This week, Leanna turns toward the next generation, the young adults navigating identity, independence, and inherited patterns of pressure. Through the lens of nervous-system science and generational healing, she explores how belonging is a body state, not a performance.

You’ll hear how family dynamics, cultural expectations, and even our biology (Yehuda et al., 2016) shape the way we seek connection, and how the 4Ns framework (Notice, Name, Nurture, Navigate) can help you shift from avoidance into authentic repair.

Whether you’re a parent learning to reconnect or a young adult setting new boundaries, this conversation will help you discover how healing can become a bridge instead of a wall.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

• Why so many young adults are turning toward “no contact” and what might be happening in their nervous systems
• How therapy culture sometimes emphasizes boundaries without regulation
• What Brainspotting and Polyvagal Theory teach us about attunement and co-regulation (Corrigan & Grand, 2013; Porges, 2011)
• The difference between avoidance and healing, told through a hypothetical vignette
• How inherited perfectionism and generational pressure shape belonging
• A guided 4Ns practice to reconnect with your body and younger self
• What it really means to Become a NeuroHeir™ meeting what you inherited with awareness and compassion

Referenced Research

• Yehuda, R., Daskalakis, N. P., Bierer, L. M., et al. (2016). Holocaust exposure induced intergenerational effects on FKBP5 methylation. Biological Psychiatry, 80(5), 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.08.005
• Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and Society. W. W. Norton.
• Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory. W. W. Norton.
• Corrigan, F. M., & Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: An overview, review, and commentary. International Journal of Psychotherapy, 17(3), 8–17.
• Schwartz, R. (2021). No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model. Sounds True.

Research Integrity Disclaimer
This podcast draws upon evidence-based frameworks in neuroscience, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practice. Leanna’s reflections and the 4Ns Framework are original interpretations informed by this body of research and her clinical and coaching experience. While every effort is made to represent research accurately, the ideas shared reflect Leanna’s professional understanding and may include her own evolving interpretations. All information is intended for educational and reflective purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or medical treatment.

Connect with me:
Instagram → @aligningwithleanna

Website → leannahunt.com

Disclaimer:
Although I am a licensed Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor, The NeuroHeir℠ Podcast is not a substitute for therapy, counseling, or medical treatment. The tools and practices I share are for educational and coaching purposes only. Every nervous system is unique, and what we discuss on this podcast should not replace your own individual therapeutic work or professional support.

The focus of this podcast is my coaching work, which centers on education, nervous system practices, and generational healing tools designed to support—not replace—your personal journey with a qualified provider.

If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing overwhelming emotions, please seek support from a licensed professional in your area. You don’t have to do this work alone.

Parenting isn’t just about what we say. It's about what our nervous system communicates. In this episode, Leanna shares how co-regulation, attunement, and the 4Ns can transform daily stress into connection.

You’ll hear:
✨ Why children sense our stress even when we say “I’m fine.”
✨ How age-appropriate honesty builds safety.
✨ Why “Because I said so” can disconnect and what to say instead.
✨ How the parts of us that never got repair often show up to parent.
✨ Simple ways to use the 4Ns during the holidays to stay grounded and connected.

Referenced Research

• Feldman, R. (2017). The neurobiology of human attachments. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 21(2), 80–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2016.11.007
  
  
• Lieberman, M. D., et al. (2007). Putting feelings into words: Affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity. Psychological Science, 18(5), 421–428. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x
• Main, M., & Goldwyn, R. (1998). Adult attachment scoring and classification system. Unpublished manuscript, University of California, Berkeley.
  
  
• Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory. New York, NY: Norton.
  
  
• Schore, A. N. (2001). Effects of a secure attachment relationship on right brain development. Infant Mental Health Journal, 22(1-2), 7–66.
  
  
• Schwartz, R. C. (1995). Internal family systems therapy. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  
  
• Schwartz, R. C., & Sweezy, M. (2021). Internal family systems therapy (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  
  
• Siegel, D. J. (1999). The developing mind. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  
  
• Siegel, D. J. (2012). The whole-brain child. New York, NY: Random House.
  
  
• Tronick, E. (2007). The neurobehavioral and social-emotional development of infants and children. New York, NY: Norton.
  
  
• Tronick, E., & Beeghly, M. (2011). Infants’ meaning-making and mental health. American Psychologist, 66(2), 107–119. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021631
  
  

Research Integrity Disclaimer
This episode draws upon evidence-based frameworks in neuroscience, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practice. Concepts such as neuroception (Porges, 2011), biobehavioral synchrony (Feldman, 2017), rupture and repair (Tronick, 2007), affect labeling (Lieberman et al., 2007), and integration (Siegel, 1999, 2012) are described here in alignment with the published research that informs them.

All information shared is intended for educational and reflective purposes only and should not be taken as a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or medical treatment.

Connect with me:
Instagram → @aligningwithleanna

Website → leannahunt.com

Disclaimer:
Although I am a licensed Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor, The NeuroHeir℠ Podcast is not a substitute for therapy, counseling, or medical treatment. The tools and practices I share are for educational and coaching purposes only. Every nervous system is unique, and what we discuss on this podcast should not replace your own individual therapeutic work or professional support.

The focus of this podcast is my coaching work, which centers on education, nervous system practices, and generational healing tools designed to support—not replace—your personal journey with a qualified provider.

If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing overwhelming emotions, please seek support from a licensed professional in your area. You don’t have to do this work alone.

The day before Thanksgiving, or any family gathering, can stir up more than recipes and to-do lists. Our nervous system remembers past experiences and prepares us for what’s ahead, often long before the moment arrives.

In this episode, Leanna shares how family, food, and the body intertwine and why our survival patterns at the table are never random. You’ll hear personal reflections, somatic insights, and a gentle guided practice you can use to find your way back to regulation, no matter what dynamics unfold.

Together, we’ll explore:

• How your nervous system “preps” for the holidays before they even happen
• What fight, flight, freeze, and appease can look like around the table
• Why food can become both comfort and protector
• A one-minute grounding and Brainspotting resource practice you can use anytime
• How gratitude anchors safety in the present moment
  
  

This episode closes with a powerful reminder:

You can’t control the energy in the room, but you can care for your own nervous system.

Referenced Research & Readings

• Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389.
  
  
• Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. New York: W. W. Norton.
  
  
• Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers (3rd ed.). New York: Henry Holt.
  
  
• Siegel, D. J. (1999). The Developing Mind: How relationships and the brain interact to shape who we are. New York: Guilford Press.
  
  
• Yehuda, R., Daskalakis, N. P., Bierer, L. M., et al. (2016). Holocaust exposure induced intergenerational effects on FKBP5 methylation. Biological Psychiatry, 80(5), 372–380.

💛 Takeaway Quote

“Gratitude isn’t pretending everything is fine; it’s allowing the body to recognize what is still safe, still steady, still good.”

Connect with me:
Instagram → @aligningwithleanna

Website → leannahunt.com

Disclaimer:
Although I am a licensed Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor, The NeuroHeir℠ Podcast is not a substitute for therapy, counseling, or medical treatment. The tools and practices I share are for educational and coaching purposes only. Every nervous system is unique, and what we discuss on this podcast should not replace your own individual therapeutic work or professional support.

The focus of this podcast is my coaching work, which centers on education, nervous system practices, and generational healing tools designed to support—not replace—your personal journey with a qualified provider.

If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing overwhelming emotions, please seek support from a licensed professional in your area. You don’t have to do this work alone.