive function, pain, sexual health, intimacy, and our ability to experience safety and pleasure. The conversation also challenges the idea that physical symptoms are somehow "all in your head." Instead, TJ and Dr. Rose explore how the brain and body communicate in both directions, and how creating safety can help us begin to change patterns that were once protective. In this episode, we explore: Why everyone has a pelvic floor—and why pelvic health matters to every gender and body How trauma can contribute to pelvic floor tension and dysfunction The connection between anxiety, bladder function, digestion, and the nervous system Why trauma symptoms are not your fault How the body's protective responses can become patterns that continue long after trauma The relationship between trauma, pain, sexual health, and intimacy The impact of shame and silence around sexuality Why clinicians need to become more comfortable talking about sexual health How safety can help support nervous system regulation and healing The relationship between neuroplasticity, thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms Somatic awareness and reconnecting with the body Practical ways couples can create more safety and communication around intimacy Why moving from pain to pleasure can be part of the healing process How LGBTQIA+ affirming and trauma-informed care can support more complete healing Dr. Rose also discusses her Reclaim the Flame® method, which integrates neuroscience, somatic awareness, and affirming trauma-informed sex counseling to help people move from disconnection toward desire, pleasure, confidence, and connection. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Dr. Rose Schlaff: https://www.bewellwithrose.com

    Trauma, Sex & the Nervous System What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You with Dr. Rose Schlaff

  3. Aug 18

    What Happens When We Stop Hiding Who We Are? Beyond the Wound: LGBTQ+ Healing, Identity & Radical Self-Acceptance

    In Season 3, Episode 10 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward welcomes back beloved guest Temple Hayes for a deeply personal conversation about LGBTQ+ identity, shame, healing, belonging, self-acceptance, spirituality, and the courage it takes to live authentically. Temple Hayes and TJ reflect on how dramatically the LGBTQ+ experience has changed across generations—from growing up in a time when simply saying the word “gay” could feel dangerous or shameful, to witnessing greater visibility, representation, marriage equality, Pride celebrations, and LGBTQ+ people openly building joyful lives. But this conversation goes deeper than celebrating progress. TJ and Temple explore what happens when external validation changes, when social progress appears to move backward, and when old wounds and fears continue to live within us—even after we believe we've healed. They discuss the difference between fighting against an old paradigm and standing for a new one, and why spiritual activism can begin with simply becoming more fully ourselves. The conversation also explores: • Healing LGBTQ+ shame and the fear of being discovered • The courage required to live authentically • Why identity can become a catalyst for deeper self-discovery • The difference between external validation and internal knowing • How unhealed wounds can become collective belief systems • The power of surrounding yourself with people who mirror joy, health, and possibility • Why our communities can sometimes become organized around our wounds • Moving from talking about what we don't want toward creating what we do want • The importance of creating communities centered around growth and possibility • Why younger LGBTQ+ generations shouldn't have to experience the same trauma as previous generations • TJ's personal journey of healing shame and reconnecting with his younger self • Learning to love the parts of ourselves we once felt we needed to hide • The relationship between spirituality, identity, and authentic self-expression If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe to the Element Q podcast and share it with someone who needs to hear that they don't have to hide who they are. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Temple Hayes: https://templehayes.com/

    What Happens When We Stop Hiding Who We Are? Beyond the Wound: LGBTQ+ Healing, Identity & Radical Self-Acceptance

  4. Aug 4

    Carl Jung, Recovery & LGBTQ Healing with Gregory Fisher

    In Season 3, Episode 9 of the Element Q Podcast, TJ Woodward and Gregory Fisher explore the profound difference between managing symptoms and discovering the wholeness that already exists beneath our coping strategies. Together, they unpack internalized shame, spiritual bypassing, LGBTQ+ identity, addiction recovery, compassion, Carl Jung's shadow work, and why healing begins when we stop believing we're broken. Gregory shares his remarkable story of coming out as a Southern Baptist minister, navigating recovery for nearly four decades, and learning to embrace the six-year-old version of himself who had long carried shame. The conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone recovering from addiction, trauma, religious conditioning, or simply trying to live a more authentic life. In this episode, you'll discover: Why your coping strategies are not your identity The difference between healing and fixing yourself How spiritual bypassing can delay authentic recovery Carl Jung's shadow work and its connection to modern healing Healing internalized shame and self-rejection The role of compassion in recovery Why LGBTQ+ experiences can become profound sources of wisdom Transforming activism through love instead of anger Why recovery is a lifelong journey—not a destination How embracing your authentic self creates lasting freedom If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Gregory Fisher: https://gregoryfisher.life

    Carl Jung, Recovery & LGBTQ Healing with Gregory Fisher

  5. Jul 21

    The Hidden Layers of Gender, Shame & Healing With Hana Leyland

    In Season 3, Episode 8 of the Element Q Podcast, TJ Woodward welcomes Hana Leyland, Executive Director of the Rainbow Transformations Foundation, for a powerful conversation about identity, recovery, mental health, and the courage to embrace authenticity. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience as a transgender woman in recovery, Hana explores how traditional mental health and addiction systems often overlook the unique experiences of trans, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals. Together, TJ and Hana examine the intersection of trauma, shame, identity, cultural conditioning, and healing while inviting listeners to move beyond labels and into deeper curiosity. From delayed adolescence within the LGBTQ+ community to the role of hormones, attachment, social conditioning, and inner child work, this conversation challenges conventional thinking while offering compassion for the complexity of the human experience. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, a clinician, someone in recovery, or simply seeking greater understanding, this episode offers wisdom, vulnerability, and hope. In this episode, you'll discover: Why healing often uncovers deeper layers of ourselves The relationship between transition, identity, and emotional growth How shame becomes embedded through secrecy and social conditioning Why curiosity creates healing while certainty can limit growth The challenges facing transgender mental health today How recovery extends far beyond sobriety Why authentic healing requires individualized care—not one-size-fits-all solutions The importance of creating truly affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ mental health If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Hana Leyland: https://www.rainbowtransformationsfoundation.org

    The Hidden Layers of Gender, Shame & Healing With Hana Leyland

  6. Jul 7

    Healing LGBTQ+ Trauma Through Spirituality With Mark Anthony Lord

    In Season 3, Episode 7 of the Element Q Podcast, TJ Woodward welcomes longtime friend, spiritual teacher, and ordained minister Mark Anthony Lord to explore healing, identity, recovery, spirituality, and the evolving journey of the LGBTQ+ community. Together, they reflect on Pride, the generations that came before us, and how healing our personal pain can become a gift to the collective. Mark shares his perspective that LGBTQ+ lives carry a profound spiritual invitation—not despite challenge, but through it—and opens up about reclaiming the word “queer” as an expression of authenticity, integration, and freedom. The conversation moves into powerful territory as TJ and Mark discuss coming of age during the AIDS crisis, internalized shame, spiritual recovery, religious trauma, and the difference between religion and lived spirituality. Mark also shares a remarkable personal story of healing from childhood sexual trauma and the transformational spiritual experience that changed his relationship with pain forever. This episode is an invitation to move beyond survival and toward remembrance—of our wholeness, our divinity, and our capacity to bring more love into the world. Topics include: • LGBTQ+ healing and collective transformation • Queer identity and authentic self-expression • Recovery, spirituality, and conscious healing • Religious trauma and reclaiming God • Trauma, forgiveness, and acceptance • A Course in Miracles and New Thought principles • Moving beyond anger and returning to love If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Mark Anthony Lord: https://markanthonylord.me/

    Healing LGBTQ+ Trauma Through Spirituality With Mark Anthony Lord

  7. Jun 16

    Healing, Identity & Love: Melody Velaruz on Faith, Queerness, and Trans Visibility

    In Season 3, Episode 6 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with LGBTQ+ advocate, community leader, and San Diego Pride board member Melody Velaruz for a conversation about identity, healing, visibility, and love. Melody shares her remarkable journey from growing up in a strict Mormon faith tradition to coming out later in life as a queer Latina woman, navigating divorce, embracing her authentic self, and finding a healthy, loving relationship with her fiancé, Roman, a transgender man. Together, they explore what it means to build a relationship rooted in accountability, therapy, communication, and personal growth. TJ and Melody dive into important conversations about religious trauma, spirituality beyond organized religion, trans visibility, intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community, and the courage required to challenge assumptions—even within our own community. They also discuss the impact of representation, the healing power of asking difficult questions, and how curiosity can create deeper understanding and connection. This heartfelt episode is an invitation to move beyond labels, embrace nuance, and cultivate compassion for ourselves and others. In this episode, you'll discover: • How therapy and personal healing strengthen healthy relationships • Melody's journey from Mormonism to LGBTQ+ advocacy • The challenges and rewards of trans visibility and representation • Navigating age gaps, identity, and authenticity in relationships • Religious trauma, spirituality, and reclaiming personal truth • Why curiosity and courageous conversations matter in healing • The importance of community, belonging, and chosen family • How accountability creates deeper connection and growth 🎧 Whether you're navigating your own healing journey, exploring questions of identity, or seeking greater understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and inspiration. 👉 Please subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Melody Velaruz: https://www.instagram.com/melodyvelaruz

    Healing, Identity & Love: Melody Velaruz on Faith, Queerness, and Trans Visibility

  8. Jun 2

    LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Recovery & Compassion | Dr. Jessica Hamilton on Healing & Identity

    In Season 3, Episode 5 of the Element Q Podcast, host TJ Woodward sits down with licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Jessica Hamilton for an honest and compassionate conversation about LGBTQ+ mental health, addiction recovery, adolescent identity development, and the healing power of human connection. Drawing from her own recovery journey and decades of experience working with marginalized communities, Dr. Hamilton shares deeply personal stories about supporting transgender youth, working with long-term HIV/AIDS survivors in San Francisco, advocating for LGBTQ+ youth in juvenile justice systems, and helping families navigate identity, acceptance, and healing with compassion. Together, TJ and Dr. Hamilton explore the emotional impact of shame, societal stigma, political polarization, social media algorithms, and the importance of repairing relationships through empathy and understanding. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that healing happens through connection, curiosity, and love — even in deeply divided times. If you’re passionate about mental health, recovery, LGBTQ+ advocacy, trauma-informed care, or creating safer spaces for authentic identity, this conversation will leave you inspired and empowered. 🎧 Whether you’re navigating sobriety or seeking deeper meaning, this episode offers insight, validation, and inspiration. 👉 Please subscribe to support conversations on conscious healing, authentic living, and personal transformation. 🔗 Learn more: Element Q Healing: https://www.elementqhealingcenter.com TJ Woodward: https://www.tjwoodward.com Dr. Jessica Hamilton: https://drbyrdolmstead.com

    LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Recovery & Compassion | Dr. Jessica Hamilton on Healing & Identity
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The Element Q Podcast: Empowering LGBTQ+ Voices, One Story at a Time. Powered by Element Q Healing Center and hosted by TJ Woodward. Each week, TJ interviews authors, thought leaders, therapists, coaches, and healers dedicated to empowering and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. ABOUT ELEMENT Q HEALING CENTER Our mission is to serve each person’s journey by creating space for growth, connection, and renewal. Through identity, gender, and culturally affirming practices and trauma-focused care, we empower LGBTQIA+ community members to not only discover their voice but to embrace the strength and power within it. We honor those who came before us—brave, resilient individuals who fought tirelessly for the rights and recognition the LGBTQ+ community holds today. Their strength laid the foundation for a brighter future built on courage, healing, and transformation. ABOUT THE HOST TJ Woodward is a revolutionary recovery expert, bestselling author, and addiction treatment specialist who has helped countless individuals through his simple yet powerful teachings. He is also the creator of The Conscious Recovery Method, an innovative approach to understanding and treating addiction. With years of experience, TJ specializes in helping the LGBTQ+ community heal from unresolved trauma, spiritual disconnection, and shame.

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