Show Notes
In a world overwhelmed by collective trauma and personal grief, how can we rebuild trust, safety, and connection—starting from within? Angela Schellenberg, trauma therapist and expert in attachment and somatic healing joins host Lisa Keefauver as she unpacks how early wounds shape our current relationships with ourselves and others—and reveals transformative tools to rewire that deep wiring.
This episode shatters the myth that grief is linear or predictable. Angela shares her powerful journey through childhood loss, from her father's violent death to her mother's mental illness, illustrating how unprocessed trauma embeds itself in our nervous system, often surfacing as shame, frozen grief, and disconnection. She illustrates how these early attachment wounds generate patterns—seeking the familiar, recreating dysfunctional dynamics, and feeling unsafe in our own bodies—often without conscious awareness. You'll discover: how healing attachment wounds through relationship and community is not just possible but essential; why trauma lives in the body—and how somatic therapies like EMDR and equine therapy mobilize profound change; the importance of moving beyond intellectual understanding to embodied trust; and practical ways to cultivate self-compassion, discernment, and inner safety. Angela emphasizes that attachment wounds are always healable—when we have a safe container, mindful movement, and compassionate community—and urges us to reclaim our innate wisdom. This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating grief, trauma, or relational wounds, especially in turbulent times. If you’re yearning to shed the shame, unlock your inner resilience, and forge authentic connections—Angela’s insights will change the way you see healing.
ABOUT GUEST
Angela Schellenberg is a licensed trauma and grief therapist, Equine Therapist, Attachment-Focused EMDR specialist, and certified Mother Hunger® Facilitator based in LA County. Licensed in California, Washington, and Arizona, Angela specializes in helping women in grief recognize how their early attachment wounds may be showing up in their grief. She lost both parents by the age of 22 and brings deep personal and clinical insight to her work. Angela created the Healing with Horses Somatic Grief Retreat in Malibu, co-leads early mother loss retreats with Hope Edelman, and has taught at the Omega Institute. She is also the founder and host of the Grief, Trauma & Your Mama podcast.
LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGELA at: www.angelaschellenberg.com
ABOUT THE SHOW & HOST
Lisa Keefauver is an author, keynote speaker, narrative therapy trained social worker, widow, assault & cancer survivor turned grief activist on a mission to help us center aliveness in a world full of loss by reimagining the narratives of grief, one conversation at a time. LEARN MORE ABOUT LISA: https://lisakeefauver.com/ ACCESS GRIEF SUPPORT: https://lisakeefauver.com/support READ BOOK: Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss. https://bookshop.org/p/books/grief-is-a-sneaky-bitch-an-uncensored-guide-to-navigating-loss-lisa-keefauver/ffd73d6b6921e6b5?ean=9781477329306&next=t& READ ESSAYS: AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack - https://afgowithlisakeefauver.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Grief is a Sneaky Bitch
Shannon Watts is fired up. She’s sharing her wisdom on intuition, “shoulds,” and building a life of aliveness The incredible Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, and author of New York Times Bestselling book, Fired Up, joined host Lisa Keefauver for the first episode of Season 8 of Grief is a Sneaky Bitch where this season the show is focusing more deeply on what it means to center aliveness in a world full of loss. They dig into the cultural stories that pressure women to be perfect, selfless, and always certain, and offer a more humane alternative built on values, abilities, desires, and practice. In this conversation, Shannon shares how intuition shaped major turning points in her life, from starting Moms Demand Action to stepping away when it was time. Lisa and Shannon also explore embodiment, mindfulness, community, wonder, and play as essential tools for navigating change without losing sight of what feels most alive.
This special episode is a reminder of where we’ve been, what we’ve learned, and where we’re going next season! Host Lisa Keefauver closes out Season 7 of the show by reflecting on the conversations, guests, and lessons that shaped the year. She reminded us of the wisdom guests Marisa Renee Lee, Michelle Hord, Sandi Serling, and Angela Schellenberg offered on navigating complex losses and emotions. Guests Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Naila Francis, and Sara Rian taught us about the power of poetry, metaphor, and creativity. You’ll get a sense (or be reminded) of the topics and wisdom offered by the other incredible 13 guests as well. In a preview of what’s coming next, Lisa also explores the story behind her decision to have a theme for the first time in the show’s history. Launching later this month, listeners will get a glimpse of some of the special guests and topics coming next, with a strong focus on aliveness, the narratives that keep us stuck, and the power of curiosity for navigating seasons of uncertainty.
J.S. Park returns to Grief is a Sneaky Bitch for a deeply moving conversation about the themes in his forthcoming book, We Are Made of Us. Together, we explore what it means to contend with family-of-origin, family dynamics, and inherited trauma. This episode may change how you see your family, your grief, and your own capacity to heal.
Casey Mulligan Walsh, author of The Full Catastrophe, joined host Lisa Keefauver for a profound conversation on how much loss shapes us more deeply than we realize—especially when it's modeled by those we'd turn to for guidance. In this raw and insightful conversation, Casey reveals how early trauma and unspoken grief patterns silently influence our lives. From surviving the sudden death of her parents as a child to navigating the chaos of divorce and the heartbreak of losing her son, Casey shares her journey toward reclaiming agency, understanding her parts, and finding peace in the liminal spaces of life.
Mae Yoshikawa, author, TEDx speaker, and the creator of Kizuki Journaling, joins host Lisa Keefauver to explore her profound journey through grief, culture, and embodiment. Her reflections challenge us to see grief not as a problem to fix, but as an integral part of human experience that deepens our capacity to love and live fully.