Catching Healing Waves with Annie Schuessler-Zam

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Wil Fisher sits down with Annie Schuessler-Zam, a trauma healer who uses Brainspotting and Parts Work to help people release stuck emotional pain. Annie was a licensed psychotherapist for 20 years and now works outside of the medical model. She also runs workshops for folks who are estranged from a parent and want to create their most beautiful and meaningful lives, and she’s the host of Rebel Therapist, a podcast devoted to healers doing their own personal work.Together, they explore:Parts Work / IFS as an invitation to create enough inner safety for our younger “exiled” parts to come forward with their messages.Attachment wounds, tenderness, and what it’s like when insecurity shows up in close relationships—and why that can actually be a sign of healing.The difference between soothing a part versus accidentally silencing it with quick “you’re fine” band-aids.Disclosure + discernment: how to know what to share, why you’re sharing it, and how to stay resourced when feedback isn’t gentle.The myth that healers should have it all together—and why it’s actually a red flag when a healer isn’t doing their own work.“Healing waves”: why the work doesn’t really end, but our capacity to ride it can deepen over time.Estrangement in queer communities: finding your place on the estrangement continuum with integrity and self-trust.A practical framework for boundaries: choosing the level of contact that allows you to have your best relationship with yourself and the people you love.Chosen family, grief, and the complex emotions that can arise when an estranged parent dies.Compassion and boundaries: how forgiveness and love don’t require continued access or self-sacrifice.Connect with Annie:Website: https://anniezam.com/Wil’s interview on Annie's podcast Rebel Therapist: https://anniezam.com/podcast/256Connect with Wil:Website: https://www.wil-fullyliving.comAwakened Hearts for Single Gay Men retreat: https://www.wil-fullyliving.com/singlesInstagram: @wilfish99Support the show