In this Reflections with Jess episode, I’m sitting down to talk about a question I know so many of us carry:

“Why do I feel like I’m doing all the right things for healing, but I still keep getting pulled back into old patterns?”

Together, we explore:

• Why healing isn’t linear (and what that actually looks like in daily life)
• How trauma imprints on the nervous system and body, not just the mind
• What real progress looks like (hint: it’s often the small shifts)
• Why falling back doesn’t mean starting over
• The power of self-compassion on the hard days

Healing is slow, gentle work — but if you’ve ever asked yourself this question, it means you care about your healing, and that matters.

💭 Reflection for the week: What is one small shift you’ve noticed in yourself over the past year?

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeaftertraumapodcast

www.jessicavanrose.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto and a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience in gender-based violence prevention and survivor advocacy. Tracy shares how Callisto’s encrypted technology is creating a groundbreaking pathway for survivors to connect, reclaim their power, and pursue justice on their own terms.

We explore:

• How Callisto uses encryption to safely connect survivors of serial perpetrators
• Why knowing “you’re not alone” can be life-changing for healing and justice
• The ripple effects of the MeToo movement and how it intersects with Callisto’s mission
• What enthusiastic consent really means and why coercion is often overlooked
• The cultural and systemic shifts needed to end serial perpetration
• The role of boundaries, resilience, and survivor agency in trauma recovery

Tracy’s wisdom bridges advocacy, technology, and healing, reminding us that justice begins with empowerment and survivor choice.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The power of encrypted technology for survivors

07:00 – A story of healing through connection

11:20 – Me Too, media, and the need for safer systems

16:40 – Redefining sexual assault and coercion

25:00 – Building Callisto with survivor-centered ethics

33:00 – Boundaries, resilience, and life after trauma

📌 Resources & Links

• Learn more about Callisto: projectcallisto.org
• Follow Callisto on Instagram & LinkedIn
• Watch Jess Michaels’ TED Talk (referenced in this episode)

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejessvanrose

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeaftertraumapodcast

www.jessicavanrose.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I guide you through a simple, trauma-informed practice you can return to anytime you feel overwhelmed or activated. Together, we’ll walk step-by-step through calming the nervous system, from awareness and grounding to visualization and self-compassion. This is an episode to save and come back to whenever you need calm.

In this episode, you’ll experience:

• A gentle breathing exercise to regulate your system
• Grounding practices using your senses
• A visualization to release tension and invite safety
• Compassionate reminders to support yourself in the moment

Chapters:

00:00 – It’s just us, let’s talk

02:10 – Awareness: noticing without judgment

05:30 – Anchoring in safety

08:15 – Breathwork to regulate

12:20 – Grounding through the senses

16:00 – Visualization for calm

20:00 – Closing with self-compassion

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejessvanrose

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeaftertraumapodcast

www.jessicavanrose.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.