EPISODE · Dec 11, 2025 · 22 MIN
171. Holiday Triggers After Divorce: Grief, Grounding, and Finding Hope in It’s a Wonderful Life
from The Empowered Divorce Podcast; Navigating Divorce After Betrayal Trauma and Abuse · host Amie Woolsey Certified Brainspotting Practitioner; APSATS-CPC, ICF-PCP,
If you are walking through a life saving divorce, separation, co parenting or parallel parenting, the holidays can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute you are holding it together for the kids, the next you are hit with a wave of grief you did not see coming.In this tender and honest conversation, Amie shares a live lesson from her December Q and A where she talks about:Why the holidays can feel so triggering after betrayal and divorceHow your nervous system bonds to a shared dream and why grief shows up years laterWhat it looks like to feel alone at big milestone moments with your kidsThe pressure to create the “perfect” holiday after divorce and why that backfiresHow to notice when you are in a George Bailey moment from It’s a Wonderful LifeWhy overwhelm is a trauma response and not a character flawHow your presence still anchors your children. Even on the years you do not have them for ChristmasSimple grounding tools to help regulate your nervous system during holiday stressIdeas for micro traditions and new rituals that feel gentle and doable in this seasonHow to rewrite your story and step back into agency, even in a quiet houseThis episode is for you if:You feel waves of grief around the holidays and wonder “Shouldn’t I be over this by now”You are co parenting with an ex and the holiday schedule feels unfair or painfulYou are spending Christmas or New Year’s without your kids and your heart hurtsOld traditions bring up more pain than joyYou want realistic, trauma informed ways to ground your body and calm your nervous systemAmie uses her own stories as a single mom watching her son play high school and college ball, and weaves in the symbolism from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life to remind you that your life and your impact still matter. Your nervous system is not broken. It is responding to loss, love and the shared dreams that did not happen the way you hoped.You are not behind. You are not failing at healing. You are human._______________________________Dating From Within Workshop-January 8th-10th @6pm-8pm CT*Live Zoom Call*Workbook IncludedMonthly Q&A- FREE! The first Thursday of every month @2:00pm CTIntimacy Within: Self-Paced Course- Want real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.Should I Stay or Go? Self Paced Course-This guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.Brainspotting/ Somatic Work / Nervous System Healing💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: Click here🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 [email protected]
What this episode covers
If you are walking through a life saving divorce, separation, co parenting or parallel parenting, the holidays can feel like emotional whiplash. One minute you are holding it together for the kids, the next you are hit with a wave of grief you did not see coming.In this tender and honest conversation, Amie shares a live lesson from her December Q and A where she talks about:Why the holidays can feel so triggering after betrayal and divorceHow your nervous system bonds to a shared dream and why grief shows up years laterWhat it looks like to feel alone at big milestone moments with your kidsThe pressure to create the “perfect” holiday after divorce and why that backfiresHow to notice when you are in a George Bailey moment from It’s a Wonderful LifeWhy overwhelm is a trauma response and not a character flawHow your presence still anchors your children. Even on the years you do not have them for ChristmasSimple grounding tools to help regulate your nervous system during holiday stressIdeas for micro traditions and new rituals that feel gentle and doable in this seasonHow to rewrite your story and step back into agency, even in a quiet houseThis episode is for you if:You feel waves of grief around the holidays and wonder “Shouldn’t I be over this by now”You are co parenting with an ex and the holiday schedule feels unfair or painfulYou are spending Christmas or New Year’s without your kids and your heart hurtsOld traditions bring up more pain than joyYou want realistic, trauma informed ways to ground your body and calm your nervous systemAmie uses her own stories as a single mom watching her son play high school and college ball, and weaves in the symbolism from the movie It’s a Wonderful Life to remind you that your life and your impact still matter. Your nervous system is not broken. It is responding to loss, love and the shared dreams that did not happen the way you hoped.You are not behind. You are not failing at healing. You are human._______________________________Dating From Within Workshop-January 8th-10th @6pm-8pm CT*Live Zoom Call*Workbook IncludedMonthly Q&A- FREE! The first Thursday of every month @2:00pm CTIntimacy Within: Self-Paced Course- Want real connection in a future relationship? Start by building healthy intimacy within. Learn the 7 levels of intimacy and how to practice them—first, with YOU.Should I Stay or Go? Self Paced Course-This guide walks you through one of the hardest questions you'll ever face. It's not about finding the right answer—it's about becoming the chooser of it.Brainspotting/ Somatic Work / Nervous System Healing💻 Want to work with Amie 1:1?Book a consult: Click here🎥 Watch on YouTube: Get episodes early + visual tools to support your journey.📲 Follow me on social:Instagram | Facebook | TikTok → @amiewoolseyNeed support ?📩 [email protected]
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171. Holiday Triggers After Divorce: Grief, Grounding, and Finding Hope in It’s a Wonderful Life
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