Why does it feel worse before it feels better?

Why does it feel worse before it feels better?

Why does healing sometimes feel heavier before it finally feels peaceful? In this powerful solo episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon dives into one of the most common questions people ask in therapy: “Why does it feel worse before it feels better?” Through personal stories, clinical insight, faith-based encouragement, and trauma-informed education, Jirzia explains why healing is often messy, emotional, uncomfortable — and completely normal. This episode explores: ✨ trauma responses and survival mode ✨ why therapy can feel emotionally overwhelming ✨ anxiety, panic attacks, and emotional triggers ✨ cognitive dissonance and inner conflict ✨ how trauma is stored in the body ✨ faith, healing, and emotional honesty ✨ why setbacks are part of the healing process ✨ learning to stop suppressing pain Jirzia also vulnerably shares parts of her own healing journey — including childhood trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, church hurt, emotional pain, and how therapy helped her finally understand what her body and mind had been carrying for years. If you’ve ever felt discouraged during your healing journey… this episode is your reminder that healing is not linear. 💛 Sometimes what feels like a setback is actually your body preparing for breakthrough. 🎧 Tune in now — available on all major podcast platforms 💬 Comment your biggest takeaway from this episode 🌱 Share this with someone who’s struggling in their healing journey 💛 Subscribe for more authentic conversations about mental health, trauma, faith, and emotional healing Follow on Instagram: @authenticbeyond_thecouch

Choosing Yourself Isn’t Selfish | Healing, Identity & Growth w/ Candice Terrazas

What happens when you finally choose yourself — after years of putting everyone else first? This week on Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon sits down with special guest Candice Terrazas for a powerful and honest conversation about healing, identity, and what it really means to choose yourself. In this episode, Candice opens up about her personal journey — navigating emotional challenges, unlearning patterns, and stepping into a more authentic version of herself. Together, Jirzia and Candice explore the deeper layers of healing that often go unseen, but are necessary for real transformation. This conversation touches on: ✨ self-worth and identity healing ✨ breaking unhealthy patterns ✨ emotional healing and personal growth ✨ navigating life transitions ✨ doing the inner work ✨ learning to choose yourself without guilt If you’ve ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure of who you are becoming… this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Because healing isn’t just about fixing what’s broken — it’s about discovering who you are underneath it all. 🎧 Tune in now — available on all major platforms 💛 Subscribe for more real, unfiltered conversations on healing and growth 💬 Comment your biggest takeaway — we’d love to hear from you 🌱 Share this episode with someone who needs this message Follow on Instagram: @authenticbeyond_thecouch for more insights, clips, and behind-the-scenes moments. About the Guest Candice TerrazasCandice Terrazas is a health and mindset coach dedicated to helping driven women reclaim their energy, confidence, and consistency through a sustainable approach to wellness. With training in International Coaching Federation (ICF) standards and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), she blends science-backed strategies with real-world experience as a competitive bodybuilder. Candice specializes in supporting women as they build strength — both physically and mentally — while balancing demanding careers, family life, and personal growth. Her coaching is intentional, personalized, and focused on creating long-term, sustainable results. 🌐 Website: candiceterrazas.com 📸 Instagram: @candiceterrazas 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candiceterrazas

Doing the Hard Work in Therapy: Healing Church Hurt & Father Wounds (Part 2)

You can’t heal what you keep avoiding. This is Part 2 of Jirzia Blackmon’s powerful conversation with her former therapist, Kami Roberts, LCSW — and this is where the real work begins. In Part 1, we named the wounds. In Part 2, we talk about what it actually takes to confront them. Together, Jirzia and Kami go deeper into the process of healing — challenging long-held beliefs, unpacking emotional patterns, and stepping into growth even when it feels uncomfortable. This episode dives into: ✨ confronting the pain you’ve been avoiding ✨ breaking through limiting beliefs ✨ doing the hard work in therapy ✨ healing from church hurt and father wounds ✨ choosing growth over comfort Healing isn’t just about awareness — it’s about action. And sometimes, that means facing truths you’ve spent years trying to avoid. If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or hesitant to go deeper in your healing journey… this conversation is for you. 🎧 This is Part 2 — if you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, start there for full context. 🎧 Tune in now — available on all major platforms 💛 Save this episode for when you’re ready to go deeper 🌱 Share this with someone who’s doing the hard work of healing Follow @authenticbeyond_thecouch for more real conversations on healing, faith, and growth.

Doing the Hard Work in Therapy: Healing Church Hurt & Father Wounds

Healing isn’t easy — and the hardest part is facing the truth about where your pain really comes from. This is Part 1 of a powerful two-part conversation on Authentic Beyond the Couch. In this episode, host Jirzia Blackmon reunites with her very first therapist, Kami Roberts, LCSW, to unpack the emotional and spiritual wounds many people carry but are afraid to confront: ✨ church hurt ✨ father wounds ✨ childhood trauma ✨ religious guilt ✨ emotional avoidance ✨ and the fear of leaving familiar environments Kami was the therapist who walked Jirzia through one of the most difficult seasons of her life — helping her confront painful truths, challenge unhealthy beliefs, and begin rebuilding her identity with honesty and courage. Part 1 sets the foundation. It names the wounds. It uncovers the patterns. It opens the door to the deeper work. This conversation is raw, real, and deeply healing — especially for anyone who has struggled with faith, emotional pain, or the fear of doing “the hard work” in therapy. If you’ve been avoiding what hurts… this episode will speak directly to your soul. 🌿 🎧 This is Part 1 — Tune in to Part 2 to continue the conversation and go even deeper. 👤 About the Guest — Kami Roberts, LCSW Kami Roberts is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and clinical supervisor based in New York. With a grounded, compassionate, and direct approach, he helps clients work through trauma, emotional wounds, church hurt, identity struggles, and major life transitions. Connect with Kami: 🌐 Website: www.kindcounseling.com 📸 Instagram: @kindcounseling 📘 Facebook: @kindcounseling 💼 LinkedIn: Kami Roberts As the therapist who guided Jirzia during her early healing journey, Kami played a pivotal role in helping her heal father wounds, break through religious guilt, and step into a healthier, more authentic life. If this episode spoke to you: ✔️ Subscribe for more healing conversations ✔️ Share this episode with someone who needs it ✔️ Comment your biggest takeaway or “aha” moment Follow the show on Instagram: @AuthenticBeyondTheCouch

The Valley: When Healing Hurts Before It Helps

What do you do when healing hurts? When the process feels heavier than the pain you’re trying to let go of? In this heartfelt episode of Authentic Beyond the Couch, Jirzia Blackmon, EMDR therapist and founder of Rhapsody Counseling & Wellness Center, opens up about her personal valley season — a time marked by deep pain, confusion, and the struggle to reconcile faith with emotional healing. 🌿 Through her story and the song “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott, Jirzia shares how she learned one of the hardest truths about healing: you can’t skip the valley. You have to feel it to heal it. This episode is for anyone walking through a difficult season, questioning their faith, or learning to embrace the messy middle of healing. 💛 🎧 What You’ll Learn: Why healing often feels harder before it gets better How to allow yourself to feel before rushing to “fix” The connection between crying and emotional release How faith and therapy can work together in the healing process Finding peace and hope even in the lowest valleys If this episode spoke to your heart, don’t keep it to yourself — ✅ Subscribe for more authentic conversations ✅ Comment below and share what “your valley” looks like ✅ Share this with someone who needs encouragement today Follow @AuthenticBeyondTheCouch on Instagram for more healing conversations, insights, and behind-the-scenes moments. 🌱