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The Belonging Wound: Raina LaGrand on Identity, Community, and Healing
Our True Colors: Mixed Race Voices and Other Stories of Belonging
What does it really mean to belong when your identity doesn’t fit neatly into one box?
In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Dr. Shawna Gann and cohost, Marcel DeJonghe, chat with somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator Raina LaGrand to explore the layered realities of mixed race identity. Together, they unpack the tension between fitting in and truly belonging, the emotional weight of code switching, and the complexity of navigating spaces that were never designed with multiracial people in mind. Raina shares her personal journey, including unexpected discoveries about her ancestry, and how those moments reshaped her understanding of identity, healing, and wholeness.
The conversation also dives into what Raina calls the “mixed race belonging wound” and how it shows up in relationships, self-worth, and the ability to take up space. From racialized trauma and complex trauma to the surprising power of community and shared language, this episode is both validating and expansive. Whether you identify as mixed race or simply feel like you exist between worlds, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about identity, connection, and what it means to feel at home in yourself.
About Raina LaGrand
Raina LaGrand is a somatic psychotherapist, coach, and educator who supports mixed race adults in healing belonging wounds and reconnecting with their innate wholeness. She offers one-on-one and group programs worldwide and maintains a psychotherapy practice in Michigan, where she specializes in complex relational trauma, chronic pain, and racial identity. Raina lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan with her dog, Willa, and enjoys cooking with friends, reading books by women of color authors, and indulging in reality TV.
Connect with Raina
Instagram: @mixedracebelonging
Podcast: Mixed Race Belonging Podcast
Website: mixedracebelonging.com
Therapy practice: roottorisesomatics.com
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