Mamahood After Trauma | Healing Childhood Trauma, Parenting Triggers & Emotional Regulation for Moms

In this powerful episode, host Emily Cleghorn welcomes Kamy Moussavi, founder of Step Together, to explore the deep connection between childhood trauma and excess weight in children. Kamy shares his personal journey with trauma, anxiety, and weight struggles, revealing how unhealed parental trauma silently shapes children's coping mechanisms. Together, they unpack how survival mode prevents parents from recognizing emotional roots beneath their children's weight challenges. This honest, compassionate conversation reminds us that lasting change begins with awareness, emotional healing, and creating safe family environments—empowering parents to break generational cycles and build healthier futures for themselves and their children.Connect with Kamy- http://steptogether.us -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/emilycleghorn
Take the quiz here: https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/quiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

If everyday moments with your kids leave you unexpectedly triggered, overwhelmed, or questioning whether you're failing as a mother, you're not alone.
You may have been telling yourself that being triggered means you're doing motherhood wrong—or that the things you've survived have made you incapable of parenting differently.
But being triggered isn't proof that you're broken. It's an invitation to understand what's happening underneath the reaction.
In this episode, Emily explores what cycle-breaking actually looks like when you're parenting while healing from trauma—and why the goal isn't perfect motherhood. It's learning to respond with more curiosity, compassion, repair, and connection.
As a trauma survivor, mother, and certified coach, Emily shares both lived experience and practical insight for mamas who are ready to stop letting shame define their motherhood.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why being triggered doesn't mean you're failing
How shame and perfectionism keep you stuck
What real cycle-breaking looks like in everyday motherhood
Why repair and connection matter more than getting it perfect
Ready to take your next step?
Start with the free Unlocking Peace Guide to understand what's happening in your nervous system and begin practicing tools for more calm and connection.https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/guide -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/emilycleghorn
Take the quiz here: https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/quiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

In this powerful episode, host Emily Cleghorn welcomes Jody Hill, a parenting expert and author who transformed childhood wounds into a mission to help parents harness the superpower of intentional words. Jody vulnerably shares her journey through emotional abandonment, performance-based self-worth, and navigating divorce while raising four young children. She reveals how shifting the language we use—with ourselves and our children—can break generational cycles. A deeply inspiring conversation reminding mothers that healing begins within, and that our words truly shape the confident, capable children we're raising.Connect with Jody: https://podcast.itsjodyhill.com  IG: https://instagram.com/jodyhillparenting  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/emilycleghorn
Take the quiz here: https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/quiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

In this powerful final episode of her August series, Emily Cleghorn tackles one of the hardest challenges for trauma survivors: saying no. Emily explores why "no" feels so dangerous — rooted in nervous system responses shaped by past trauma — and why we over-explain, apologize, and seek permission for our own boundaries. She reframes saying no not as rejection, but as self-trust and self-care. With practical phrases and a weekly challenge, Emily encourages listeners to pause before responding, sit with discomfort, and stop abandoning themselves to keep others comfortable. A deeply affirming reminder: your limits are valid, and you don't need anyone's permission to have them.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/emilycleghorn
Take the quiz here: https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/quiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://emilycleghorncoaching.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

In this episode of Mamahood After Trauma, host Emily Cleghorn welcomes Dr. Monique Thompson, a licensed professional counselor and trauma-informed life coach with 25 years of experience. Dr. Thompson shares her inspiring journey into trauma recovery work and offers powerful guidance for mothers healing from family-of-origin trauma. She emphasizes building a comprehensive support team, including medical professionals, therapists, and life coaches, while exploring how understanding the nervous system can transform healing. The conversation also highlights the importance of brain-centered self-care and practical strategies to help mothers break cycles and parent with greater calm and confidence.Connect with Dr. Monique: https://www.facebook.com/MoniqueThompsonLPC https://doctormoniquethompson.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drmoniquethompson/ https://www.youtube.com/@mthompsonlpc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

In this episode of Mamahood After Trauma, host Emily Cleghorn introduces the powerful concept of "energetic overdraft" — the exhausting cycle of giving more than you have. Speaking directly to trauma survivors who became "the strong one," Emily explores how hyper-independence, people-pleasing, and fear of disappointing others silently drain our reserves.With honesty and compassion, she challenges listeners to examine where they're overspending their energy and reminds them that strength doesn't require carrying everything alone. This episode is an inspiring invitation to choose awareness, embrace rest without guilt, and begin reclaiming yourself — one small, courageous decision at a time.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

In this powerful episode, host Emily Cleghorn welcomes Ranae Van Roekel, a trauma survivor, advocate, and founder of Connecting to Cope. Ranae courageously shares her journey from childhood sexual abuse to federal incarceration, revealing how unaddressed trauma shaped her choices. She describes how motherhood became her turning point and how embracing therapy unlocked her path to healing. Ranae reminds listeners that healing is possible at any stage and encourages mamas to seek support without shame. She also introduces Connecting to Cope, her platform dedicated to trauma advocacy and peer support.Connect with Ranae: https://connectingtocope.com/ https://open.spotify.com/show/3IDsA8uuErb027GSQQC7Al https://www.facebook.com/connectingtocope/ https://www.instagram.com/connectingtocope/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranae-van-roekel-1b024733a/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/connecting-to-cope/posts/?feedView=all -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc
 

In this powerful episode, host Emily Cleghorn explores why boundaries feel so threatening to trauma survivors.She explains that people-pleasing is a survival strategy rooted in nervous system conditioning — not a character flaw. Emily reframes boundaries as medicine rather than selfishness, clarifying that they govern our own participation, not others' behavior. She addresses guilt as a trauma response rather than a moral compass, and reminds mothers that modeling healthy boundaries is one of the most profound gifts they can offer their children. A practical, permission-giving episode for any mama ready to stop abandoning herself.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc
 

In this powerful episode of Mamahood After Trauma, host Emily Cleghorn welcomes J. Rosemarie Francis — mom, grandmother, author, and host of the Solo Moms Talk Podcast.Rosemarie courageously shares how being suddenly abandoned by her husband with two young sons shattered her world, unearthing deep-rooted childhood trauma. She opens up about her healing journey, the role of faith in her darkest moments, and how surrendering her struggles to God became her turning point. Now 250 episodes strong, Rosemarie's podcast creates a judgment-free space for single moms to be heard. Her message is clear: you are not alone, and help is available.Connect with J. Rosemarie:  https://www.jrosemarie.com-----------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc

You're functioning. You're getting things done. You're taking care of everyone.
But your body is exhausted.
For many trauma survivors, survival mode becomes so normal that we stop noticing the signals telling us we've gone too far—until our bodies force us to stop.
But what if your body isn't betraying you?
What if it's been trying to protect you?
In this episode, we talk about the cost of always being the strong one, why rest can feel so uncomfortable, and how to start listening to your body's whispers before they become screams.
Because healing isn't about learning to handle more.
Sometimes, it's about realizing you don't have to.-------------------------------------------------------------------
Become a Mamahood After Trauma Supporter-
https://buymeacoffee.com/mamahoodaftertrauma
Take the quiz here: https://freebie.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/calmquiz  If you’re ready to go deeper and connect with a community of women who get it, I’d love to invite you into the Rising Room—our safe space for mamas navigating healing, growth, and motherhood after trauma. Https://coaching.mamahoodaftertrauma.ca/risingroom
 
💬 And if you’ve got a story, insight, or wisdom to share, I’m always looking for new voices for the podcast! You can connect with me on Podmatch to be a guest and share your experience with our growing community. https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/riseandshinewithemilyc