In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, host Grace answers listener questions about healing and navigating the complexities of mind-body health. Topics include managing perfectionism tendencies, handling the disappearance of chronic symptoms, maintaining a mindset when struggling to feel understood, and dealing with IBS and complex PTSD. Grace also announces new individual coaching spots with her and therapist Liana, emphasising the importance of personalised support in nervous system re...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Ep. 56
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Vanessa Blackstone, MSW and Olivia Salisbury Sinaiko, LPC specialists in pain reprocessing therapy, share their experiences and insights about their newly released workbook. They discuss their backgrounds, the journey to developing the workbook, and the importance of addressing trauma in pain therapy. Highlighting the need for tools that make therapy accessible and engaging, they cover the significance of non-linear progress, overcoming urgency, an...
Jan 14, 2025•51 min•Ep. 55
In this episode, Grace reflects on the lessons learned from 2024 and discusses plans for moving forward into 2025. Key topics include acknowledging and learning from what didn't work, such as overcommitting and not listening to one's own body, and highlighting the importance of being authentic, slowing down, and seeking support. She also emphasises the significance of trusting intuition, building community, understanding the subconscious, and setting personal boundaries for better mental, emotio...
Jan 07, 2025•35 min•Ep. 54
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace explores how to identify the state of your nervous system using the polyvagal theory. Introduced by Dr. Stephen Porges in 1994, the polyvagal theory categorises the nervous system into three states: ventral vagal (green zone), sympathetic (yellow zone), and dorsal vagal (red zone). Grace explains how each state impacts mental, physical, and emotional health and provides practical tips on how to move between these states effectively. Emphasisi...
Dec 31, 2024•36 min•Ep. 53
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace interviews Vanessa Blackstone, the executive director of the Pain Psychology Center. Vanessa, who has a background in social work and is a citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, shares her journey from dealing with her own chronic pain to becoming a therapist in pain reprocessing therapy (PRT). They delve into the concept of PRT, explaining how it aims to address the neural pathways in the brain that perpetuate chronic pain by creat...
Dec 24, 2024•59 min
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, host Grace welcomes back Liana, a mind and body therapist from Elevate Therapy and Wellness, to discuss the emotional challenges the holiday season can bring, including loneliness, grief, and stress from family dynamics. They delve into how these feelings affect the nervous system and offer practical tips for managing emotions, finding meaningful connections, and setting boundaries with family. The conversation also covers the importance of acknowl...
Dec 17, 2024•39 min•Ep. 51
In this empowering episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace is joined by Dr. David D. Clarke, MD, president of the Psychophysiological Disorders Association and Clinical Assistant Professor Emeritus of Gastroenterology at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Clarke brings his extensive experience in treating over 7,000 patients with symptoms from stress or trauma, not explained by disease or injury. He discusses his holistic approach to treating patients, integrating physical treatment...
Dec 16, 2024•47 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace addresses a common question about overcoming the feeling of being stuck in one's healing journey. She discusses the importance of moving from awareness to action, exploring deeper emotional work, and reconnecting with authenticity. Grace emphasises the value of personal support, self-compassion, and specific practices like journal speak to facilitate true healing. The episode also covers practical examples and steps to help listeners navigate...
Dec 10, 2024•36 min•Ep. 50
In this episode, Isabelle returns to dive deeper into the 'Feel Good Life' methodology. She shares her personal journey from a trauma-filled childhood and eating disorders to becoming a licensed therapist and developing a groundbreaking approach to nervous system regulation. Isabelle discusses how exhaustion and burnout led to a pivotal transformation and the creation of a methodology that quickly helps manage stress responses. The three-step process—awareness, stopping, slowing down with breath...
Dec 03, 2024•56 min•Ep. 49
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace sits down with dietitian Sydney Greene to discuss the complexities of eating disorders, disordered eating, and mental health. Sydney shares her journey to becoming a registered dietitian and how her personal struggles with food and sobriety have shaped her practice. They delve into the concept of intuitive eating and its challenges, particularly for those recovering from restrictive eating patterns. As the holidays approach, Sydney offers pra...
Nov 26, 2024•48 min•Ep. 48
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, hosted by Grace Secker, listeners explore the essential practice of establishing an inner resource to find safety within their nervous systems. Grace discusses the importance of this practice in managing stress, chronic pain, and difficult emotions by creating a space of inner calm and grounding. The episode features a guided meditation designed to help listeners connect with their own inner resource, offering practical steps to build resilience an...
Nov 19, 2024•22 min•Ep. 47
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, I speak with Charlotte Wright, a human design consultant, life coach, and energetic guide. Charlotte shares insights into the importance of self-discovery and authenticity on your healing journey. We delve into the significance of human design, explaining how it blends scientific and spiritual elements to provide a unique blueprint for each individual. Charlotte discusses the challenges and misconceptions related to understanding one's true self an...
Nov 12, 2024•44 min•Ep. 46
In this episode, we explore the vital role of play in adult life as a powerful tool for healing, stress relief, and overall well-being. Learn about the science behind how play, laughter, and physical activities like dancing can release dopamine, promoting relaxation and healing. Discover practical tips to integrate more play and creativity into your hectic schedule, whether through laughter breaks, spontaneous fun, or rekindling childhood joys. Understand how prioritising play can help soothe th...
Nov 05, 2024•19 min•Ep. 45
In this episode, Grace explores the delicate balance between wellness culture and the principles of Health At Every Size (HAES) and eating disorder recovery. She shares personal experiences and challenges, highlighting the potential toxicities within wellness culture such as the pursuit of perfection. Emphasizing self-compassion, intuitive eating, and the importance of rest and joy, Grace offers actionable tips for finding a real balance in self-care practices. The episode advocates for a person...
Oct 29, 2024•25 min•Ep. 44
This episode of the Heal with Grace podcast delves into the concept of catastrophising and its impact on anxiety and chronic pain. I explain how negative thought patterns can exacerbate pain and offer strategies to break this cycle, such as checking the facts of negative thoughts, naming underlying emotions, and retraining the brain to view pain as safe. Through personal anecdotes and practical tools, listeners are encouraged to practice self-compassion and mindfulness to facilitate healing. The...
Oct 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, I share a personal and raw life update regarding my own experience with burnout. I highlights the physical, psychological, and spiritual implications of burnout and how it can stealthily disrupt one's life. I also delve into my personal struggles, the emotional toll of major life transitions like divorce, and my journey through mold toxicity as the tipping point for health issues. I candidly discusses the normalisation of being overly tired, the re...
Oct 15, 2024•38 min•Ep. 42
In this special episode of the 'Heal with Grace' podcast, Grace guides listeners through a healing body visualisation practice designed to help them reconnect with their bodies and activate their innate healing potential. The episode emphasises the powerful connection between mind and body, and how visualisation can shift mindsets, calm the nervous system, and promote overall health. Listeners are encouraged to find a quiet, comfortable space and engage in a guided meditation that illuminates th...
Oct 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of the 'Heal With Grace' podcast, host Grace dives into the importance of nervous system regulation and shares practical tools and techniques to help listeners manage chronic anxiety, fatigue, pain, and more. Grace emphasises the need for a balanced routine and discusses the benefits of grounding, morning movement, sensory breaks, and setting boundaries. She also introduces her self-paced course, the Mind Body Healing Method, designed to make these principles more accessible. The...
Sep 24, 2024•28 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, clinical social worker Mike Averill discusses the integration of mindfulness, meditation, and psilocybin in therapeutic practices. Mike explores the significance of these tools in addressing chronic pain, anxiety, and trauma, sharing insights from his own journey and clinical experiences. He breaks down how mindfulness and somatic practices help change one's relationship with pain, highlighting the role of neural input and the brain's appraisal in ...
Sep 17, 2024•49 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of the Heal With Grace podcast, host Grace Secker discusses the importance of setting boundaries and the power of saying no, especially for those dealing with chronic conditions like fatigue, pain, and depression. Grace explains how constantly saying yes and people-pleasing can negatively impact mental and physical health, and offers practical tips for learning to say no compassionately. This episode is a deep dive into understanding and protecting your energy to improve your wel...
Sep 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 37
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, host Grace, a psychotherapist and nervous system coach, explores the profound impact of the mind-body connection and the power of beliefs on physical health. Through compelling stories, research, and practical tips, Grace highlights how positive thoughts and visualization can lead to real, measurable improvements in health. The episode provides insights into the placebo effect, the role of psychoneuroimmunology, and the importance of positive affir...
Sep 03, 2024•28 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, host Grace Secker delves into the top three personality traits that hinder individuals on their healing journeys: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-criticism. Grace explains how these traits can perpetuate chronic mind and body symptoms like anxiety, chronic pain, and illness. With personal anecdotes and practical advice, she encourages listeners to recognise these traits, embrace imperfection, set boundaries, and practice self-compassion to...
Aug 27, 2024•23 min•Ep. 35
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, hosted by holistic psychotherapist Grace Secker, the focus is on the transformative practice of self-compassion. Grace explains the importance of treating oneself with kindness, akin to caring for a close friend, and shares insights on how self-compassion aids in resilience, emotional well-being, and personal growth. The episode features real-life examples, including a client’s journey with self-compassion, and concludes with a guided meditation to...
Aug 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the Heal with Grace Podcast, host Grace welcomes Kristen Timchak, a nervous system coach, Ayurvedic educator, and host of the Nourish Nervous System Podcast. Kristen shares her journey in Ayurveda, somatic practices, and how these disciplines have helped her manage her life and health, particularly her experience with Hashimoto's disease. She explains the basics of Ayurveda, including the elements, doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), and the concept of Ojas. Kristen also discusses pr...
Aug 13, 2024•36 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, Grace provides valuable insights and practical advice on how to navigate and cope with flares in health or challenging periods in life. They discuss the concept of catastrophising, a cognitive distortion that can increase stress and anxiety, and offer strategies to become aware of and manage it. The importance of slowing down, finding safety within the body and mind, and allowing oneself to surrender and accept difficult emotions is emphasised. Additionally, Grace highlights the...
Aug 06, 2024•25 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, Grace explores how to identify the state of your nervous system using the polyvagal theory. Introduced by Dr. Stephen Porges in 1994, the polyvagal theory categorises the nervous system into three states: ventral vagal (green zone), sympathetic (yellow zone), and dorsal vagal (red zone). Grace explains how each state impacts mental, physical, and emotional health and provides practical tips on how to move between these states effectively. Emphasisi...
Jul 30, 2024•33 min•Ep. 31
In this episode of the Heal with Grace podcast, we welcome guest Jenn Baswick, an intuitive nutritionist, to discuss her approach to overcoming binge eating, overeating, and emotional eating. Jenn shares her personal journey from clean eating to binge eating and finally finding balance through intuitive eating. The conversation delves into identifying disordered eating patterns, the principles of intuitive eating, and how it can be adapted for those with chronic illnesses or food intolerances. J...
Jul 23, 2024•53 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, we delve into the concept of neuroplastic pain, a phenomenon where psychological rather than structural causes drive chronic pain. I share my personal experiences and insights into pain reprocessing therapy (PRT), the importance of regulating the nervous system, and the role of mental and emotional health in healing. Learn how symptoms like migraines, fibromyalgia, and IBS can be addressed by retraining the brain and creating neural networks of safety. Discover the pathways to r...
Jul 16, 2024•29 min•Ep. 29
In this episode of the 'Heal with Grace' podcast, I welcome Dr. Heather Finley, a registered dietitian with a doctorate in clinical nutrition, to discuss the intricate connections between gut health, mental health, and chronic illnesses. Dr. Finley shares her personal journey through years of GI issues and how she discovered the benefits of functional nutrition. The conversation covers the impact of stress, lifestyle, and food variety on gut health, and offers insights into overcoming disordered...
Jul 09, 2024•42 min•Ep. 28
The episode emphasizes the non-linear nature of healing, the importance of being present in the process rather than fixated on outcomes, and offers practical tips for moving through stuckness, such as making intentional shifts, reflecting through journaling, and avoiding rash decisions. In this episode, I share a personal journey of struggling with resistance and feeling stuck in various aspects of life, including health and daily activities. I describe how attempts to power through tasks often ...
Jul 02, 2024•29 min•Ep. 27
