Whole by Design

EP 25: A Somatic Approach to Career Decisions with David Gofman

How do you know whether you're following your own path or someone else's expectations? Whether you're questioning what's next, considering a change, or starting your career, this conversation explores how to recognize the difference between external pressure and internal alignment. In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with David Gofman, founder of Gofman Therapy and Consulting, to explore the quarter-life career crisis and what it reveals about making authentic life and career decisions. David shares how the body signals misalignment, what resistance and boredom can teach us, and three practical ways to move toward work that feels more aligned, whether you're choosing your first career or making a change later in life. If you've ever questioned your direction, this episode offers a compassionate framework for moving forward with greater clarity and confidence.   Learn more about David Gofman and his work: https://gofmantherapyandconsulting.com/ [https://gofmantherapyandconsulting.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgofman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgofman/]  Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]

EP 24: Building Trust and Leading with Clarity with Daniel Lieberman

What if the most effective thing you could do as a leader, or as a human, had nothing to do with strategy and everything to do with how you show up? In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Daniel Lieberman, founder and CEO of Valuable Leadership, to explore his model of "humanship" and the Beacon Effect, a six-part framework for cutting through uncertainty, building genuine trust, and protecting the dignity of everyone around you. Together, they explore how the way we regulate ourselves shapes every relationship and interaction we're part of, at work, at home, and everywhere in between. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of how to build trust in any room you walk into, how to stay anchored when circumstances shift, and how to use three simple steps before any hard conversation to access more clarity, presence, and dignity-preserving action. This episode is for anyone who leads,  a team, a family, or simply themselves and wants to show up in a way people can truly trust.   Learn more about Daniel Lieberman and his work: https://www.valuableleadership.com/ [https://www.valuableleadership.com/] www.linkedin.com/in/humanship [http://www.linkedin.com/in/humanship] https://humanship.substack.com/ [https://humanship.substack.com/]  Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]

EP 23: Complicated Grief and Life Beyond Loss with Aurena Green

Grief doesn’t always follow a clear path. For many people, it can feel layered, disorienting, and difficult to move through, especially when the emotions don’t resolve in the ways we expect. If you’ve been feeling stuck in your grief or unsure how to carry both the love and the pain, this conversation offers a way of understanding what’s happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Dr. Julie Lopez and grief expert Aurena Green explore the reality of complicated grief, why it can feel so complex, why it doesn’t follow a predictable timeline, and what it can look like to begin moving through it in a way that honors your full emotional experience. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how to stay present with intense emotions without shutting down, how to hold both the beauty and difficulty of your relationships, and how to begin reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels more grounded, more open, and more alive. This is a thoughtful, honest look at grief that makes space for the full experience, without rushing it or trying to simplify what it means to move forward.   Learn more about Aurena Green and her work: https://www.inner-compass-therapy.com/ [https://www.inner-compass-therapy.com/]   https://hackyournervoussystem.org/products/planetgrief [https://hackyournervoussystem.org/products/planetgrief]  https://www.instagram.com/planet.grief [https://www.instagram.com/planet.grief]  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/aurena-r-green-clifton-va/1407401 [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/aurena-r-green-clifton-va/1407401] Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]

EP 22: The Stress Equation and the Hidden Path to Resilience with Amanda Good

Stress is often treated like something to eliminate, but what if understanding it differently could help you move through life with more clarity, strength, and intention? In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez is joined by clinician and clinical director Amanda Good to explore the stress equation, a practical framework for understanding why stress affects people differently and how lasting balance is created. Together, they break down how demands, coping capacity, internal beliefs, and support systems interact to shape your experience of stress. Amanda explains why managing stress is not just about coping in the moment, but about identifying where imbalance lives and knowing how to shift it. This conversation also explores how difficult experiences can become catalysts for growth, offering insight into resilience, deeper self-awareness, stronger relationships, and renewed meaning after hard seasons of life.   Learn more about The Sibley Group & Amanda Good:  thesibleygroupdc.com [http://thesibleygroupdc.com]  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-good-85844a1ab [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-good-85844a1ab]  https://www.instagram.com/amandagoodlicsw/ [https://www.instagram.com/amandagoodlicsw/] Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]

EP 21: The Unseen Patterns Behind Strong Relationships with Lee Collins

What do high-pressure emergency response and intimate relationships have in common? Communication under stress. In this episode of Whole by Design, Dr. Julie Lopez sits down with Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Lee Collins to explore what truly strengthens connection in relationships. Drawing from his background in corporate leadership, emergency response, and clinical counseling, Lee shares how high-pressure environments reveal the communication patterns that either build trust or break it down. He unpacks the subtle shifts that move relationships from conflict to connection and explains why emotional awareness is the foundation. This episode offers actionable insight into relationship skills, communication, and emotional regulation, helping you show up stronger in love, work, and life.   Learn More about Dr. Julie’s Work: https://drjulielopez.com/ [https://drjulielopez.com/]  Learn More about The Viva Center: https://www.vivapartnership.com/ [https://www.vivapartnership.com/]