Stephanie Thornton Plymale - Working through trauma and healing your inner child

Let's talk about TRAUMA. How do you work through it? Or do the feelings and emotions just eventually go away?

Stephanie Thornton Plymale has had a LOT of trauma to work through in her life - and it took her a long time and a lot of therapy, but she’s come out on the other side and is sharing that beautiful journey in her memoir, American Daughter. 

Through the book, she finally learns about the trauma her mother experienced, and working through that and her own trauma has led her to the person she is today: a confident professional woman who is truly, fully herself. She’s the owner and CEO of her own interior design school - Heritage School of Interior Design.

From homelessness to foster care, abuse and neglect, Stephanie was put through a LOT throughout her childhood, including her mother’s mental illness. For decades, she didn’t talk to anyone about it, except her husband.

So I loved talking to Stephanie about how therapy helped her work through her trauma, how writing allowed her to release some of it too, and how creating an interior space that we love can help our brains and bodies feel better too.

Now Stephanie’s life, and therefore what we talk about in this episode, does include many subjects that may be alarming to some listeners, including sexual abuse, suicide, and child abduction. So as always, please make sure to take care of yourself, and if anything is triggering or disturbing to you, don’t be afraid to ask a professional for help.

You can keep up with Mentally Together on Instagram @mentallytogetherpod. Cassidy's Instagram is @cassidyquinntv, and you can watch the video version of each podcast episode at YouTube.com/cassidyquinn.

Books recommended by Mentally Together guests (including Stephanie's book, American Daughter): https://bookshop.org/lists/mentally-together

Mentally Together is a creation from Cassidy Quinn in collaboration with Coba.fm.

William Temple House
Affordable mental health counseling and support for basic needs to people in the Portland area.

GroundUp Nut Butter
Nut butters that spread good by helping women overcome adversity. Use MENTALLYTOGETHER for 15% off.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.