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Hey Tabi!
Welcome to "Hey Tabi!" the podcast where we talk about the hard things out loud, with our actual lips. We'll cover all kinds of topics across the mental health spectrum, including how it intersects with the Christian faith. Nothing is off limits here & we are not "take-two-verses-and-call-me-in-the-morning."
I'm Tabitha Westbrook & I'm a licensed trauma therapist (but I'm not your trauma therapist). I'm an expert in domestic abuse & coercive control & how complex trauma impacts our health & well-being. Our focus here is knowledge & healing - trauma doesn't have to eat your lunch forever. There is hope! Now, let's get going!
How to connect:
https://www.tabithawestbrook.com/
Therapy Website: (We are able to see clients in NC & TX)
https://thejourneyandtheprocess.com/
Instagram:
@tabithathecounselor
@_tjatp
Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy & is for informational purposes only. If you need therapy I encourage you to find an awesome therapist licensed where you are that can help you out!!
Episodes
60 episodes
How Writing and Sharing Your Trauma Can Break the Silence and Set You Free
What if the thing you've been afraid to say out loud is exactly what could heal you?In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with story work coach Jen Vrooman — certified in Narrative Focused Tra...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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1:06:08
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Why Confession Isn't Enough: Real Recovery from Sex Addiction
Confession feels like the goal—but what if it's actually the starting point? In this episode, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Nick Stumbo, Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries, to talk about what genuine re...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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55:04
The Civil War of Desire: Healing Trauma, Sexuality, and Faith
What if your desire isn’t something to suppress… but something to understand?In this episode of Hey Tabi, I’m joined by therapist, researcher, and author Jay Stringer to explore what he calls the “civil war of desire.”...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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50:44
After Spiritual Abuse, This is How to Heal
What role does storytelling play in trauma recovery? And what happens when the trauma occurs inside the church?In this episode of Hey Tabi, I sit down with Dr. Ann Maree Goudzwaard—biblical counselor, domestic abuse advocate, and founde...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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41:36
Adam Young on The Parts of Your Story You’re Afraid to Name
There are parts of your story you’ve learned not to talk about—because naming them feels disloyal, shameful, or dangerous. But avoiding those chapters may be exactly what’s keeping you stuck.In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist ...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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50:31
From Dysregulation to Calm: A Practical Toolkit
We slow down and practice simple tools to move from survival to safety, using consent-based exercises, micro-practices, and imagery to regulate the nervous system. We talk about building a 911 card, explore glimmers, and use music and compassio...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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17:26
The Hidden Damage of Emotional Suppression and How to Heal
What happens when emotions are ignored, suppressed, or labeled as “wrong”? For many trauma survivors—especially those raised in Christian spaces—emotional suppression doesn’t lead to peace or holiness. It leads to anxiety, shame, dis...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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48:28
When the Church Gets It Right: How Abuse Survivors Actually Heal
What does it actually look like when the Church gets it right for survivors of abuse?In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and coercive control expert Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dawn Jones,...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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52:49
All Abuse is Physical Abuse - Neuroscience Proof and Tips to Help Survivors Heal
All abuse is physical abuse—even when there are no visible bruises.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist and domestic abuse expert Tabitha Westbrook explains the neuroscience behind coercive control and w...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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34:38
Restoried Healing For Trauma Survivors with Melissa Affolter
What happens when trauma silences your story, and what does it take to speak it aloud again?In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with biblical counselor that does not suck Me...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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53:43
When Churches Make Abuse Worse (And How They Can Change) with Matt Chandler
What happens when a pastor admits, “We made it worse”?In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with pastor Matt Chandler for an honest conversation about how uninformed church systems have harme...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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50:08
The Ultimate Truth About Emotional Abuse in Christian Marriage (Every Survivor Needs to Hear This)
Is emotional abuse being hidden behind Christian language like submission and forgiveness?In this episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with bestselling author Leslie Vernick...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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53:54
Resisting Without Becoming The Oppressor
When we’ve lived through abuse, or we spend our lives helping others heal from it, it’s shockingly easy to accidentally pick up the same tools, patterns, and power dynamics we’re trying to dismantle. In this deeply honest conversation,...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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51:36
From Betrayal to True Intimacy: How Real Healing Happens for Both After Sexual Addiction & Trauma
If you’ve ever wondered whether a relationship can truly heal after sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, or years of secrecy, this episode is for you.In this deeply honest conversation, Tabitha sits down with Matthew and Joanna R...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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1:08:59
Is Biblical Counseling That Doesn’t Suck Even Possible? What Trauma Survivors Need to Know
What is good biblical counseling, really? And why is it so hard to find, especially if you’re a trauma survivor who's already been harmed by “just pray more” advice, sin-sniffing, or spiritual bypassing?In this week’s episode of...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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1:03:35
Why Hope Isn't An Outcome, It's an Anchor
What if everything you’ve been taught about hope is backwards? In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Jenny Bayless of Fuller Seminary to talk about why hope isn’t an o...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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1:06:26
Story > Systems: Adam Westlake on Sanctification, Shame, and Hope
What if biblical counseling actually led to healing instead of shame? 👀 In this candid convo, worship leader–turned–biblical counselor Adam Westlake (The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane) joins Tabitha to unpack why much “sin-detect...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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45:49
Parenting Spicy Kids - How to Stay Calm When You're Told To "F Off"
Parenting a “spicy” teen? You’re not alone. In this powerful episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook sits down with Dr. Greg Wilson, LPC-S and author of When Home Hurts, to talk about raising adolescents through trauma,...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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1:02:23
Why Mindfulness Practice Matters for Trauma Healing
Have you ever tried mindfulness and thought, “This just isn’t working—I can’t calm down”? You’re not broken. Your body is simply doing what it was designed to do: keep you safe.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabi...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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15:43
Getting Trauma Informed Help Online - How to Spot Red and Green Flags
Online trauma help online can be powerful, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t know what to look for.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook, unpacks how to find good, trauma-informed help online t...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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27:45
Pastors, Stop Enabling Harm Through Your Silence
When pastors teach on marriage, sex, or addiction but fail to mention abuse, survivors in the pews hear a dangerous message: stay, submit, and suffer silently.In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbr...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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33:47
Reframing Intensity: Passion, Not Peril
Intensity isn’t always anger—but it can really help to know the difference!In this episode of Hey Tabi, licensed trauma therapist Tabitha Westbrook unpacks how to tell the difference between healthy intensity, destructive anger, and tra...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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24:33
When Couples Therapy is Dangerous
Most therapists believe couples therapy helps struggling marriages—but here’s the shocking truth: up to half of couples seeking counseling are experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control. If therapists miss it, they can actually arm the abu...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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20:54
What Can Christians Really Do In The Bedroom?
Christian perspectives on physical intimacy often lack clarity, leaving many couples confused about what honors God in the bedroom - especially if one or both partners are survivors of harm. True intimacy begins with friendship and mutual respe...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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33:16