Change Your Mind Podcast S3 E31 What if some of your strongest emotional triggers aren’t really about what’s happening now—but about unconscious associations your nervous system formed in the past? In this episode of Change Your Mind with Kris Ashley, Kris sits down with Owen Smithyman, a Peak States Therapy practitioner, to explore trauma, emotional triggers, unconscious associations, somatic healing, and the hidden patterns that may continue influencing our choices long after the original experience has passed. Owen shares his unexpected journey from a highly analytical career in tech to exploring trauma and consciousness after the loss of his mother, anxiety, burnout, and years of experimenting with different approaches to healing. Together, Kris and Owen explore the concept of associational trauma—how the mind can connect certain people, environments, emotions, sounds, or experiences with danger or safety simply because they were present during an emotionally significant moment. Sometimes those associations protect us. Other times, they may leave us reacting to something neutral as though the original threat were still happening. Kris also gets vulnerable about one of her own triggers and participates in a live Peak States Therapy demonstration designed to explore the unconscious association behind that response. In this conversation, you’ll discover: • What Peak States Therapy is and how Owen approaches trauma • The difference between biographical, generational, and associational trauma • Why seemingly neutral things can become emotional triggers • How childhood experiences can shape what feels safe or unsafe later in life • Why we may repeatedly attract—or avoid—certain people and situations • How trauma can show up as anxiety, avoidance, resistance, or nervous system activation • The connection between somatic awareness and emotional healing • Kris’ live associational trauma demonstration • What Owen means by “peak states of consciousness” • How healing old patterns may change the way we respond to the present This episode is an invitation to become curious about your triggers instead of automatically judging them. Because sometimes the question isn’t simply: “Why am I reacting this way?” It may be: “What did my mind once learn to associate this with?” If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who is exploring trauma healing, nervous system regulation, personal development, subconscious patterns, or consciousness. 👍 Like 💬 Comment 🔔 Subscribe ↗️ Share the episode with someone who needs to hear it Connect with Owen and explore the resources mentioned in the episode through the links in the show notes. Explore more from Kris Ashley, author of Change Your Mind to Change Your Reality, and discover conversations at the intersection of personal development, spirituality, science, healing, mindset, and consciousness. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Welcome to Change Your Mind 03:24 — Owen Smithyman’s Journey From Tech to Healing 14:01 — Growth, Trauma & Becoming Someone You Respect 15:50 — Grief, Loss & Emotional Healing 18:07 — Why Your Environment Can Affect Your Healing 18:36 — What Is Peak States Therapy? 24:27 — What Makes Peak States Therapy Different? 26:55 — Associational Trauma & Hidden Emotional Triggers 30:49 — Why We Can Be Attracted to Bad Patterns—or Avoid Good Ones 32:05 — Kris Explores One of Her Own Triggers 37:00 — Live Peak States Therapy Demonstration 40:43 — What Changed After the Exercise? 44:34 — Why Certain People & Patterns Keep Showing Up 45:45 — Understanding Peak States of Consciousness 52:27 — Owen’s Free Healing Resource & How to Connect 54:08 — Final Thoughts SEO KEYWORDS: trauma healing, emotional triggers, associational trauma, Peak States Therapy, nervous system regulation, subconscious mind, somatic healing, generational trauma, childhood trauma, unconscious patterns, emotional healing, trauma response, limiting beliefs, personal development, consciousness, self awareness, healing journey, Kris Ashley, Change Your Mind Podcast, Owen Smithyman FREE quiz: What's the Belief Pattern Holding You Back? https://www.krisashley.net/quiz FREE letter from your future self: https://www.krisashley.net/future-self Buy My Book: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Reality-Relationships/dp/1738641600/ref=sr_1_1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changeyourmindwithkris TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@changeyourmindwithkris Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/changeyourmindwithkrisashley Website: https://www.krisashley.net