Show Notes:

In this episode of Healing Doesn’t Have To Be Heavy, host Angie Berrett is joined by survivor, author, and nonprofit founder Sophia Moreno for an honest and compassionate conversation about healing from complex trauma and finding your way forward.

Sophia shares her lived experience with childhood sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial abuse, along with the impact of victim blaming and narcissistic family dynamics. She reflects on the tools and support that helped her navigate her healing journey, including self education, journaling, and meaningful community connection, which ultimately led her to found Sophia’s Hope for a Safer Tomorrow, a survivor led nonprofit supporting others on similar paths.

Angie and Sophia talk openly about narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, trauma bonds, and the lasting effects of emotional and financial control. They also explore the topic of forgiveness in a thoughtful, nuanced way, focusing on personal release, self choice, and allowing each survivor to define what healing looks like for them.

Sophia also shares how writing became an important part of her process, resulting in two books that capture her story and offer support to others navigating trauma recovery. She speaks to the value of survivor led support groups, the role of community in reducing isolation, and the importance of honoring different healing approaches.

This conversation offers connection, understanding, and encouragement for anyone who has felt alone in their healing. It reflects the heart of the podcast and the reminder that healing does not have to be heavy, and that moments of lightness and hope can exist alongside the work.

Bio:

Sophia is a dedicated local author and the founder of Sophia’s Hope for a Safer Tomorrow, Inc. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, which encompassed verbal, emotional, and financial abuse, she understands the profound impact of these experiences. After enduring years of emotional pain, Sophia made the courageous choice to “pay it forward” by channeling her struggles into a source of hope and healing. This powerful transformation inspired her to write impactful books and found her nonprofit organization. Her mission is clear: to empower individuals by showing them they are not alone in their battle against abuse and to provide essential resources for emotional recovery.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sophias hope for a safer tomorrow

Website: Sophia's Hope for a Safer Tomorrow | Domestic Violence

Connect with me:

Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1

🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

Show Notes:

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and the Epstein files. Please listen with care and take breaks as needed.

In this deeply personal solo episode of Healing Doesn’t Have to Be Heavy, Angie Berrett gently holds space for survivors navigating an especially triggering moment in the collective conversation around child sexual abuse and the release of the Epstein files. Speaking as a registered nurse, trauma-informed coach, and survivor of child sex trafficking, Angie shares openly from her own experience while offering compassion, understanding, and support to those who may be feeling overwhelmed right now.

Angie reminds listeners that being triggered does not mean you are failing at healing. In fact, it often means your nervous system is responding exactly as it was designed to. She explains, in a grounded and accessible way, how trauma lives in the body and why emotions like anger, shame, fear, disgust, and numbness can surface during times when past harm is echoed in the news and public discourse.

Throughout the episode, Angie offers gentle tools to help listeners feel safer in their bodies. She shares a simple, play-based movement practice to release pent-up anger and emotional energy, along with grounding techniques that support coming back into the present moment. Sensory tools, touch, and self-compassion are woven throughout as reminders that regulation does not have to be forceful or perfect.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, to listen to your body, and to give yourself permission to not be okay. Whether you are a survivor of child sexual abuse, someone with a trauma history, or simply feeling affected by the weight of the Epstein files and related news, Angie offers reassurance that your responses are valid, your survival skills make sense, and you are not alone.

Connect with me:

Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1

🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed

Show Notes:

In this episode, Angie sits down with astrologer, teacher, and former psychotherapist Lori Barnes to explore an unexpected but deeply insightful lens for healing: psychological astrology.

Lori shares her powerful story of being adopted, growing up with unrecognized emotional disturbances, and eventually discovering that astrology helped her understand herself in ways traditional therapy never fully could. Lori blends astrology and psychology to help people understand the complex layers of who they are — beneath conditioning, expectations, and early-life experiences.

Together, Angie and Lori explore:

💫 What “real” astrology actually is
💫 How astrology can reveal parts of the self that trauma may have fragmented or hidden
💫 Lori’s adoption journey
💫 Why astrology and psychology work beautifully together
💫 The role of body-based awareness in trauma healing
💫 How understanding your chart can bring compassion and clarity
💫 The freedom that comes from finally understanding who you really are

Lori also shares her personal story of healing relationships with her adoptive family once she finally understood her own wiring, and how astrology helped her do it.

Bio:

Lori Barnes is a professional astrologer, licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), and marketing strategist with over 35 years of experience across industries. Based between Illinois and Rome, Italy, she brings a unique global perspective to her work, blending modern and traditional astrology with psychology, marketing, and AstroMapping techniques such as AstroCartoGraphy and Local Space. Lori’s expertise helps individuals and entrepreneurs align timing, place, and strategy to achieve their goals. Her academic background includes a BA in Business, an MA in Psychology, an MA in Marketing, and a Diploma in Astrology. She serves as Marketing Director for Kepler College and the Organization for Professional Astrology (OPA), and teaches classes on marketing, psychology, astrology, and AstroCartoGraphy.

To connect with our guest, click on the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loribarnesastrology

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribarnesprofile/

Website: https://www.loribarnesastrology.com/

🎁Grab your Free Gift: https://www.loribarnesastrology.com/astropsychologyplanets

Connect with me:

Website: https://angieberrettmovement.com/

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/angieberrettmovement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angie.berrett/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@angieberrettmovement

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angieberrettmovement/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@angieberrettmovement?_t=8qP9poCboWA&_r=1

🎁Grab your Free 5 Minute Playful Move for Instant Calm: https://angieberrettmovement.ac-page.com/free-short-movement-sequence-for-when-you-are-overwhelmed