The Inner Compass Podcast with Vanessa Bennett

Gamut Podcast Network
  • 4.8 (284)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

NEW PODCAST SERIES HOSTED BY VANESSA BENNETT Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, is a licensed depth psychotherapist, author, and facilitator known for her no-nonsense yet compassionate approach to healing. She’s the author of The Motherhood Myth and coauthor of It’s Not Me, It’s You, and the founder of Inner Compass Academy. She hosts the Inner Compass Podcast, where she explores the intersection of depth psychology, relationships, and cultural conditioning to support personal and collective liberation.

  1. 6d ago

    Taking the Unseen Seriously: Lizzie Tilia on Intuition, Soul, and Earth Practice

    In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Lizzie Tilia, spiritual guide, psychic, teacher, and founder of Earth Mystery School, for a conversation about intuition, earth-based practice, soul work, and what it means to take the unseen seriously without losing your ground. Together they explore Lizzie’s path from OCD, Catholic conditioning, and fear of the spirit world into psychic development, containment, and a more loving relationship with the unseen. They also talk about Jung’s collective unconscious, pan-cultural wisdom, spiritual performance, ego versus soul versus spirit work, and why some people need stronger ego structure before entering deeper soul or spiritual spaces. This is a conversation about intuition as a skill, discernment as devotion, and learning to become a good spiritual friend to yourself before trying to guide anyone else. Applications are now open to the public for Cohort 4 of Inner Compass Academy. ICA is Vanessa’s 10-week depth psychology training for therapists, coaches, space holders, creatives, seekers, and anyone called toward deeper work with shadow, the unconscious, embodiment, dreams, archetypes, relational patterns, and the symbolic life. Cohort 4 begins September 13. Learn more and apply here: https://www.vanessabennett.com/inner-compass-academy For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. Connect with Lizzie Tilia: Website: https://www.lizzietilia.com/ Earth Mystery School: https://www.earthmysteryschool.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizzietilia/ References: The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious — C. G. JungPacifica Graduate InstituteThe Blackfoot Origins of Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsHappier Hour — Cassie HolmesThe Creative Act — Rick Rubin If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  2. Aug 24

    Embodiment Isn’t a Performance: Ailey Jolie on the Body, Pleasure, and Healing

    In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Ailey Jolie, Chartered Psychologist, somatic psychologist, certified sex therapist, and creator of INBODY, for a conversation about what embodiment actually means beyond the performance of being calm, sensual, regulated, or healed. Together they explore why disembodiment and dissociation can be intelligent survival strategies, how food and sexuality both ask us to reconnect with hunger, desire, permission, disgust, control, pleasure, and shame, and why the body cannot be separated from the larger cultural systems that taught us to leave it. This conversation moves through eating disorder recovery, sexual trauma, chronic illness, pleasure, sensuality, intergenerational stories, and the body as a doorway into the unconscious. The invitation is not to force yourself back into the body, but to bring mind and body back into relationship with more consciousness, safety, and truth. Applications are now open to the public for Cohort 4 of Inner Compass Academy. ICA is Vanessa’s 10-week depth psychology training for therapists, coaches, space holders, creatives, seekers, and anyone who wants to go beyond surface-level self-help and learn how to work more deeply with shadow, the unconscious, embodiment, relational patterns, dreams, archetypes, and the symbolic life. This is not a program promising quick formulas or coaching scripts. It is a certificate training rooted in depth, Jungian theory, relationship, liberation psychology, and the kind of inner work that changes how we hold ourselves and others. Cohort 4 begins September 13. Learn more and apply here: https://www.vanessabennett.com/inner-compass-academy For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. Resources & References Ailey Jolie Website: https://www.aileyjolie.com/ INBODY Method Learn more about Ailey’s body-based healing work and 14-week INBODY program: https://www.inbodymethod.com/ About Ailey Jolie & INBODY https://www.inbodymethod.com/about Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-this-body/id1749208603 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aileyjolie/ Substack: https://aileyjolie.substack.com/ In This Body Podcast https://in-this-body.com/ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-this-body/id1749208603 Gabor Maté https://drgabormate.com/ Marion Woodman — Addiction to Perfection https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/330307/addiction-to-perfection-by-marion-woodman/ C. G. Jung / Jungian Analysis International Association for Analytical Psychology: https://iaap.org/jung-analytical-psychology/ Pacifica Graduate Institute https://www.pacifica.edu/ If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  3. Aug 17

    When Suffering Becomes Identity: The Martyr, Meaning-Making, and Codependency

    If you’ve ever wondered whether suffering can be meaningful without becoming your whole identity, this episode is for you. Vanessa explores the difference between suffering that humbles, transforms, and moves us toward greater honesty, and suffering that becomes a role, a claim, a performance, or a way to stay morally protected. Through depth psychology, meaning-making research, Viktor Frankl, Jung, terror management theory, Freud’s mourning and melancholia, secondary gain, pathological altruism, and the martyr archetype, we look at why pain can become so hard to release when it has given us significance, belonging, or leverage. The question is not whether your suffering is real; the question is what it is doing. Applications are now open to the public for Cohort 4 of Inner Compass Academy. ICA is Vanessa’s 10-week depth psychology training for therapists, coaches, space holders, creatives, seekers, and anyone called toward deeper work with shadow, the unconscious, embodiment, dreams, archetypes, relational patterns, and the symbolic life. Cohort 4 begins September 13. Learn more and apply here: https://www.vanessabennett.com/inner-compass-academy RESEARCH & REFERENCES Crystal Park — Meaning-Making After Stressful Life Events Research on meaning-making, including global and situational meaning and how people integrate stressful or traumatic experiences into broader beliefs, goals, and worldviews. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20192563/ Ronnie Janoff-Bulman — Shattered Assumptions Explores how trauma can disrupt fundamental assumptions about ourselves, other people, safety, meaning, and the world. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shattered-Assumptions/Ronnie-Janoff-Bulman/9780743236256 Viktor Frankl — Man’s Search for Meaning & Logotherapy Frankl’s work on the human search for meaning, particularly in the context of suffering. https://www.viktorfrankl.org/books_by_vf.html https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/538699/mans-search-for-meaning-by-viktor-e-frankl/ Jung — The Religious Function of the Psyche A Jungian perspective on the psyche’s production of religious, symbolic, and numinous material in relation to meaning and psychological wholeness. https://jungchicago.org/the-religious-functions-of-the-psyche/ James Hollis — Jungian Psychology & the “Larger Life” Hollis’s work explores suffering, meaning, the ego, and the movement toward what he describes as a larger life. https://jameshollis.net/ “Martyr” — Etymology & the Meaning of Witness The etymology of martyr, tracing its roots through Latin and Greek martyr/martys, meaning “witness.” https://www.etymonline.com/word/martyr Terror Management Theory Research and theory concerning mortality awareness, existential anxiety, cultural worldviews, self-worth, meaning, and symbolic immortality. https://dictionary.apa.org/terror-management-theory https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118430873.est0813 https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071840801.n283 Secondary Gain — APA Dictionary of Psychology A psychological concept describing benefits or advantages that may arise from symptoms beyond their primary psychological function. https://dictionary.apa.org/secondary-gain Sigmund Freud — Mourning and Melancholia Freud’s distinction between mourning and melancholia, including identification with the lost object, self-reproach, and the displacement of reproach toward the object onto the self. https://ia903101.us.archive.org/29/items/FreudMourningAndMelancholia/Freud_MourningAndMelancholia_text.pdf Barbara Oakley — Pathological Altruism Explores circumstances in which altruism, empathy, or helping behavior can produce unintended harmful consequences. https://barbaraoakley.com/books/pathological-altruism/ Heinz Kohut — Self Psychology & the Grandiose Self Background on Kohut’s self psychology, including self-esteem regulation, narcissistic development, external relationships, and the grandiose self. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/self-psychology Vanessa Bennett — Codependency, Martyrdom & Relational Patterns Vanessa’s clinical and depth-psychology framework for understanding codependency, overgiving, resentment, moral armor, indirect communication, and martyrdom within relationships. https://www.vanessabennett.com/ If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. Aug 3

    Narcissism Is Not Always Loud: The Fragile Self Behind the Mirror

    Narcissism is usually imagined as arrogance, dominance, and the loudest person in the room, but it is not always that obvious. In this episode, Vanessa explores narcissism as a problem of selfhood: what happens when a person does not have a stable enough inner sense of Self to stay emotionally coherent without constant reflection from the outside. Through Kohut, Kernberg, the myth of Narcissus, vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, the false self, parental overvaluation, and the difference between traits and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, we look at why these dynamics can feel so confusing inside real relationships. The question is not only whether someone can be charming, wounded, or empathic when things are easy, but whether they can stay curious about your reality when it no longer mirrors back the version of themselves they need to see. For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. Join Vanessa for the free Inner Compass Academy Summit, August 5–7, where we’ll explore depth psychology, shadow, embodiment, and what real transformation asks of us. Register here: https://www.vanessabennett.com/ica-summit Reference Links: Heinz Kohut — Self Psychology Use for: Kohut’s self psychology, narcissism, mirroring, and development of a cohesive sense of self. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/self-psychology Note: ScienceDirect overview identifies Kohut as the theorist most associated with self psychology and describes his focus on the development of a cohesive and positive sense of self. Kohut’s Self Psychology Model / Narcissism Use for: Kohut’s view of narcissism, unmet selfobject needs, and narcissism as part of development rather than simple arrogance. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2860525/ Note: Useful accessible clinical article describing therapy through Kohut’s self psychology model. Selfobject Use for: Kohut’s selfobject concept: another person experienced as part of the self’s regulation and cohesion, rather than fully as a separate subject. Link: https://www.encyclopedia.com/psychology/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/self-object Note: Use for the episode’s explanation of relationships organized around mirroring and self-regulation. Narcissus Myth Use for: Narcissus as the mythic image of attachment to reflection/image rather than real mutual relationship. Link: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Narcissus-Greek-mythology Note: Use as the basic myth reference. The episode’s psychological interpretation is Vanessa’s depth-oriented reading. Otto Kernberg — Pathological Narcissism / Grandiose Self Use for: Kernberg’s work on pathological narcissism, object relations, and the grandiose self. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2678027/ Note: PubMed abstract summarizes Kernberg’s theory and mentions treatment focused on the pathologic grandiose self. Otto Kernberg — Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism Use for: Primary book reference for Kernberg’s work on pathological narcissism. Link: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/borderline-conditions-and-pathological-narcissism-9780876681770/ Note: Book citation for producer if referencing Kernberg’s broader theoretical framework. Grandiose and Vulnerable Narcissism Use for: Distinction between grandiose narcissism and vulnerable / hypersensitive narcissism. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5601176/ Note: Research article describing grandiose narcissism as overt superiority/entitlement and vulnerable narcissism as hypersensitivity and introversive self-absorption. Pathological Narcissism and Psychosocial Functioning Use for: Grandiosity and vulnerability as two core themes of pathological narcissism. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6710132/ Note: Useful source for explaining that narcissism can have both grandiose and vulnerable expressions. Narcissistic Vulnerability / Pathological Narcissism Inventory Use for: Narcissistic vulnerability as fragile self-concept, limited self/affect regulation, shame/rage, and sensitivity to perceived threats to self-esteem. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3354008/ Note: Supports the episode’s discussion of narcissistic injury, collapse, shame, and fragility. Winnicott — True Self / False Self Use for: Winnicott’s false self concept, compliance, performance, and protection of the more vulnerable self. Link: https://academic.oup.com/book/1192/chapter-abstract/140028848 Note: Oxford Academic page for Winnicott’s “Ego Distortion in Terms of True and False Self.” Parental Overvaluation and Narcissism — Eddie Brummelman et al. Use for: Research showing parental overvaluation predicts child narcissism, while parental warmth predicts healthy self-esteem. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4378434/ Note: PNAS article, “Origins of Narcissism in Children.” Parental Overvaluation and Narcissism — PubMed Use for: Quick PubMed reference for the Brummelman study. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25775577/ Note: PubMed abstract states narcissism was predicted by parental overvaluation, not lack of parental warmth, while self-esteem was predicted by parental warmth. Narcissistic Personality Disorder — APA Dictionary Use for: Clinical definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder and diagnostic features. Link: https://dictionary.apa.org/narcissistic-personality-disorder Note: APA Dictionary includes grandiose self-importance, need for attention/admiration, rage/humiliation/emptiness in response to criticism, entitlement, exploitation, and inability to empathize. Narcissistic Personality Disorder — MSD Manual Professional Use for: DSM-5-TR-oriented overview of NPD as a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration/adulation, and lack of empathy. Link: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/personality-disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd Note: Useful accessible clinical reference for the distinction between narcissistic traits and a diagnosable personality disorder. Love Bombing — Empirical Study Use for: Love bombing as a relationship formation pattern associated with narcissism, insecure attachment, low self-esteem, and excessive communication early in relationships. Link: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hdfsrsuht/1/ Note: Undergraduate honors thesis / empirical study. Use lightly. Love bombing is not a formal clinical diagnosis, but this source provides research support for the term. Love Bombing — Research Summary Use for: Additional accessible reference for love bombing as connected to narcissistic tendencies and early relationship intensity. Link: https://www.kristenjozkowski.com/publications/18156-love-bombing-a-narcissistic-approach-to-relationship-formation Note: Use as a secondary support source if needed; avoid overstating love bombing as a formally established diagnostic concept. Narcissistic Personality Disorder — Recent Research Overview Use for: Current overview of NPD, grandiose and vulnerable presentations, diagnosis, and treatment complexity. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10187400/ Note: Helpful scholarly overview of recent progress in understanding and treating NPD. If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. Jul 27

    God Is Change: Trust, Impermanence, and Learning to Stay Present

    What if trusting life doesn’t mean trusting that everything will become stable, coherent, or reassuring? In this episode, Vanessa explores change as both a spiritual and psychological problem: why we confuse trust with continuity, why change can feel like abandonment, and what it means to stay in relationship with reality as it keeps moving. Through Octavia Butler’s “God is Change,” Heraclitus, Buddhist impermanence, process theology, attachment theory, meaning-making research, and Jungian transformation, we look at the grief and freedom of releasing the fantasy that life’s job is to preserve the forms we love. Trust is not certainty that everything will work out; it is the willingness to remain present with what is real as it changes form. For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. Join the ICA Summit → https://www.vanessabennett.com/ica-summit Reference Links: Octavia Butler — Parable of the Sower / Earthseed Use for: “God is Change,” Earthseed, and the idea that change is the central theological principle in Parable of the Sower. Link: https://www.octaviabutler.com/the-books Note: Use this as the primary author/book reference for Octavia Butler and Parable of the Sower. Earthseed / “God Is Change” Use for: Earthseed’s core principle that God is Change and the related idea that God can be shaped. Link: https://godischange.org/shape-god/ Note: Useful accessible reference for the Earthseed language. If quoting directly, confirm wording against the text of Parable of the Sower. Heraclitus — Flux / River Fragment Use for: Heraclitus’s idea that reality is in flux, often summarized through the river fragment. Link: https://iep.utm.edu/heraclit/ Note: The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy is a reliable philosophy reference for Heraclitus and the doctrine of flux. Attachment Theory Overview Use for: Secure attachment as a reliable base for exploration, regulation, and return. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4085672/ Note: Broad overview of attachment theory, including Bowlby and Ainsworth. Intolerance of Uncertainty Use for: Uncertainty as a transdiagnostic process associated with anxiety, worry, rigidity, avoidance, and distress. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4204511/ Note: Useful research review on intolerance of uncertainty and its role across anxiety and related conditions. Crystal Park — Meaning-Making After Stressful Events Use for: Stressful events disrupting global beliefs/goals and the process of meaning-making after rupture. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20192563/ Note: Crystal L. Park’s 2010 review on meaning-making and adjustment to stressful life events. Buddhist Impermanence / Anicca Use for: Impermanence as one of the three marks of existence in Buddhist philosophy. Link: https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh186_Nyanaponika-etal_Three-Basic-Facts-of-Existence--I-Anicca.html Note: Buddhist Publication Society resource on anicca / impermanence. Three Marks of Existence Use for: Impermanence, suffering/unsatisfactoriness, and non-self as core Buddhist teachings. Link: https://www.britannica.com/topic/anicca Note: Accessible reference for anicca as impermanence in Buddhist thought. Alfred North Whitehead — Process Theology / “Fellow-Sufferer Who Understands” Use for: Process theology and God as relationally present within the becoming of the world. Link: https://processandfaith.org/becoming-christ-like-heathens/ Note: This page quotes Whitehead’s famous phrase from Process and Reality: “God is the great companion—the fellow-sufferer who understands.” Process Theology Overview Use for: General overview of process theology and Whitehead’s influence. Link: https://iep.utm.edu/processp/ Note: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy overview of process philosophy/theology. C. G. Jung — Symbols of Transformation Use for: Jungian transformation, symbolic death, dissolution, renewal, and the psychological meaning of transformation symbols. Link: https://iaap.org/resources/academic-resources/collected-works-abstracts/volume-5-symbols-transformation/ Note: IAAP summary of Jung’s Collected Works, Volume 5: Symbols of Transformation. James Hollis — The Provisional Life / The Middle Passage Use for: The “provisional life,” the placeholder self, and midlife/disruptive transitions exposing lives built around adaptation rather than truth. Link: https://jameshollis.net/project/the-middle-passage/ Note: Use as a general reference for Hollis’s work on midlife passage and the provisional life. If using the exact phrase “provisional life,” confirm against the relevant Hollis text or audio. Spiritual Bypassing — John Welwood Use for: Spiritual bypassing as using spiritual ideas/practices to avoid unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, or developmental tasks. Link: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-seekers-forum/202303/what-is-spiritual-bypassing Note: John Welwood coined the term spiritual bypassing; use this for accessible definition and background. Earthseed / “Shape God” Use for: Butler’s idea that change can be consciously shaped rather than merely endured. Link: https://godischange.org/shape-god/ Note: Include if show notes mention “Shape God” or conscious participation with change. Confirm any direct quote against Butler’s novel. Octavia Butler / Parable of the Sower — Publisher Page Use for: Basic book reference for Parable of the Sower. Link: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/octavia-e-butler/parable-of-the-sower/9781538732182/ Note: Publisher page for the book; good clean link for listeners. If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  6. Jul 20

    Fear Belongs: Why Healing Isn’t Becoming Fearless

    If you have ever felt fear in your body and then immediately made that fear mean something bad about you, this episode is for you. Vanessa explores fear not as something to conquer, transcend, or shame, but as something ancient, intelligent, protective, and deeply human. Through polyvagal theory, Buddhist psychology, the teaching of the first and second arrow, RAIN practice, and self-compassion, we look at what changes when we stop treating fear like the enemy. Healing is not becoming fearless; it is becoming less afraid of fear itself, so you can stay with yourself when it arrives. Join the ICA Summit → https://www.vanessabennett.com/ica-summit Reference Links: Stephen Porges — Polyvagal Theory Use for: Polyvagal theory, autonomic regulation, and the nervous system’s safety/danger responses. Link: https://www.stephenporges.com/ Note: Stephen Porges developed polyvagal theory, which is referenced in the episode to explain why fear often arises before conscious thought can intervene. Polyvagal Institute — What Is Polyvagal Theory? Use for: Accessible overview of polyvagal theory and autonomic regulation. Link: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory Note: Helpful general explainer for producers/listeners who want a basic overview. Neuroception — Stephen Porges / Polyvagal Theory Use for: Neuroception as the nervous system’s subconscious detection of safety and threat. Link: https://www.stephenporges.com/ Note: Use alongside Porges’s work. If referencing neuroception specifically, describe it as the nervous system’s below-conscious scanning for cues of safety or danger. Buddhist Teaching — The First and Second Arrow Use for: The teaching that pain may be unavoidable, but the suffering we add on top of pain can compound it. Link: https://blog.tarabrach.com/2017/08/the-wisdom-of-its-not-my-fault-finding.html Note: Tara Brach explains the first and second arrow in accessible language. In this episode, fear is the first arrow; shame about fear is often the second. Tara Brach — RAIN Practice Use for: RAIN: Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture. Link: https://www.tarabrach.com/rain/ Note: Tara Brach describes RAIN as a mindfulness and compassion practice for working with difficult emotions. Jon Kabat-Zinn — Mindfulness Use for: Mindfulness as present-moment, nonjudgmental awareness. Link: https://www.mindful.org/jon-kabat-zinn-defining-mindfulness/ Note: Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally. Jon Kabat-Zinn — Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Use for: MBSR as an 8-week mindfulness-based program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3336928/ Note: This source identifies MBSR as developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and describes its use of mindfulness meditation to alleviate suffering. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Use for: MBCT as a mindfulness-based approach developed for relapse prevention in recurrent depression. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2834575/ Note: This article discusses MBCT and its evidence base, including reduced relapse rates in recurrent depression. MBCT — Segal, Williams, and Teasdale Use for: MBCT’s development by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale. Link: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/resources/spirituality-special-interest-group-publications-mark-williams-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy.pdf Note: This PDF discusses MBCT’s development and its use in preventing relapse and recurrence of depression. Rollo May — The Meaning of Anxiety Use for: Distinction between fear and anxiety; anxiety as a threat to something essential to the self. Link: https://open.baypath.edu/psy321book/chapter/c25p2/ Note: This source quotes May’s definition of anxiety as apprehension triggered by a threat to a value the individual holds essential to their existence as a personality. Dan Siegel — Window of Tolerance Use for: Window of tolerance as the zone where a person can process experience without becoming overwhelmed or shut down. Link: https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/ Note: This is a practical clinical explainer of Siegel’s window of tolerance concept. Affect Labeling — Naming Emotions and Amygdala Activity Use for: Research on how naming an emotion can reduce emotional reactivity. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17576282/ Note: Lieberman et al. found that affect labeling may diminish emotional reactivity through prefrontal-amygdala pathways. Affect Labeling and Reappraisal Use for: Additional research support that affect labeling is associated with decreased amygdala activity and reduced self-reported distress. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3970015/ Note: Useful follow-up source for the episode’s point that naming fear can help interrupt total identification with fear. Jack Kornfield — Turning Toward Fear with Compassion Use for: Buddhist psychology, compassion, and turning toward difficult experience rather than abandoning ourselves. Link: https://jackkornfield.com/fear/ Note: Use for the episode’s discussion of meeting fear with presence and compassion rather than exile. Bodhisattva Vow Use for: “All beings” as a compassion frame, including the frightened parts of ourselves. Link: https://tricycle.org/magazine/bodhisattva-vow/ Note: Use gently and broadly. This supports the episode’s point that compassion includes the frightened one inside us, not just others. Kristin Neff — Self-Compassion Use for: Self-compassion as self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Link: https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion/ Note: Supports the episode’s discussion of bringing fear back into the circle of care rather than shaming it. Kristin Neff — Fierce Self-Compassion Use for: Fierce self-compassion as a boundary-setting, protective form of compassion. Link: https://self-compassion.org/blog/what-is-fierce-self-compassion/ Note: Supports the distinction between tender self-compassion and fierce self-compassion. For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  7. Jul 13

    When Betrayal Breaks More Than Trust: How to Heal What the Relationship Broke

    Betrayal doesn’t only break trust in another person; it can also rupture your trust in yourself. In this episode, Vanessa explores why betrayal can feel so psychologically disorganizing, especially when harm comes from someone or something that was supposed to feel safe. We talk about betrayal trauma, betrayal blindness, attachment injury, projection, reality testing, and why not every devastating feeling is the same kind of event. The deeper healing is not becoming harder or more armored, but learning how to grieve specifically, see more clearly, and trust yourself again. Reference Links: Jennifer Freyd — Betrayal Trauma Theory Use for: Betrayal trauma theory; harm from someone or something a person depends on or trusts. Link: https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineBT.html Note: Freyd’s site defines betrayal trauma and includes betrayal blindness. Jennifer Freyd — Betrayal Blindness Use for: Why people may not fully register betrayal when they depend on the person, institution, or system doing harm. Link: https://dynamic.uoregon.edu/jjf/defineBT.html Note: The site describes betrayal blindness as unawareness, not-knowing, and forgetting that can preserve relationships, institutions, or systems people depend on. Jennifer Freyd — Research Overview Use for: General background on Freyd’s concepts, including betrayal trauma, betrayal blindness, DARVO, institutional betrayal, and institutional courage. Link: https://www.jjfreyd.com/about-research Note: Helpful author/researcher page for show notes. Sue Johnson / Emotionally Focused Therapy — Attachment Injury Use for: Attachment injury and emotionally focused therapy as a framework for repairing relational ruptures. Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6644242_Resolving_Attachment_Injuries_in_Couples_Using_Emotionally_Focused_Therapy_Steps_Toward_Forgiveness_and_Reconciliation Note: Makinen and Johnson’s 2006 paper, Resolving Attachment Injuries in Couples Using Emotionally Focused Therapy. Emotionally Focused Therapy / Attachment-Based Healing Use for: Sue Johnson’s attachment-based framework for couples, emotional connection, and secure bonding. Link: https://psychwire.com/free-resources/q-and-a/17qfr27/emotionally-focused-therapy-and-attachment-based-healing Note: Accessible overview of Sue Johnson’s EFT frame. Peter Fonagy / Mentalization Use for: Mentalization as the capacity to understand behavior in terms of mental states: thoughts, feelings, needs, desires, intentions, and motivations. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7009316/ Note: This article gives a clear definition of mentalization and cites Fonagy/Bateman’s work. ScienceDirect — Mentalization Overview Use for: Simple definition of mentalization as understanding one’s own and others’ behavior in terms of internal mental states. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/mentalization Note: Useful if producer wants a quick explanatory reference. John Gottman — Trust Metric Use for: Gottman’s idea that trust can be evaluated and is central to relationship stability. Link: https://www.gottman.com/blog/trust/ Note: Gottman Institute article explaining the “trust metric.” John Gottman — Trust and Betrayal Metrics Use for: Trust/betrayal metrics and the idea that small everyday moments can build or erode trust. Link: https://www.gottman.com/blog/what-makes-love-last-inside-the-love-lab/ Note: Gottman Institute article referencing both trust and betrayal metrics. John Gottman — Building Trust Through Attunement Use for: Trust as built through awareness, tolerance, turning toward, understanding, non-defensive listening, and empathy. Link: https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-3-phases-of-love/ Note: Useful for the part of the episode about trust being built through consistency, attunement, and repair over time. John Bowlby / Attachment Theory Overview Use for: Secure base, early bonds, and foundational attachment theory. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4085672/ Note: Broad overview of attachment theory and Bowlby/Ainsworth foundations. Earned Secure Attachment Use for: Adults with insecure early attachment histories developing more secure attachment through reflective and relational work. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/earned-secure-attachment Note: Use as a broad reference for earned secure attachment. If producer needs a primary citation, ask for access to the Adult Attachment Interview / Mary Main literature. For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Jul 6

    Re-Nature with Clara Schroeder: Ecotherapy, Climate Grief, and Healing Our Bond with Nature

    In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Clara Schroeder, ecotherapist and author of Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better, for a conversation about ecopsychology, climate grief, ritual, and the healing intelligence of the natural world. Together they explore why “we are nature” is not just a poetic idea, but a psychological and spiritual reality - and how separation from the earth mirrors separation from self, body, belonging, and ritual. They also discuss nature as a co-regulating presence, the specific grief that can follow climate or human-caused ecological disasters, and what it means to repair our attachment with the original mother. This is a conversation about remembering that nature is not outside of us; it is one of the oldest relationships we have. For educational purposes only. This isn’t therapy. Resources mentioned: Re-Nature by Clara Schroeder Use for: Guest’s book, Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better. Link: https://www.claraschroeder.com/book Note: Clara’s site describes the book as exploring nature connection, mental health, resilience, climate disruption, and sustainable action. Ecopsychology / Theodore Roszak Use for: Defining ecopsychology as the bridge between psychology and ecology / the human psyche and the natural world. Link: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/psychology/ecopsychology Note: Useful general background on ecopsychology and its association with Theodore Roszak’s The Voice of the Earth. Nature exposure and health Use for: Research support that exposure to natural environments is associated with decreased anxiety, rumination, and other mental health benefits. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8125471/ Note: Review article on associations between nature exposure and health. Nature relatedness and mental health Use for: Research support that stronger nature relatedness is associated with fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6069224/ Note: Helpful support for the episode’s claim that relationship with nature matters for mental health. Connectedness to Nature Scale Use for: Research on emotional / experiential connection to the natural world. Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222621038_The_Connectedness_to_Nature_Scale_A_Measure_of_Individuals%27_Feeling_in_Community_with_Nature Note: Mayer and Frantz’s Connectedness to Nature Scale is a common measure in environmental psychology. Andy Goldsworthy quote Use for: “We often forget that we are nature. Nature is not something separate from us…” Link: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/goldsworthy-andy/ Note: This is a cleaner source than Goodreads for the quote used in the episode. Lisa Miller / Spirituality Mind Body Institute Use for: Lisa Miller’s work on spirituality, psychology, and the science of spiritual awareness. Link: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/lfm14/ Note: This confirms Lisa Miller as Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute. Lisa Miller — The Awakened Brain Use for: Background on spirituality, resilience, and mental health. Link: https://www.lisamillerphd.com/ Note: Important: I would not use wording that says Lisa Miller “proved synchronicities are real” unless you have a specific source from her work that says that directly. Safer wording: “Lisa Miller’s work explores the science of spirituality and awakened awareness.” Fractal patterns and stress reduction Use for: Nature’s fractal patterns and stress/mental fatigue reduction. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8416160/ Note: Supports the episode’s discussion of repeated natural patterns and nervous system regulation. Disaster / climate-related mental health Use for: Mental health consequences of disasters, including trauma, anxiety, and depression. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11430943/ Note: Broad support for the climate grief / disaster recovery part of the conversation. Forest therapy after wildfire disaster Use for: Nature-based, community-centered support after wildfire or disaster. Link: https://natureandhealth.uw.edu/publications/forest-therapy-as-a-trauma-informed-approach-to-disaster-recovery-insights-from-a-wildfire-affected-community/ Note: Useful support for nature connection as part of disaster recovery. Nature attachment theory Use for: Nature as an attachment figure / the human-nature bond through an attachment theory lens. Link: https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/14214 Note: Useful support for the “Mother Nature / original mother / attachment wound” portion of the episode. Attachment theory overview Use for: Bowlby, Ainsworth, secure base, attachment needs, and early bonds. Link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4085672/ Note: Good general research overview on attachment theory and secure base. Clarissa Pinkola Estés — Women Who Run With the Wolves / life-death-life cycle Use for: Life-death-life cycle, instinctual nature, and the archetypal feminine frame. Link: https://bookshop.org/p/books/women-who-run-with-the-wolves-clarissa-pinkola-estes/9929947 Note: The concept is from Estés’s Women Who Run With the Wolves. I did not find a high-quality free source with the full concept explained, so best to cite the book directly rather than a secondary blog. Human evolution / Homo sapiens Use for: Vanessa’s comment that humans have existed far longer than modern attachment theory / nuclear-family assumptions. Link: https://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-sapiens Note: Smithsonian source states Homo sapiens have lived from about 300,000 years ago to the present. Connect with Claire: Clara’s website: https://www.claraschroeder.com/ Book page: https://www.claraschroeder.com/book Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingwithclarity/ Book Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ReNatureBook/ Substack: https://claraschroeder.substack.com/ If you want to go deeper, check out the written companion on Substack and explore community + training at https://www.vanessaBennett.com. Additional Resources Explore: VanessaBennett.com Book: The Motherhood Myth Community: Inner Compass Collective Training: Inner Compass Academy Connect with Inner Compass Follow on Instagram Connect with Vanessa Bennett: Follow on Instagram Follow on TikTok Learn more on Substack Connect with Vanessa Bennett on LinkedIn See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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NEW PODCAST SERIES HOSTED BY VANESSA BENNETT Vanessa Bennett, LMFT, is a licensed depth psychotherapist, author, and facilitator known for her no-nonsense yet compassionate approach to healing. She’s the author of The Motherhood Myth and coauthor of It’s Not Me, It’s You, and the founder of Inner Compass Academy. She hosts the Inner Compass Podcast, where she explores the intersection of depth psychology, relationships, and cultural conditioning to support personal and collective liberation.

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