Strong, Resilient… and Still Carrying So Much

When Healing Revealed the Role I Couldn't Put Down

For years, people have asked me whether therapists ever stop being therapists. Does your therapist brain ever turn off?Do you analyze everyone around you?What is it like being married to a therapist? For a long time, I thought I knew the answer. Then I attended a healing retreat and realized something I had never seen before. In this personal episode, I share the experience that helped me understand the difference between carrying a professional role and carrying an identity. What started as a simple journaling exercise turned into a powerful realization about the roles we wear, the space we take up, and the ways we sometimes put ourselves last without even realizing it. This episode explores: • Why I thought I had left my therapist hat at work• The surprising realization I had at a women’s retreat• The difference between doing therapy and holding space• The roles many of us carry without noticing• Why healing sometimes reveals what we’ve been carrying all along Whether you’re a therapist, caregiver, parent, helper, oldest daughter, or simply someone who often puts others first, I hope this conversation invites you to reflect on the roles you carry and whether you’ve given yourself permission to simply be. If this reflection resonates with you and you're looking for a space to continue these kinds of conversations in community, I'd love to invite you to join us Lakay Within is a monthly virtual gathering centered on reflection, emotional wellness, healing, and connection. The next Lakay Within gathering will take place on July 14th. If you’re not ready for the virtual gathering, you’re also welcome to join the free Lakay Within Community here [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/lakay-within-community], where I share reflections, journal prompts, wellness tools, and updates throughout the month. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or mental health treatment. Aurelie Zephir is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing therapy services in California and Texas. Learn more at:Psychology Today [https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1682240] Get full access to Aurelie Zephir LMFT at aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe [https://aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

What We've Lost: Haitian Identity, Culture & Returning to Our Roots | With Kimberly Lauriston, LCSW

In this episode of W Ap Koute M, M Ap Koute W, I sit down with Kimberly Lauriston, LCSW-S, to explore Haitian identity, culture, ancestry, spirituality, and healing. Together, we reflect on what it was like growing up Haitian in the United States, the traditions that connected us to our culture, and the ways migration can shape our sense of identity. We discuss the wisdom passed down through our grandparents, the cultural practices that have been lost over time, and why so many people in our generation are searching for ways to reconnect with their roots. This conversation also explores the relationship between culture, faith, community, ancestral knowledge, and healing. We talk about what happens when traditions are not passed down, the importance of preserving cultural knowledge, and how returning to our roots can help us better understand ourselves. If you have ever wondered what parts of Haitian culture have been lost, what our elders carried, or how we can preserve our identity for future generations, this conversation is for you. Lakay Within is our ongoing community gathering where we come together to reflect, heal, and grow in a safe, culturally grounded space.” Then it makes sense when you invite them to join the community or sign up for the next gathering. Let’s give them context so they know why it’s meaningful! Join the free Lakay Within Community:https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOhFWacGTPGGwkQ6UqDLjW [https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOhFWacGTPGGwkQ6UqDLjW] The next Lakay Within virtual gathering takes place June 9th at 7 PM CT. Learn more about Lakay Within, and therapy services:www.transformativehealingpathways.com [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/] About Kimberly Lauriston, LCSW-S Kimberly Lauriston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Director of Inmost Ease Counseling & Behavioral Health, and consultant with Elevation Coaching & Consulting. She provides teletherapy services in Texas and Florida. Website: www.inmosteasecounseling.com [http://www.inmosteasecounseling.com/] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or mental health treatment. Aurelie Zephir is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering therapy services in California and Texas. Kimberly Lauriston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering teletherapy services in Texas and Florida. Get full access to Aurelie Zephir LMFT at aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe [https://aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Strong, Resilient… and Still Carrying So Much

In this special video episode of W Ap Koute M, M Ap Koute W, I sit down with Dr. Gaetane Saint-Victor for a deeply honest conversation about healing in the Black and Haitian communities. Together, we explore the emotional weight many people carry silently while still appearing “strong” to the world. We talk about the “strong Black woman” archetype, perfectionism, survival mode, vulnerability, generational trauma, therapy resistance in our communities, and the pressure so many people feel to keep going no matter what they are carrying internally. We also discuss how culture, identity, faith, and past experiences shape the way people understand healing — and why asking for help can feel so difficult for many of us. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt emotionally exhausted while still showing up for everyone else, struggled to slow down, or questioned whether they are allowed to prioritize their own healing. I truly believe this episode will resonate with so many people in our community, and I hope it reminds you that healing does not make you weak — it allows you to finally put down what you were never meant to carry alone. The next Lakay Within virtual gathering will take place on June 9th at 7 PM CT. Lakay Within is a community healing space created for reflection, emotional wellness, and reconnecting with yourself in a gentle and supportive environment. You can learn more about Lakay Within, individual therapy services, workshops, and upcoming offerings on my website [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or mental health treatment. Aurelie Zephir is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist offering therapy services in California and Texas. Get full access to Aurelie Zephir LMFT at aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe [https://aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Many Adults Are Learning What Children Needed First

There’s a common belief that inner child healing is about being overly emotional, avoiding responsibility, or “coddling” yourself. But that’s not what it is. In this episode, I explore what inner child work actually means—and why so many adults are learning emotional skills later in life that they needed much earlier. For the first time, I’m joined by a very special guest: my daughter. Through our conversation, you’ll hear what emotional awareness can look like when it’s nurtured early—naming feelings, expressing them safely, and learning how to regulate. Afterward, I reflect on what happens when those tools are missing, and how that can show up later in life as: * anxiety * people pleasing * emotional shutdown * fear of rejection * difficulty trusting This episode is a gentle but powerful reminder: Healing is not about going backward. It’s about responding differently now. Lakay Within If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to invite you into Lakay Within. Next gathering: May 12th Disclaimer This podcast is educational and not a substitute for therapy. Aurelie Zephir offers therapy in California and Texas [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/]. Get full access to Aurelie Zephir LMFT at aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe [https://aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

When Trauma Shows Up as Anxiety and Depression (What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You)

Sometimes what we call anxiety or depression is not random. It’s not something separate. It’s something your body has been holding for a long time. In this episode, I explore how trauma can live in the body and show up as anxiety, panic, emotional numbness, or depression — often without us realizing it. We talk about: * what trauma actually is (beyond the event itself) * how the nervous system responds to overwhelm * the difference between activation (anxiety) and shutdown (depression) * why your body may still be “stuck” in survival mode * and why so many people don’t recognize trauma in themselves This episode is not about diagnosing. It’s about awareness. Because sometimes the question is not: “What’s wrong with me?” But rather: “What has my body been holding?” Lakay Within If this episode resonated with you, I want to gently invite you into Lakay Within — a space for Haitian women to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with themselves in community. Next gathering: May 12th [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/lakaywithin] at 7:00 PM CT virtual Disclaimer This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy. Aurelie Zephir offers therapy services in California and Texas. Learn more here [https://www.transformativehealingpathways.com/] Get full access to Aurelie Zephir LMFT at aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe [https://aureliezephir.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]