Vanessa left home at 17 after a traumatic childhood that positioned her as a parentified child - one who watched her father die of a drug overdose - and that is only the tip of her trauma iceberg. Despite the fact that she "feels good most days," Vanessa still suffers the fragmentation and self doubt that rooted so early in her tumultuous life. Vanessa and her remarkble, inspiring spirit came to the podcast looking for help sorting through the decades of complex trauma that still live in her body. Renée takes a metaphoric fine-toothed comb to Vanessa's life, guiding her through a deeper understanding of the abuse, abandonment, addiction, codependency, loneliness, and sense of inadequacy that have conspired to keep her from wholeness. Vanessa's irrepressible energy marvelously matches Renée's, and the two women bring bright energy to some very dark content. It's a juicy, inspiring episode: Happy New Year!
