In this episode of Women In-Depth, Bridgit Dengel Gaspard, LCSW, shares why, despite preparation, resources, knowledge, and support, we sometimes fail to achieve our goals. While Bridgit specifically discusses being stuck in relation to larger life goals, her work also applies to other ways we are stuck in our lives. 

She is the author of “The Final 8th: Enlist Your Inner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals,” and the founder of the New York Voice Dialogue Institute. Bridgit received her MSW from Columbia University and teaches in numerous professional settings, including the Omega Institute. She lives in New York City where she maintains a thriving private practice. You can connect with her through her website or find her on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Inner Selves and the idea of multiple ego states with competing agendas (2:54)
• The Final 8th: failing inside a victory  (3:29) 
• Developing a direct relationship with our inner selves (5:06)
• How our early childhood influences our inner selves (5:35)
• The gifts of our inner selves (6:08)
• Using Voice Dialogue to listen and communicate with our inner selves (6:52)
• How our inner selves to protect us from vulnerability (16:52)
• The importance of processing grief (18:36)
• Approaching our inner selves with compassion and curiosity (19:22)
• Gifts of our hidden selves (23:56)
• The power of the Blameography Exercise (25:03)
• The challenge of the double bind or twisted loyalties (28:48)
• Developing the ability to let go of a goal (30:26)
• Practicing safe success (33:01)

Resources:

Bridgit’s website: http://www.bridgit-dengel-gaspard.com/ 

Bridgit’s book: The Final 8th: Enlist Your Inner Selves to Accomplish Your Goals

Bridgit’s free Voice Dialogue Zoom Shop on the 3rd Thursday of the month: https://www.final8th.com/ 

In this episode of Women In-Depth, Lourdes Viado  & Carmen Schmidt Benedetti continue their podcast series on Complex Trauma and Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs).  Today they discuss where our anxiety comes from and why it matters.

Dr. Lourdes Viado is a psychotherapist for anxious and overwhelmed highly sensitive women in Las Vegas, Nevada.  She is a Myers-Briggs Typology Indicator (MBTI) Certified Practitioner and integrates Jungian psychology, mindfulness, neuroscience, and astrology into her work with clients.  She is also the host of the Women In-Depth Podcast:  Conversations about the Inner Lives of Women, which has been downloaded over 350,000x in 96 countries.

Carmen Schmidt Benedetti is a psychotherapist for highly sensitive womxn in Sonoma County, California. She helps them to heal layers of unrecognized childhood trauma and create calm, balance and stability in their life. As a Certified EMDR therapist, Carmen guides adults in reframing their past from an empowered perspective, coming to believe they are ‘good enough’ and their needs and feelings matter

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• The relationship between anxiety and trauma and the HSP trait (1:45)
• The importance of understanding the different types of anxiety and the brain in order to reduce anxiety (4:38)
• Cortex-based anxiety (5:49)
• Some times for reducing cortex-cased anxiety (9:23)
• Amygdala-based anxiety (10:49)
• Differences between amygdala-based and cortex-based anxiety (20:56)
• Some tips for reducing amygdala-based anxiety (25:52)
• Treating the root of anxiety versus treating the symptoms of anxiety (30:04)
• How the HSP trait impacts understanding and healing from anxiety and trauma (33:14)

Resources:

Carmen’s website: https://carmenschmidtmft.com/ 

“Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic, and Worry” is available on Amazon or your favorite independent bookseller 

Related Episodes:

https://lourdesviado.com/124-complex-trauma-and-the-highly-sensitive-person/ 

https://lourdesviado.com/127-complex-trauma-in-the-highly-sensitive-person/ 

https://lourdesviado.com/132-tools-for-the-highly-sensitive-person/