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Dr. Louise Stanger, a licensed clinical social worker with more than 35 years of experience, author, and global parenting expert, joins Abdullah Boulad for a deeply human conversation on grief, resilience, family patterns, and the moments that quietly shape our lives.

She reflects on losing a child to SIDS, the sudden death of her spouse, and the painful silence surrounding her father’s passing. Louise speaks about unanswered questions, generational wounds, and how the body often carries what the mind is not yet ready to hold.

This episode offers perspective for anyone navigating loss, supporting someone through grief, or trying to understand how our histories influence the way we love, parent, and build relationships.

About Dr Louise
Dr Louise Stanger is a respected clinician, interventionist, educator, and author who has supported families through addiction, trauma, and major life transitions. Her approach blends research, empathy, and practical guidance to help people strengthen relationships, rebuild trust, and create meaningful change with compassion.

00:00:00 – Introducing Dr Louise Stanger
00:01:47 – A Life’s Mission Born From Grief
00:02:11 – Generational Trauma and Family History
00:02:33 – Losing a Child to SIDS
00:03:44 – Sudden Loss of a Spouse
00:06:13 – Her Father’s Suicide and Childhood Silence
00:07:33 – Education, Mentors, and Becoming a Social Worker
00:09:43 – Learning the Truth About Her Father
00:12:01 – First Teaching Job and Early Encouragement
00:12:33 – Grief, Secrecy, and Maternal Support
00:14:40 – Teenage Turmoil and Emotional Survival
00:16:41 – The Power of Safe Havens and Mentors
00:17:40 – What Makes a Safe Space Safe?
00:21:33 – How Grief Shaped Her Parenting and Marriage
00:25:29 – Coping Through Friendship and Creativity
00:30:31 – Learning to Be Present Again
00:31:32 – How She Defines Grief Today
00:34:09 – From Pain to Resilience and Choice
00:41:40 – Debunking Myths About Grief
00:44:02 – Interventions, Family Portraits, and New Beginnings
00:47:04 – Portraiture, Mapping, and Systemic Insight
00:51:44 – Family Interventions and Long-Term Change
00:55:25 – What “Invitation to Change” Really Means
01:02:35 – Reflections at 79: Staying Present
01:14:40 – Final Wisdom: Keep Falling Up

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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Paul Denniston, founder of Grief Yoga, joins Abdullah Boulad for a conversation that moves through grief, movement, identity, and the ways the body holds what the mind cannot always process.

Paul reflects on how his path began in places of anxiety, emotional suppression, and coping mechanisms that numbed rather than healed. He speaks openly about his childhood, his relationship with his sister, and the anticipatory grief that shaped so much of his inner world. From hitting rock bottom to entering recovery, he shares the moments and the people, who helped him find steadiness again.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about yoga, connection, healing, and the body’s role in emotional health.

About Paul:
Paul Denniston is the founder of Grief Yoga, a therapeutic movement method that helps people express and process emotional pain through the body. With experience in yoga, breathwork, dance, and movement therapy, he has trained thousands of mental health professionals, hospice workers, and grief counselors worldwide.

00:00:00 – Discovering Yoga Through Grief and Anxiety
00:01:03 – Introduction to Paul Denniston
00:02:06 – Childhood, Religion, and Emotional Suppression
00:03:32 – Coping Mechanisms: Food, Substances, and Anxiety
00:04:44 – Yoga as a Gateway for Emotional Release
00:07:05 – Addiction and Rock Bottom
00:10:46 – Relationship with Sister and Anticipatory Grief
00:15:27 – The Wake-Up Call and Beginning Recovery
00:17:03 – Support Systems and Somatic Practice
00:21:01 – First Yoga Class and Impact of Kindness
00:25:04 – From Fitness to Deep Connection in Yoga
00:28:34 – Gender, Misconceptions, and Spiritual Identity
00:31:52 – Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit
00:36:19 – Western vs. Eastern Yoga Approaches
00:41:37 – Redefining Grief as Unwanted Change
00:45:15 – The Grief Yoga Cycle of Transformation
00:48:41 – Where Trauma Lives in the Body
00:53:42 – Grief Brain and Emotional Fog
01:02:48 – Movement, Breath, and Voice Techniques
01:14:22 – Guided Laughter Yoga Practice
01:20:09 – Balance, Joy, and Closing Reflections

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

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Bea Palya, singer, songwriter, and vocal artist, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for a heartfelt conversation about healing, creativity, and the power of the human voice.

Speaking with honesty and clarity, Bea reflects on the profound shifts that followed her divorce and the pain that took her to a very low point. She shares how music became the light she held onto, and how writing songs and using her voice helped her move through grief, rebuild her inner world, and reconnect with herself. Her story is a reminder that the darkest moments can become the ground where something new and meaningful begins to grow.

🔗 Tune in for a gentle and deeply authentic exploration of the voice as a healing tool, the resilience that emerges in difficult times, and the unexpected ways creativity can guide us back to balance.

About Bea:
Bea Palya is a Hungarian singer and vocal artist known for her emotionally rich sound and her ability to weave personal storytelling with profound musical expression. Through decades of performance, teaching, and artistic exploration, she has developed a unique approach to voice work that blends music, embodiment, and emotional honesty. Her work continues to inspire people to use their own voice as a pathway to healing, freedom, and inner connection.

00:00:00 – Welcome and Introduction to Bea Palya
00:01:46 – Musical Childhood and Folk Rituals
00:02:30 – First Breakup and Therapeutic Singing
00:05:11 – Songwriting and Emotional Expression
00:06:22 – Creating the “Sing Yourself to Freedom” Method
00:07:34 – From Performer to Teacher
00:08:43 – Singing in Community and Connection
00:09:17 – Emotional Resonance of Folk Songs
00:10:53 – Music’s Physical Impact
00:11:51 – Divorce, Rebirth, and Writing Anthems
00:15:24 – Covid, Growth, and Online Teaching
00:17:34 – Fear of Success and Expanding Reach
00:19:38 – Roots, Loneliness, and Ambition
00:23:50 – The 4 Pillars of Her Voice Method
00:29:55 – Breaking Perfectionism Through Singing
00:36:21 – Voice, Sexuality, and Energy Work
00:55:56 – Using Voice in Trauma Recovery
01:27:47 – Live Song Performance and Final Reflection

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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Cheryl Donaldson, MA, LMFT, LPC, Founder of Helping Families Flourish, LLC, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for an honest and practical conversation about emotional growth, family dynamics, and the inner world of children and adolescents.

Drawing from her own early struggles, academic challenges, and family experiences, Cheryl reflects on the moments that shaped her understanding of resilience and motivation. She shares how the coping mechanisms she developed as a young person now guide the way she supports parents, teens, and families in her clinical work.

🔗 Tune in for a wise, supportive, and deeply human exploration of what it means to grow, parent, and find balance in an ever-changing world.

About Cheryl:
Cheryl is a seasoned mental health clinician with over 20 years of experience supporting families, parents, and teenagers through modern challenges.
She holds a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College and began her career serving at the American International School in Vienna. Today, her focus is on empowering families and adolescents with guidance that fosters confidence, resilience, and lasting well-being.

00:00:00 – Early Struggles and Motivation
00:03:27 – Academic Challenges and Family Dynamics
00:06:00 – Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Growth
00:10:37 – Parenting, Learning Styles, and Strengths
00:14:48 – Emotional Intelligence and Adolescent Support
00:18:45 – Cheryl’s Clinical Practice and Common Issues
00:21:15 – Helping Children Manage Anxiety and Friendship
00:24:57 – Social Struggles, Bullying, and Resilience
00:28:28 – Family Moves and Emotional Adaptation
00:33:40 – Career, Identity, and Purpose Abroad
00:42:08 – Building Connection and Navigating EXPAT Life
00:47:17 – Family Bonds, Friendship, and Finding Home
00:51:44 – Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS)
00:53:39 – Soul Work, Spirituality, and Self-Compassion
00:58:41 – Integrating Soul into Clinical Practice
01:04:44 – Leadership, IFS Principles, and Organizational Culture
01:10:54 – Communication, Curiosity, and Workplace Wellness
01:20:01 – Balance Practices and Final Wisdom

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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Sat Dharam Kaur, ND, joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance for a deeply human conversation about healing, purpose, and spiritual growth.

From her early family challenges to her transformative meeting with Dr. Gabor Maté, Sat Dharam shares how her personal journey gave rise to Beyond Addiction and Compassionate Inquiry, both program rooted in compassion, awareness, and community. She reflects on the ways trauma shapes our lives, and how practices like Kundalini Yoga and naturopathy can help restore balance to the nervous system and reconnect us with our true selves.

🔗 Tune in for a heartfelt exchange on resilience, purpose, and the path toward inner balance.

About Sat: Sat Dharam Kaur is a renowned Naturopathic Doctor, Kundalini Yoga teacher, and author who has dedicated her life to helping others heal and transform. A long-time student of Yogi Bhajan since 1976, she has trained countless teachers and practitioners through her programs. She is also the visionary creator of Beyond Addiction and The Healthy Breast Program, two holistic approaches that integrate yoga, meditation, and lifestyle medicine to support emotional resilience and vibrant wellbeing.

00:00:00 – Motivation and Early Influences
00:01:00 – Meeting Gabor Maté and Launching Beyond Addiction
00:02:10 – Personal Background and Early Family Challenges
00:03:40 – Mother’s Trauma, Addiction, and Family Dynamics
00:05:00 – Becoming a Helper and Finding Purpose
00:06:12 – Creativity, Learning, and Academic Struggles
00:08:22 – Coping Mechanisms and Emotional Support
00:11:17 – Reading, Philosophy, and Intellectual Curiosity
00:12:29 – Discovering Kundalini Yoga and Naturopathy
00:14:25 – First Spiritual Experience and Awakening
00:16:46 – Yoga as a Tool for Emotional Healing
00:17:53 – The History and Philosophy of Kundalini Yoga
00:22:20 – Demonstration and Benefits of Yogic Movement
00:27:39 – Regulating the Nervous System through Yoga
00:30:32 – Trauma, Adaptability, and the Body
00:31:02 – Sikhism, the Turban, and Spiritual Identity
00:33:07 – Sikh Philosophy and Living in Harmony
00:43:53 – Nature, Permaculture, and Embodied Living
00:48:31 – Creating Compassionate Inquiry with Gabor Maté
00:53:26 – Therapist Presence and the Importance of Self-Work in Healing
01:04:53 – Somatic Practices and Building Supportive Communities
01:15:18 – Purpose, Passion, and the Evolution of Consciousness

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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Dr. Brian Pennie joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance to share an inspiring story of recovery, awareness, and transformation.

After more than fifteen years of heroin addiction, Brian reached a point of complete collapse, a moment that marked the beginning of his awakening. In this conversation, he opens up about his childhood trauma, the cycle of addiction, and the neuroscience of change.

Together, they explore the connection between the brain, body, and behavior, touching on the biology of trauma, the power of acceptance, and the science of happiness, resilience, and human connection.

🔗 Tune in for a powerful reminder that even in our darkest moments, transformation is possible.

About Dr Pennie: Brian is a neuroscientist and resilience specialist, and also works as an advisor and business coach to some of Ireland’s leading CEOs. Through a combination of his own inspiring story alongside the application of proven tools and techniques, he is determined to identify and unleash the hidden potential in others.

00:00:00 – Introduction & Meet Dr Brian Pennie
00:02:25 – Motivation and Lightbulb Moment
00:03:31 – Childhood Trauma and Family Environment
00:06:55 – Progression into Addiction
00:09:41 – Heroin Use and Functionality
00:12:04 – Collapse and Tipping Point
00:13:03 – Detox and Surrender
00:16:10 – Neuroscience of Seizures
00:19:35 – Rock Bottom and Spiritual Shift
00:22:55 – Minor Relapse and Redefining Recovery
00:26:44 – Language, Self-Talk, and Recovery
00:29:12 – Addiction, Motivation, and Visibility
00:31:55 – Substance Use and Brain Development
00:34:37 – Hope and Brain Rewiring
00:36:08 – Support Systems and Ireland’s Addiction Services
00:38:19 – Homelessness and Addiction Cycle
00:39:13 – Societal Change and Hope
00:40:54 – Awareness as Catalyst for Change
00:43:26 – Values-Based Living
00:45:29 – Neuroscience of Happiness
00:48:09 – Balance, Pleasure, and Moderation
00:50:06 – Social Homeostasis and Connection
00:52:28 – Listening to the Body and Inner Voice
00:55:58 – Acceptance as a “Biohack”
00:57:50 – Observer Mindset and Detachment
01:00:52 – Therapies & Biology of Trauma
01:11:34 – Safety, Connection, and Isolation
01:14:44 – Brain Health Fundamentals
01:24:11 – Exercise, Sport, and Longevity
01:37:01 – Language, Self-Talk, and Affirmations
01:50:27 – Media, Social Media, and Children’s Brains
02:00:38 – Daily Balance Practices
02:04:01 – Final Advice: Action Over Knowledge

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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Licia Sky, Co-Founder and Global Ambassador of the Trauma Research Foundation which she leads alongside her husband, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk; joins Abdullah Boulad on Living a Life in Balance to explore how healing begins when we reconnect with the body and learn to hold both joy and grief with compassion.

Licia shares moments from her own journey, including a near-death experience that transformed her understanding of life, love, and presence. She reflects on the power of embodied awareness, how the body remembers what the mind forgets, and why slowing down is essential to finding balance.

Together, they discuss the future of psychedelic therapy, the importance of integration and guidance, and how music, movement, and community can help us return to ourselves.

🔗 Tune in for a deeply human conversation about embodiment, trauma, and the art of coming back to balance.

About Licia:
A somatic educator, artist, and bodyworker, she guides individuals and trains professionals in using movement, voice, mindfulness, and creative expression as tools for healing and connection. With over 40 years of experience as an artist, musician, and therapist, her approach weaves together polyvagal theory, parts work, and the latest research on trauma and the body.

00:00:00 – Early Trauma and Spiritual Experience
00:02:06 – Journey into Trauma Work and Meeting Bessel van der Kolk
00:04:24 – Intuition and Listening in Healing
00:05:58 – Childhood Mysticism
00:07:34 – Multicultural Upbringing and Identity
00:12:03 – Generational Trauma and Family History
00:14:16 – Spiritual Experience at Age 12
00:22:34 – Integration and Search for Understanding
00:26:16 – Improvisation, Self-Learning, and Creativity
00:27:34 – Bodywork, Flashbacks, and Validation
00:30:40 – Working with Challenging Clients
00:33:48 – Lessons in Humility and Human Connection
00:35:04 – Intuitive Bodywork and Therapeutic Boundaries
00:36:47 – Meeting Bessel van der Kolk and Relationship
00:43:28 – Role at the Trauma Research Foundation
00:46:50 – Psychedelics and Ketamine Therapy
00:53:37 – Importance of Integration and Individualised Care
00:58:16 – Cultural Differences in Mental Health
01:05:05 – Singing, Vulnerability, and Healing

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

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In this episode of Living a Life in Balance, Abdullah Boulad sits with Emi Lizuka, Mindfulness and Somatic Experiencing Therapist at The Balance, to explore how awareness, compassion, and safety shape the way we heal.

Emi shares her personal journey of overcoming narcissistic abuse and single motherhood, and how those experiences led her to teach mindfulness and trauma-informed practices. She explains how self-compassion, co-regulation, and body awareness can transform the nervous system and rebuild a sense of connection to ourselves and to those around us.

Together, they discuss what safety truly means, how empathy works in the brain, and why being authentic with ourselves is the foundation of emotional healing.

🔗 Tune in for a heartfelt conversation on trauma, mindfulness, and the gentle power of presence.

About Emi:
Emi is an experienced mindfulness and somatic therapist. Her work integrates neuroscience, compassionate inquiry, and trauma-informed care to help individuals reconnect with their bodies, cultivate self-compassion, and restore balance through awareness and understanding.

For further mental health information and support, visit The Balance RehabClinic website: https://balancerehabclinic.com/

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You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...

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