Healing After Childhood Trauma | Lisa’s Story of Forgiveness & Finding Safe Love

Content Warning: This episode discusses childhood abuse, trauma, disordered eating, cancer, and complicated grief. Please listen with care. What happens when a child grows up believing she is unwanted… and spends decades trying to prove she is worthy of love? In this powerful episode of Change Happened, Then What?, Lisa shares her journey through childhood trauma, emotional and physical abuse, family enabling, complicated grief, narcissistic relationship patterns, divorce, and ultimately healing. Lisa grew up in a home marked by violence and silence. As a child, she endured abuse from her brother while the adults around her failed to intervene. As a teenager, she faced the loss of her mother to cancer and the emotional withdrawal of her father. Those early experiences shaped how she saw herself — and influenced the relationships she chose later in life. For years, Lisa found herself in unhealthy relationship dynamics rooted in unresolved trauma. But through deep trauma work, healing workshops, and ultimately trauma-informed therapy, she began to break the cycle. In this episode, we talk about: • The long-term effects of childhood abuse • How trauma shapes adult relationship patterns • Family enabling and complicated forgiveness • Narcissistic relationship dynamics • Divorce after 30 years • Grief mixed with unfinished business • Trauma therapy vs. talk therapy • EMDR, somatic healing, and other trauma-informed approaches • What safe love actually feels like Today, Lisa hosts her own podcast, Healing and Growing, Hand in Hand, and leads workshops supporting survivors of childhood trauma. Her work centers on becoming the resource she once needed. If you are navigating trauma recovery, healing after abuse, or learning how to build safe, emotionally healthy relationships, this episode offers both validation and hope. Support resources and Lisa’s links are available in the show notes and at changehappenedpodcast.com under Season Two guests. Because your story isn’t over. And healing is possible. Immediate Crisis Support (U.S.) Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) National Domestic Violence Hotline Connect with Lisa Tickel - FREE starter kit Listen to Lisa's Podcast Sign up for one of Lisa's Workshops Learn more about Lisa Here Trauma-Informed Therapy & Mental Health Resources SAMHSA Treatment Locator Search for trauma-informed mental health providers Psychology Today Therapist Directory Filter by trauma, EMDR, IFS, narcissistic abuse recovery, and more Trauma-Specific Modalities EMDR International Association Find certified EMDR therapists Somatic Experiencing International Directory for somatic trauma practitioners IFS Institute (Internal Family Systems) Information and therapist directory Brainspotting International Ongoing Mental Health Support National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Education, advocacy, and support groups If you'd like to support the show, just click the link | Be a part of the Change Happened community Enter to win the "What Changed Me Community Challenge" | Enter to Win! To join our mailing list and learn more our guests visit | Changehappenedpodcast.com Get your discount on Pure Energy Apothecary products | 20% off PURE ENERGY NOW Start your Liminal Luna Journey FREE | code CHANGE at checkout | Liminalluna.com Looking for your customized Dear Sweet One lullaby find them here | Shop Now Dear Sweet One Follow along on Instagram @Change Happened  Got a story to share? Drop me a line at [email protected] and maybe your "Change Happened" moment will be next.