Healing Doesn’t Have to Hurt: The Power of Play, Joy, and Pleasure After Trauma with Angie Berrett

What if healing didn’t always have to be heavy? In this heart-opening conversation with trauma-informed coach and play movement specialist Angie Berrett, we explore a radically different approach to healing—one rooted in play, joy, and pleasure.We dive into what happens when you've psychologically outgrown your family or friends, and why healing that only focuses on crying, journaling, or “doing the work” can sometimes leave us feeling stuck or incomplete. Angie shares how integrating joy helped her realize she was missing a vital piece of the puzzle—even after doing all the “right” things.We also talk about why play can feel unsafe, even guilt-inducing, especially for those of us with anxious attachment or trauma histories. Is it possible that joy can feel like a betrayal to the pain we’ve endured? And if so, how do we move through that?Angie offers practical tips for those constantly in survival mode who want to begin reconnecting with joy but don’t know where to start—and shares powerful insights from the 7 primal circuits in the brain (SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, LUST, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF, and PLAY) to help us understand why play is not just fluff, but essential for healing.If you’ve ever told yourself, “Play isn’t productive” or “I don’t have time for joy,” this episode is your invitation to shift that story. Learn how reclaiming play can rewire your nervous system, deepen your relationships, and radically transform your sense of self-worth.Connect with Angie Here: https://angieberrettmovement.com/