What if your darkest childhood memories could be the key to unlocking your greatest potential? Join us as we sit down with Sandra Stein, MBACP registered humanistic gestalt integrative therapist, who takes us on an emotional journey from her tumultuous beginnings in Brazil to becoming a beacon of hope in the UK. Sandra candidly shares her early experiences with neglect, abuse, and the foster care system, revealing how these adversities shaped her passion for helping others. Her story is a testament to the power of therapy, even in the face of deep-rooted skepticism and cultural stigmas.

In this heartfelt episode, Sandra discuss how unstable childhood environments can leave lasting wounds, impacting self-esteem, and mental health well into adulthood. We hear the significant role of school experiences and how they can influence identity formation. We explore the serious consequences of low self-worth, including perfectionism, body dysmorphia, and conditions like addiction and eating disorders. The discussion extends to the modern pressures of social media on teenagers, revealing how these challenges often resurface in adulthood through codependency and trauma bonding.

We also examine the various coping mechanisms people develop in response to childhood trauma, such as the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. Sandra provides invaluable insights into healing from inter-generational trauma and the importance of self-regulation, underscoring the need for self-acceptance and kindness. The episode concludes with advice on how to nurture self-belief and find supportive communities to foster a more compassionate future for the next generation..