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Hey Tabi!
Welcome to "Hey Tabi!" the podcast where we talk about the hard things out loud, with our actual lips. We'll cover all kinds of topics across the mental health spectrum, including how it intersects with the Christian faith. Nothing is off limits here & we are not "take-two-verses-and-call-me-in-the-morning."
I'm Tabitha Westbrook & I'm a licensed trauma therapist (but I'm not your trauma therapist). I'm an expert in domestic abuse & coercive control & how complex trauma impacts our health & well-being. Our focus here is knowledge & healing - trauma doesn't have to eat your lunch forever. There is hope! Now, let's get going!
How to connect:
https://www.tabithawestbrook.com/
Therapy Website: (We are able to see clients in NC & TX)
https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/
Instagram:
@tabithathecounselor
@_tjatp
Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy & is for informational purposes only. If you need therapy I encourage you to find an awesome therapist licensed where you are that can help you out!!
Episodes
66 episodes
It Wasn’t “God.” It was Spiritual Abuse.
If you’ve been hurt by the church, struggled to trust God again, or felt confused about what’s true… you are not alone.In this powerful conversation, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Rachel Clinton Chen from The Allende...
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Understanding Coercive Control and How to Break Free
Most people think abuse means being hit. But what if some of the most damaging abuse leaves no visible bruises at all?In this deep-dive episode, licensed trauma therapist and domestic abuse expert Tabitha Westbrook breaks down what coer...
Does God Really Hate Divorce? What the Bible and Peer-Reviewed Research Actually Say
What if everything the church taught you about divorce was based on misquoted research and a mistranslation? In this episode, Tabitha Westbrook sits down with the one and only Gretchen Baskerville — Christian author, speaker, and founder of Lif...
Real Affirmations for Trauma Healing | Not the Toxic Positivity Kind
Positive affirmations get a bad rap, and honestly, some of them deserve it. But in this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook walks you through affirmations that are actually rooted in truth and designed to help traum...
The Hard Truth About Suffering - What Kids and Adults Really Need to Know
What does suffering really mean, and what do kids and adults actually need to hear about it?In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Beth Broom, licensed professional counsel...
Nice Girls End Up in Trunks: The Difference Between Niceness and Kindness
Have you been so conditioned to be sweet, small, and unproblematic that you've lost your voice, or worse, put yourself in danger? In this episode, we're talking about one of the most important distinctions I know: niceness is not the same as...
How Writing and Sharing Your Trauma Can Break the Silence and Set You Free
What if the thing you've been afraid to say out loud is exactly what could heal you?In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with story work coach Jen Vrooman — certified in Narrative Focused Tra...
Why Confession Isn't Enough: Real Recovery from Sex Addiction
Confession feels like the goal—but what if it's actually the starting point? In this episode, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Nick Stumbo, Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries, to talk about what genuine re...
The Civil War of Desire: Healing Trauma, Sexuality, and Faith
What if your desire isn’t something to suppress… but something to understand?In this episode of Hey Tabi, I’m joined by therapist, researcher, and author Jay Stringer to explore what he calls the “civil war of desire.”...
After Spiritual Abuse, This is How to Heal
What role does storytelling play in trauma recovery? And what happens when the trauma occurs inside the church?In this episode of Hey Tabi, I sit down with Dr. Ann Maree Goudzwaard—biblical counselor, domestic abuse advocate, and founde...
Adam Young on The Parts of Your Story You’re Afraid to Name
There are parts of your story you’ve learned not to talk about—because naming them feels disloyal, shameful, or dangerous. But avoiding those chapters may be exactly what’s keeping you stuck.In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist ...
From Dysregulation to Calm: A Practical Toolkit
We slow down and practice simple tools to move from survival to safety, using consent-based exercises, micro-practices, and imagery to regulate the nervous system. We talk about building a 911 card, explore glimmers, and use music and compassio...
The Hidden Damage of Emotional Suppression and How to Heal
What happens when emotions are ignored, suppressed, or labeled as “wrong”? For many trauma survivors—especially those raised in Christian spaces—emotional suppression doesn’t lead to peace or holiness. It leads to anxiety, shame, dis...
When the Church Gets It Right: How Abuse Survivors Actually Heal
What does it actually look like when the Church gets it right for survivors of abuse?In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and coercive control expert Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dawn Jones,...
All Abuse is Physical Abuse - Neuroscience Proof and Tips to Help Survivors Heal
All abuse is physical abuse—even when there are no visible bruises.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and domestic abuse expert Tabitha Westbrook explains the neuroscience behind coercive control and w...
Restoried Healing For Trauma Survivors with Melissa Affolter
What happens when trauma silences your story, and what does it take to speak it aloud again?In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with biblical counselor that does not suck Me...
When Churches Make Abuse Worse (And How They Can Change) with Matt Chandler
What happens when a pastor admits, “We made it worse”?In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with pastor Matt Chandler for an honest conversation about how uninformed church systems have harme...
The Ultimate Truth About Emotional Abuse in Christian Marriage (Every Survivor Needs to Hear This)
Is emotional abuse being hidden behind Christian language like submission and forgiveness?In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with bestselling author Leslie Vernick...
Resisting Without Becoming The Oppressor
When we’ve lived through abuse, or we spend our lives helping others heal from it, it’s shockingly easy to accidentally pick up the same tools, patterns, and power dynamics we’re trying to dismantle. In this deeply honest conversation,...
From Betrayal to True Intimacy: How Real Healing Happens for Both After Sexual Addiction & Trauma
If you’ve ever wondered whether a relationship can truly heal after sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, or years of secrecy, this episode is for you.In this deeply honest conversation, Tabitha sits down with Matthew and Joanna R...
Is Biblical Counseling That Doesn’t Suck Even Possible? What Trauma Survivors Need to Know
What is good biblical counseling, really? And why is it so hard to find, especially if you’re a trauma survivor who's already been harmed by “just pray more” advice, sin-sniffing, or spiritual bypassing?In this week’s episode of...
Why Hope Isn't An Outcome, It's an Anchor
What if everything you’ve been taught about hope is backwards? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Jenny Bayless of Fuller Seminary to talk about why hope isn’t an o...
Story > Systems: Adam Westlake on Sanctification, Shame, and Hope
What if biblical counseling actually led to healing instead of shame? 👀 In this candid convo, worship leader–turned–biblical counselor Adam Westlake (The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane) joins Tabitha to unpack why much “sin-detect...
Parenting Spicy Kids - How to Stay Calm When You're Told To "F Off"
Parenting a “spicy” teen? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Greg Wilson, LPC-S and author of When Home Hurts, to talk about raising adolescents through trauma,...
Why Mindfulness Practice Matters for Trauma Healing
Have you ever tried mindfulness and thought, “This just isn’t working—I can’t calm down”? You’re not broken. Your body is simply doing what it was designed to do: keep you safe.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabi...