Ep 118. Rewiring The Subconscious and Healing Your Trauma, with Katharine McLean

Behind The Smile with Ash Butterss

Apr 13, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 118

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Episode description

In this powerful episode, Ash sits down with Katharine McLean, a holistic counselor, trauma-informed mentor, and founder of The Light Becomes Her. With over 23 years of experience guiding others through healing, Katharine shares her deeply personal journey through addiction, recovery, and inner transformation.

After decades of high-functioning alcohol use and hidden drug addiction, Katharine hit rock bottom while leading mental health teams by day and battling inner chaos by night.

In this conversation, Ash and Katharine dive into the root causes of addiction, childhood trauma, and the disconnection from self that fuels destructive behaviors. Katharine opens up about how she used inner child work, subconscious reprogramming, and spiritual practices to rebuild her identity from the inside out.

This is an intimate and enlightening conversation about healing the nervous system, rewiring belief systems, and stepping into a life of authenticity, service, and grace. If you’ve ever wondered what’s possible beyond addiction, this episode will leave you inspired.

The episode highlights are:

00:00 Introduction to Katharine McLean

03:05 Katharine's Daily Life and Practices

05:54 Overcoming Barriers to Ecstatic Dance

08:59 Hiding Behind a Smile: Katharine's Photo Story

14:55 The Reality of Addiction: Functioning Alcoholism

20:00 Childhood Experiences and Their Impact

28:02 Seeking Approval and Relationship Patterns

31:00 The Role of Inner Child Work in Healing

38:16 The Illusion of Quick Fixes

41:46 Meditation as a Tool for Transformation

45:46 The Breaking Point: A Journey to Sobriety