In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Ela Szilvassy for a grounded and compassionate conversation about safety, embodiment, emotional healing, and reconnecting with the body after trauma, disconnection, or chronic self-abandonment.

Together, Sarah and Ela explore how many people learn to stay small, overgive, or constantly “read the room” in order to feel safe — and how those patterns often begin as intelligent survival responses rather than personal failures.

Ela shares her own healing journey and explains how creating safety within the nervous system allows the body to reconnect with authenticity, emotional honesty, self-worth, and deeper self-awareness.

This conversation also introduces Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and explores why healing is not about forcing change, but about creating enough safety for transformation to naturally emerge.

Topics explored include:

• safety as the foundation of healing • embodiment and reconnecting with the body • emotional suppression and codependency • “reading the room” as a survival strategy • EFT and emotional regulation • nervous system safety and trauma healing • reconnecting with authenticity and self-worth • the difference between insight and embodiment

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Healing is not about becoming someone different. It is about creating enough safety to reconnect with who you already are.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: Learning Your Body’s Yes and No Ela shares a simple but powerful practice for reconnecting with your body’s signals and inner knowing.

Think of something that feels deeply supportive or exciting to you, like resting on a beach in Greece for two weeks. Pause and notice what happens in your body.

Do you feel: • warmth • expansion • ease • openness

Then think of something that feels clearly wrong, draining, or misaligned for you. Notice how your body responds differently.

You can practice this gently throughout the day with simple questions:

• Would I like to go for a walk? • Would I enjoy an apple right now? • Does this choice feel aligned for me?

Over time, this practice helps strengthen self-awareness, embodiment, and trust in your internal signals.

🧠 Connect with Ela Szilvassy Website: https://ellaszilvassy.com

Instagram: @withinwithela https://www.instagram.com/withinwithela

Free Telegram Community for Women Entrepreneurs: https://ela-szilvassy.mykajabi.com/pl/2148689319

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with licensed psychotherapist Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver for a hopeful and empowering conversation about neuroplasticity, emotional resilience, and the idea that we actively participate in shaping our future wiring.

After more than three decades working in community mental health, Beatriz began asking an important question:

What if emotional resilience could be taught before people reached a breaking point?

That question became the foundation of her work in prevention-based mental health and the Triumph Steps framework, which focuses on emotional regulation, identity reconstruction, and the brain’s ability to adapt and change over time.

Together, Sarah and Beatriz explore how repeated thoughts shape the nervous system, why emotional regulation is a trainable skill, and how small daily practices can begin rewiring identity, behavior, and emotional patterns.

Topics explored include:

• neuroplasticity in everyday life • emotional regulation as a learned skill • prevention-based mental health • fear, stress, and nervous system responses • identity reconstruction after adversity • visualization and future self wiring • repeated thoughts and neural pathways • cultivating internal peace and resilience

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Your brain is not fixed. Your patterns are not permanent. And healing begins when we recognize that we are active participants in who we are becoming.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation: The GLAD Practice For the next seven nights, spend a few minutes reflecting on four simple prompts:

G — Granted What is something you usually take for granted that you can appreciate today?

L — Learned What did you learn today, even in a small way?

A — Achieved What did you accomplish today?

D — Delighted What brought you even a brief moment of delight?

This simple practice helps rewire the brain toward resilience, gratitude, and awareness of resources rather than fear and threat.

🧠 Connect with Beatriz Martinez-Peñalver https://www.triumphsteps.com https://www.healthyconnectionscmhc.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beatrizmartinez-penalver

Instagram: @TriumphSteps_coaching

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

YouTube: @triumphsteps

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with psychologist Dr. Gloria K. Vanderhorst for a thoughtful conversation exploring emotional healing, Internal Family Systems, Emotion Focused Therapy, and the lifelong process of reconnecting with parts of ourselves that may have been suppressed or disconnected over time.

Drawing from nearly five decades of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, Dr. Vanderhorst shares insights into emotional development, childhood conditioning, emotional intelligence, and the ways early experiences shape identity, relationships, and emotional regulation later in life.

Together, Sarah and Gloria explore what happens when people lose access to important feeling states, why emotional awareness matters, and how reflection, compassion, and curiosity can help people reconnect with themselves in healthier and more authentic ways.

Topics explored include:

• Emotion Focused Therapy in everyday language • Internal Family Systems and “parts” work • emotional suppression and disconnection • childhood experiences and adult relationships • raising emotionally intelligent boys • reclaiming lost feeling states • self-reflection as a catalyst for healing • emotional awareness and personal growth

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Emotional awareness is not weakness. It is part of being fully human. And healing often begins by reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we learned to silence.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Spend 10 to 15 minutes each day sharing experiences, observations, or thoughts with someone you trust.

Talk about: • something you noticed today • an experience you had • a thought you are still processing

Small moments of emotional connection help strengthen awareness, communication, and relational safety over time.

🧠 Connect with Dr. Gloria Vanderhorst Website: https://www.drvanderhorst.com Email: gkvanderhorst@gmail.com

Facebook: gloria.vanderhorst.7 Instagram: @gkvanderhorst YouTube: @gloriakvanderhorst LinkedIn: gloria-vanderhorst-ph-d-730826b/

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with researcher Scott Bukow for a conversation exploring traumatic brain injury, long-haul COVID, neuroinflammation, and the often-overlooked mechanisms involved in neurological recovery.

Many people navigating brain injury or post-viral symptoms are told their scans look normal, yet they continue experiencing brain fog, fatigue, cognitive changes, sensory overwhelm, and nervous system dysregulation. Together, Sarah and Scott explore why that disconnect exists and what may actually be happening beneath the surface.

This episode examines the overlap between traumatic brain injury and long-haul COVID, including the role of neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, autonomic imbalance, blood-brain barrier disruption, and the gut-brain axis.

Topics explored include:

• overlooked mechanisms in brain injury recovery • the connection between TBI and long-haul COVID • neuroinflammation and nervous system dysregulation • the gut-brain axis and brain health • neuroplasticity and cognitive recovery • environmental and inflammatory stressors • rebuilding trust after neurological change • integrative and functional approaches to healing

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Healing is rarely linear. The brain is adaptable. And recovery often begins by reconnecting the pieces that were previously overlooked.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Choose one small supportive action for your brain this week.

It could be: • stepping outside for natural light • reducing overstimulation • practicing slow breathing • adding one nourishing habit

Small, repeated inputs help the nervous system relearn safety and support neuroplasticity over time.

🧠 Connect with Scott Bukow https://scottbuco.com https://www.mybrainmechanic.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/scottbuco

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Tracy Fance for a grounded conversation exploring intuition, somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and reconnecting with inner wisdom.

Together, Sarah and Tracy discuss how healing is not only mental, but deeply embodied. They explore how stress and trauma shape the nervous system, how intuitive signals are often quieted by overwhelm, and how reconnecting with the body can restore clarity, trust, and alignment.

This conversation bridges neuroscience, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness in a practical, accessible way for listeners seeking deeper connection with themselves.

Topics explored include:

• the connection between intuition and nervous system regulation • how trauma is stored in the body • somatic healing in everyday language • learning to trust intuitive signals • spiritual and human alignment • emotional regulation and body awareness • releasing tension through somatic practices • small daily practices for healing and self-trust

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Healing is not about becoming someone new. It is about reconnecting with what is already within you.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Take a few quiet moments this week to notice your internal signals.

Instead of asking, “What should I do?” Try asking, “What am I noticing in my body right now?”

Notice your breath, sensations, and emotional tone without judgment.

This small shift can begin rebuilding trust with your inner guidance system.

🧠 Connect with Tracy Fance Website: https://tracyfance.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/tracyfance

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Phil Kobald, author of Spiritual Parenting and host of the Holistic Circle platform, for a thoughtful conversation about parenting, authenticity, spirituality, and raising children in an increasingly artificial world.

Together, Sarah and Phil explore what it means to cultivate inner alignment before trying to shape outward behavior, why children learn more from embodiment than correction, and how spirituality can become a grounded, practical part of everyday family life.

This conversation invites listeners to slow down, reconnect with authenticity, and reflect on how nervous system regulation, modeling, mindfulness, and self-awareness shape the emotional environments children grow up within.

Topics explored include:

• spirituality in everyday language • spirituality versus religion • authenticity and emotional modeling • parenting in a technology-driven culture • inner alignment and nervous system regulation • mindful parenting and embodiment • helping children stay grounded in who they are • balance, self-awareness, and emotional presence • curiosity and spiritual development • creating meaningful ripple effects in family systems

At the heart of this episode is a reminder:

Children learn more from what we embody than what we say. Authenticity matters. And parenting begins within.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Pause for one intentional breath before responding to your child this week.

Notice your own nervous system first. Then respond from presence rather than reactivity.

Small moments of awareness create powerful ripple effects over time.

🧠 Connect with Phil Kobald Holistic Circle Platform Book: Spiritual Parenting

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Mark Burnett to explore brain health, neuroprotection, environmental toxicity, and what becomes possible when someone refuses to let a diagnosis define their future.

After experiencing toxic exposure and neurological symptoms, Mark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and early Alzheimer’s. Rather than accepting decline as inevitable, he immersed himself in research surrounding inflammation, glial cell health, neuroprotection, and data-driven self-healing.

Together, Sarah and Mark explore the emotional impact of diagnosis, the connection between environmental toxins and neurological health, and how agency, curiosity, and nervous system support can reshape the healing journey.

Topics explored include:

• neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in everyday language • nervous system regulation and brain resilience • environmental toxicity and inflammation • glial cells and brain support • data-driven self-healing and tracking progress • redefining identity after diagnosis • mindset, intuition, and active participation in recovery • neuroscience, spirit, and multidimensional healing • restoring hope after chronic illness

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

A diagnosis is not the end of your story. The brain is adaptable. Healing is multidimensional. And agency changes the trajectory of recovery.

🌿 Micro Practice Invitation Choose one small daily action that supports brain health and track it consistently this week. Healing often begins with awareness, repetition, and participation rather than perfection.

🧠 Connect with Mark Burnett Website: https://mybrainrestore.com Product: https://mybrainrestore.com/2x-active-formula-product/ Mark’s Story: https://mybrainrestore.com/my-journey/ Free eBook: https://mybrainrestore.com/pdf/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mybrainrestore YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MyBrainReStore

🌿 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.

In this episode of NeuroAlchemy, Dr. Sarah Young sits down with Jennifer Day for a thoughtful conversation about nonlinear healing, nervous system regulation, creativity, and rebuilding self-trust after overwhelm.

Together, Sarah and Jennifer explore why healing often happens in spirals instead of straight lines, how the nervous system revisits layers of experience, and why creativity, ritual, and embodied awareness can help people reconnect with safety inside themselves.

Jennifer shares her own healing journey and the development of her LifeLines drawing practice, a symbolic and body-based approach that supports emotional regulation, intuition, and inner coherence.

Topics explored include:

• nonlinear healing and nervous system patterns • somatic awareness in everyday life • creativity as nervous system regulation • rebuilding self-trust after burnout or trauma • why returning to emotions does not mean failure • rituals, grounding, and symbolic expression • imagination and healing • compassion instead of pressure-based healing

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder:

Healing is layered. Your nervous system is adaptable. And returning to yourself happens through safety, presence, and permission.

🌿 Guest Micro Practice Invitation Hand to heart. Feet to earth.

Place one hand over your heart and take one slow breath. Ask yourself, “How am I feeling right now?”

Whatever arises, gently respond:

“Of course I feel this way. It makes sense that I feel this way.”

Then notice the soles of your feet connecting with the ground beneath you.

This simple practice supports grounding, validation, and nervous system safety.

🎨 Connect with Jen Day https://www.lifeshinedesign.com https://instagram.com/lifeshinedesigncoach https://substack.com/@lifeshinedesign

Free Offering: https://www.lifeshinedesign.com/get-started/p/draw-your-way-to-freedom-a-mini-ritual-workbook-by-jennifer-day-lifeshine-design

Free LifeLines Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifelinessoulcircles

🧠 Connect with Dr. Sarah Young https://home.neurosynergyhealth.com/home-6935 https://youtube.com/@neurosynergyhealth

If this episode resonated with you, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. That’s how these conversations travel and reach the people who need them most.

You are not broken. You are becoming.