Internally Guided Life

E59. Writing as Healing: Processing Trauma, Finding Your Voice, and Reclaiming Your Story with Ashley S. Hattle

What if writing isn’t just creative expression, but a way to process lived experiences, make meaning from the past, and reconnect with your voice? In this episode of Internally Guided Life, host Kayla Sweet sits down with author Ashley S. Hattle to explore writing as a healing practice, one that can support people in moving through trauma, chronic illness, grief, and personal transformation. Ashley shares her journey with writing, beginning in her teenage years when she used it to process a traumatic experience, and continuing through her experiences with cluster headaches, loss, and major life transitions. Over time, writing became more than a creative outlet. It became a way to understand herself, express what felt difficult to say out loud, and create meaning from what she had lived through. Together, Kayla and Ashley explore how writing can hold experiences that feel overwhelming or complex, and how putting words to those experiences can begin to shift them. The conversation also dives into Ashley’s novel A Haunting Between Worlds, and how fiction can become a space to process real emotions, memories, and inner experiences. Ashley shares how elements of her own story live within her characters, and how writing the book supported her in moving through anxiety, grief, and her relationship with herself and others. This episode offers a grounded and accessible perspective on writing, not as something you have to be “good at,” but as a practice that can support healing, clarity, and self-expression. In this episode, listeners will explore: * Writing as a tool for processing trauma, grief, and chronic illness * How creative expression supports emotional processing and meaning-making * Finding your voice through writing and storytelling * Using fiction as a way to explore inner experiences and emotions * The vulnerability of sharing your work and why it matters For anyone who has felt the urge to write but did not know where to start, this episode offers an invitation to begin. Meet the Guest: Ashley Hattle Ashley S. Hattle is an award-winning author and writer whose work has been featured in Nature, Invisible Project, Spill the Ink magazines, medical journals, and numerous online publications. She spent ten years as a staff writer in medical marketing and a senior editor in insurance news before transitioning into fiction writing. Her nonfiction book on cluster headaches received awards for “Excellence in Education” and “Advocate of the Year,” reflecting her commitment to education, advocacy, and sharing lived experience. Ashley is also a five-time semifinalist in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge, where her work has been described as “exhilarating,” “ingenious,” and “alluring and evocative.” Connect with Ashley: Website & Blog [https://ashleyhattle.com/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ashleyshattle/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ashley.hattle/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-s-hattle-2b4789113/] Threads [https://www.threads.com/@ashley.hattle] X (Twitter) [https://x.com/ashleyhattle] YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/AshleySHattle] Meet the Host: Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth. Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at internallyguidedleadership.com [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/product-page/alchemy-of-life], Flourish Books & Plants, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and more. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming. Connect with Kayla: Linktree [https://linktr.ee/internallyguided] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/internallyguided] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/internally_guided_coach/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@internallyguidedcoach] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-m-sweet/] Internally Guided Leadership [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/] Episode Credits: Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]  Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]

E58. Stop Self-Abandonment: Healing Identity, Releasing Trauma, and Reclaiming Your Power with Tara Wiskow

What happens when the identity you’ve been performing no longer fits, but you’re afraid to let it go? In this powerful episode of Internally Guided Life, I sit down with intuitive energy healer and life reinvention expert Tara Wiskow to explore identity healing, self-worth, and returning to your authentic self. Tara shares her deeply personal transformation, including surviving suicidal ideation, healing trauma, and losing 220 pounds. Despite dramatic external change and becoming a bodybuilder, she realized that weight loss, success, and achievement do not create lasting worthiness. True healing comes from reconnecting with who you are beneath conditioning, trauma, and outdated identities. Together, we explore identity shifts, self-belief, emotional regulation, and the ways women self-abandon to belong. We discuss people-pleasing, numbing behaviors, societal expectations, and the fear of being fully seen. Tara offers grounded insight into fragmentation, shadow work, and reintegration, blending intuitive healing, depth psychology, and practical tools for real transformation. Tara also shares her signature Unravel, Upgrade, Uplevel process, guiding women to release subconscious blocks, rebuild self-trust, and step into lives rooted in authenticity instead of performance. This episode is for anyone feeling disconnected, uncertain, or exhausted from trying to be who they think they should be. It is an invitation to stop self-abandoning and start listening inward. In this episode, we explore: * Identity shifts and authentic self-expression * The cost of self-abandonment and people-pleasing * Why weight loss and success don’t heal worthiness wounds * Trauma, emotional numbing, and loss of self * Shadow work, fragmentation, and reintegration * The Unravel, Upgrade, Uplevel process * Tools for emotional regulation and self-discovery * Reclaiming self-trust, boundaries, and inner authority This conversation is honest, expansive, and compassionate, designed to help you reconnect with your inner wisdom. Meet the Guest: Tara WiskowTara Wiskow is an intuitive energy healer, life reinvention expert, and founder of Be The Change You Need. She helps women break free from self-sabotage, limiting beliefs, and outdated identities to reclaim their power and self-worth. After losing 220 pounds and navigating trauma and identity loss, Tara stepped into her work as a healer and guide. She integrates NLP, Integrated Energy Therapy, Theta Healing, and intuitive coaching to support deep emotional, energetic, and identity-level transformation. Through her Unravel, Upgrade, Uplevel process, Tara helps women release shame, reconnect with their truth, and embody who they are becoming. Connect with Tara: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BeTheChangeYouNeedToday] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/tara.wiskow/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@tara_wiskow?_t=ZP-8tpbnaXsGkR&_r=1] Tara’s Website [http://www.tara-wiskow.com] Meet the Host: Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth. Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at ⁠internallyguidedleadership.com⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/product-page/alchemy-of-life], Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming. Connect with Kayla: ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/internallyguided] ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/internallyguided] ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/internally_guided_coach/] ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@internallyguidedcoach] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-m-sweet/] Kayla's Website [internallyguidedleadership.com] Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]  Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]

E57. Reconnect with Nature: Herbal Remedies, Intuition, and Healing in a Changing World with Jane Barlow Christensen

What if healing didn’t require complexity, overwhelm, or disconnection from yourself, but instead invited you back into relationship with the natural world and your own inner knowing? In this episode of Internally Guided Life, I sit down with Jane Barlow Christensen, master herbalist, educator, and author of Be Your Own Shaman, for a deeply grounded and soul-nourishing conversation about herbal medicine, intuition, and what it means to live well in transformative times. Jane shares her powerful personal journey growing up in rural Idaho as the daughter of a medicinal botanist, how plant wisdom shaped her understanding of health and responsibility, and why she felt called to return to her father’s herbal legacy later in life. We explore the intersection of education and intuition, the role of simple, consistent lifestyle practices in healing, and how reconnecting with nature can support both personal well-being and collective awakening. Together, we reflect on the current state of the world and the tension many of us feel between chaos and hope. Jane offers a steady, compassionate perspective, reminding us that love, presence, and small intentional actions still matter deeply. From herbal teas and barefoot grounding to trusting your body’s wisdom, this conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with what has always been available to us. This episode is especially for anyone feeling overwhelmed by modern health narratives, curious about herbal remedies, or longing to live in deeper alignment with nature, intuition, and purposeful care. Meet the Guest: Jane Barlow Christensen Jane Barlow Christensen is a master herbalist, educator, and author with a lifelong connection to plant medicine and natural healing. She is the owner of Barlow Herbal Specialties, a company dedicated to offering accessible herbal products and education rooted in both tradition and lived experience. Growing up as the second oldest of fourteen children in rural Idaho, Jane was deeply influenced by her father, a medicinal botanist, whose love for plants and natural healing shaped her worldview. After years working in fitness and wellness, Jane felt called back to herbal medicine, honoring her father’s legacy while forging her own path. She is the author of Be Your Own Shaman, a practical and empowering guide to using herbs and spices in everyday life. Jane believes that each of us is responsible for our own spiritual, emotional, and physical wellbeing, and she is passionate about helping others reconnect with nature, intuition, and self-trust. Connect with Jane: https://barlowherbal.com/ [https://barlowherbal.com/] https://www.youtube.com/@barlowherbal [https://www.youtube.com/@barlowherbal] About your Host: Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth. Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at ⁠internallyguidedleadership.com⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/product-page/alchemy-of-life], Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming. Connect with Kayla: ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/internallyguided] ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/internallyguided] ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/internally_guided_coach/] ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@internallyguidedcoach] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-m-sweet/] ⁠Visit Internally Guided Leadership⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/] Episode Credits: Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]  Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]

E56. Healing Trauma and Leading with Responsibility: A Deep Dive into Awareness Integration Theory with Dr. Foojan Zeine

In this powerful episode of Internally Guided Life, Host, Kayla Sweet is joined by Dr. Foojan Zeine, clinical psychologist, international speaker, author, and creator of Awareness Integration Theory (AIT), for a deeply grounding and expansive conversation about healing trauma and leading with responsibility. Dr. Foojan shares her personal journey from surviving childhood trauma to developing Awareness Integration Theory, a holistic, evidence-based framework that bridges psychotherapy, coaching, and leadership development. AIT offers a way to heal unresolved trauma while also creating a clear, empowered direction forward, supporting emotionally intelligent leadership without bypassing responsibility or personal agency. Together, Kayla and Dr. Foojan explore what it truly means to reclaim authorship of one’s life and lead from a place of self-awareness, integration, and accountability. This conversation dives into: * How Awareness Integration Theory helps people heal trauma while intentionally shaping their future * Why personal responsibility is not blame, but liberation * How reframing past experiences can unlock resilience, pride, and self-trust * How Awareness Integration Theory is applied in organizational development, education, and workplace culture * Why accountability, self-awareness, and emotional integration are essential for healthy leadership and modern organizations This episode will resonate with leaders, coaches, therapists, and individuals navigating healing who are seeking depth, clarity, and sustainable change. It speaks to those interested in trauma-informed leadership, personal responsibility, emotional integration, and the evolving intersection of psychology, coaching, and organizational development. At its core, this conversation offers an invitation: to look inward with honesty, take responsibility with compassion, and lead from the inside out with awareness, integrity, and intention. Meet the Guest: Dr. Foojan Zeine is an international speaker, author, psychotherapist, and the originator of Awareness Integration Theory (AIT), a multi-modality psychological and educational approach shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression while improving self-esteem, confidence, and overall life fulfillment. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and has over 32 years of experience in mental health, coaching, and leadership development. She is the founder of the International Awareness Integration Institute, which certifies therapists, coaches, and educators in AIT, and the co-founder of the Foojan App, a psychology-meets-technology platform offering guided journaling and meditative practices across 31 life areas. Connect with Foojan: https://foojan.com/ [https://foojan.com/] https://awarenessintegration.com/ [https://awarenessintegration.com/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/drfoojanzeine/ Meet the Host: Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth. Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at ⁠internallyguidedleadership.com⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/product-page/alchemy-of-life], Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming. Connect with Kayla: ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/internallyguided] ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/internallyguided] ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/internally_guided_coach/] ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@internallyguidedcoach] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-m-sweet/] ⁠Visit Internally Guided Leadership⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/] Episode Credits: Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]  Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]

E55. Values-Based Living How To Align Your Life, Work, And Relationships With What Truly Matters With Ellie Hepler

What if the feeling of being stuck, burned out, or quietly dissatisfied isn’t a personal failure, but a signal that something deeper is asking for alignment? In this episode of Internally Guided Life, I’m joined by therapist Ellie Hepler, MA, LMHCA, for a rich, honest, and deeply grounding conversation about values-based living and why it may be one of the most powerful frameworks for creating a meaningful, satisfying life. Ellie and I explore what it really means to live in alignment with your values, especially in a world full of expectations, pressure, and “shoulds.” We discuss how values serve as a life compass, not a rulebook, and how they can guide decisions during seasons of transition, uncertainty, stress, and growth. Together, we unpack: * What values-based living actually is (and what it isn’t) * Why feeling stuck is often a sign of misalignment, not failure * How to identify your core values * Practical, realistic ways to integrate values into daily life and decision-making * How to navigate conflicting values and external pressures with compassion * Why self-compassion is essential when alignment feels hard Ellie also shares her own personal journey, including how the COVID era became a pivotal moment of reflection that led her back to graduate school and toward a career aligned with family, growth, inner peace, and genuineness, even when it required temporary discomfort and tradeoffs. This conversation is for anyone who: * Feels successful on paper but disconnected internally * Is navigating a life transition, career change, or season of reevaluation * Wants a more meaningful, sustainable way to make decisions * Is craving clarity, purpose, and self-trust If you’ve ever wondered how to live a life that actually feels like yours, this episode offers both language and tools to help you begin a values-aligned journey. Meet the Guest: Ellie Hepler, MA, LMHCA Ellie Hepler is a mental health therapist with over a decade of experience supporting individuals through anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life transitions. She utilizes evidence-based practices while creating personalized treatment approaches rooted in each person’s unique values, strengths, and goals. Ellie earned her Bachelor of Science in Pre–Art Therapy from Indiana Wesleyan University and spent seven years working in community mental health before obtaining her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2023. She currently works as a therapist at Grace College, where she supports college-aged students through growth, healing, and values-aligned living. Learn more about Ellie here:⁠ https://www.grace.edu/campus/health-recreation-safety/health-counseling-services/meet-the-health-counseling-center-staff/⁠ [https://www.grace.edu/campus/health-recreation-safety/health-counseling-services/meet-the-health-counseling-center-staff/] Resources shared in the episode: ⁠https://meetingpointcounseling.com/tools/ACT-card-sort/⁠ [https://meetingpointcounseling.com/tools/ACT-card-sort/]  Meet the Host: Kayla Sweet is the host of Internally Guided Life and an expert in burnout prevention, transformational leadership, self-care, and personal growth. As a life coach, she specializes in helping people reclaim their worthiness and purpose, guiding them to create fulfilling lives with balance and ease. With a background in psychology, mindfulness, and transformational leadership, Kayla empowers her community to align with their authentic selves, develop their strengths, and embrace intentional growth. Kayla's debut poetry collection, Alchemy of Life, is available now at ⁠internallyguidedleadership.com⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/product-page/alchemy-of-life], Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. This is a reflective collection of poems on transformation, healing, and becoming. Connect with Kayla: ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/internallyguided] ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/internallyguided] ⁠Instagram⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/internally_guided_coach/] ⁠TikTok⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@internallyguidedcoach] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-m-sweet/] Subscribe to Kayla’s email list, read the blog, and explore free resources: ⁠Visit Internally Guided Leadership⁠ [https://www.internallyguidedleadership.com/] Episode Credits: Intro & Outro Music: By artist Goat On The River, produced by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]  Podcast recorded by Christian Michael Smith at ⁠https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/⁠ [https://www.microdotstudioproductions.com/]