I hope you enjoy this rich conversation with my dear friend, Laura Deal. Laura and I talk about how listening to stories can positively impact your emotional health. We also dive into the importance of metaphor in traditional tales and what that means for healing and wholeness. And Laura shares with you ways that personal storytelling can be used to improve emotional health.

Laura is a storyteller, poet, dream reader, and laughter yoga leader. She tells traditional, personal, historical, and original stories to children and adults. She is the 2024 recipient of the J.J. Reneaux Emerging Artist Award. You can hear her stories on Story Story Podcast and the Apple Seed on BYU Radio, as well as her CDs, The Diffendaffer Taffy Cafe and Other Stories and Simple, Clever, and Wise. She's the author of The Newcomer's Guide to the Invisible Realm: A Journey through Dreams, Metaphor, and Imagination, andMarbles: New and Collected Poems.

Dr. Patti talks to Zeynep Biringen about the world-wide used emotional availability scale that she created. Biringen has identified four qualities of parents and two qualities of children related to emotional availability. For parents she looks for sensitivity, structuring, non-intrusiveness, and non-hostility. The two qualities in children that she looks for is child responsiveness and child involvement with parents. These six qualities make up what she describes as emotional availability (EA.)

Zeynep Biringen, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist in Colorado and Professor Emerita at Colorado State University (CSU). She conducted research on adult-child relationships at CSU for over 25 years and has trained literally thousands of professionals (researchers, mental health clinicians, and other practitioners) in the evidence-based EA System.

Inspired by her mentor Robert N. Emde’s conceptualizations of emotional availability and emotions as well as Bowlby/Ainsworth attachment theory, Biringen has spearheaded the understanding of emotional availability (EA) as a rigorous scientific assessment of adult-child relationships, developing and refining the Emotional Availability (EA) System. Encouraged by Robert N. Emde, Biringen began to train professionals in the system well over 30 years ago.

In this episode of The Inner Space Project Podcast, Dr. Patti Ashley introduces a new installment of the show focused on 'Liminal Space'. Being the state of uncertain transition, between the 'where we were' and 'where we're going,' and in the midst of everyones Beginnings, Middles, and Endings, Liminal Space is the perfect addition to Dr. Ashleys podcast structure and discussion of Inner Space.

In this first rendition, Dr. Ashley brings on her Social Media and Podcast Intern, Isabella, who is currently in a state of Liminal Space. A soon-to-be college graduate, Isabella is entering a chapter of intense change and transformation. While oftentimes a scary and stressful phase, Isabella explains her hopeful mindset and attempt to view this particular time in Liminal Space as an exciting one rather than daunting and debilitating. Dr. Ashley touches on her own, recent experience in Liminal Space moving back to Colorado, living in a rental home, and getting her new office (Niwot Therapy Collective) up and running.

The two also reflect on the first four episodes of The Inner Space Project Podcast, and share some of their favorite moments and highlights of Dr. Ashleys first few guests.

In this episode Dr. Patti interviews Ted Wiard, Founder of Golden Willow Retreat Center in Taos, NM. Ted shares his very vulnerable story of many tragic losses within a short period of time and talks about how he now gives back to others who are grieving. Ted emphasizes the importance of feeling the feelings and never rushing people to "get over it."

In this episode Dr. Patti Talks with Ted Wiard, the founder of Golden Willow Grief Retreat Center in Taos, NM. Ted lost his brother, wife, two small children, and his mother-in-law all within a few years of each other. He found himself lost and unable to know how to fully be alive without them. Many years later he bought a property on piece of land in Taos, NM, and from there began his amazing work of healing people in grief. In our discussion we look at how our culture tries to dismiss grief and encourages people to "move on." Oftentimes, missing the crucial experience of mourning those we love to completion. Ted shares insights into how to help people grieve and how to tolerate pain order to become more fully alive.

Rev. Dr. Ted Wiard Ed.D. LPCC, CGC is from Taos, New Mexico where he has had many roles in his life and seems to continuously find new ways to help promote emotional healing. He is a licensed professional clinical counselor, certified grief counselor, ordained minister, and a NM certified educator. He is the co-author of Witnessing Ted: The Journey to Potential through Grief and Loss. Ted is the founder and Director of Golden Willow Counseling (a behavioral health agency), and Golden Willow Retreat (a non-profit emotional healing center focused on grief, loss, trauma, and recovery). He is the program director of the Southwestern College Trauma, Grief, and Renewal Certificate. He also maintains a private practice.

Rev. Dr. Wiard is sought out for public speaking all over the nation to discuss organizational change initiatives, emotional healing from loss, spirituality, and emotional sobriety, as well as issues pertaining to addiction and recovery. He has been seen on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as a guest on the Shania Twain: Why Not? series, as well as other documentaries focused on transformation through loss. The list goes on, so it is obvious that Ted passionately believes in the potential of the phenomenological transformational moment that every person owns the ability to experience and celebrate.

Dr. Wiard’s life experiences have helped guide and motivate his drive to be of professional service with his primary focus on emotional healing and recovery from loss, trauma and addiction. Ted’s losses led to a personal healing journey which included academic pursuits in which he became an ordained minister and then earned his master’s in counseling with an emphasis in Grief and Loss as well as completing the Grief Certificate program from Southwestern College. After many years working in the field of addiction, grief, trauma, and emotional healing, he went back to school to earn his doctorate in Organizational Leadership focusing on leadership behaviors in the midst of change. Ted’s passion and his personal and professional background gives others the opportunity to learn and implement emotional healing into their personal and professional lives.

Dr. Patti Ashley interviews Christie Sears Thompson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, relationship coach, author, speaker, and creator of the transformative The Partnerhood program. Christie Sears Thompson brings extensive expertise to the discussion on the multifaceted nature of relationships and family dynamics in today's society.

This episode delves into the essential components of a healthy relationship and examines the profound impact of attachment styles on children and families. The conversation explores the effects of deeply rooted trauma on relationships and family life, offering strategies for healing and growth. The episode underscores that conflict in relationships, when approached correctly, can be both necessary and beneficial for personal and relational development.

Furthermore, Dr. Ashley and Thompson discuss the paradoxes of parenting, recognizing that while it can be a joyous and rewarding experience, it also presents unique challenges. This episode provides practical advice and thought-provoking discussions, making it essential for those seeking to strengthen their relationships and navigate the complexities of family life.

In this episode, DeAnn Davies guides listeners through the intricate landscape of infant mental health, parenting challenges, and their connection with personal well-being. With a background in psychology and infant mental health, Davies offers insights into the delicate dance between parenting and mental wellness.

Dr. Patti Ashley and Davies discuss the profound impact of early experiences on the developing mind, emphasizing the importance of secure attachment and responsive caregiving in fostering healthy emotional development. Throughout the conversation, Davies delves into topics such as the challenges of modern parenting, the prevalence of parental stress and anxiety, and the transformative power of mindfulness and self-compassion in promoting parental well-being.

In this first episode Dr. Patti Ashley, your host on this inner space journey, shares her personal and vulnerable childhood story of losing her father to a sudden heart attack at age eleven. She speaks to how not talking about the uncomfortable feelings we all encounter at some point in our lives actually makes life darker and prolongs sadness. She also shares her motivation for the Inner Space Project that began with Jeff Bezo’s trip to outer space in 2021. She reflects on the words of William Shatner, one of Bezo’s guests on the journey. Shatner, known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek Series reveals in his new book Boldly Go how outer space was a disappointment. He thought it was going to be a celebration, but instead it felt like a funeral, as he realized how we have neglected to take care of planet earth.

That is what the Inner Space Project is all about. Making this world a better place by shining light into the dark and mysterious places right here on our precious planet. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you again real soon in Inner Space. Please subscribe and share with your friends.

Visit ⁠⁠www.pattiashley.com⁠⁠ for more information, and stay tuned for upcoming episodes.