Ronni and Jennie: Conversations on Recovery from Childhood Trauma and Abuse
Ronni and Jennie are sisters who were not supposed to be friends. They grew up in a home with addiction, abuse, and untreated mental illness, which generated dysfunctional dynamics that often pitted them against each other. Miraculously, they came together in adulthood to help each other heal. Now, drawing on their personal and professional experiences, they are telling their story to help others recover from childhood trauma and abuse, and to help them mend their own sibling relationships. They invite you to join them in this healing conversation. Please feel free to share your own experiences, or ask questions, via their website: www.ronniandjennie.com (other free content is also available there), or follow them on Instagram: @ronni_and_jennie.
Ronni Tichenor is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at State University of New York--Polytechnic Institute, specializing in family studies; Jennie Weaver is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 25 years' experience in family practice and mental health. They detail their story in their book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond.
Episodes
139 episodes
Why It’s So Hard to Let Go of Expectations
Our expectations—of how others should act, or how a situation should turn out—can get us into trouble at times, suggesting that we would be better off releasing these expectations. Ronni and Jennie talk about why it’s so hard to let go of them ...
The Healing Sound of Silence
Survivors of childhood trauma sometimes create busy-ness, even chaos, in their lives to distract from their memories and the pain associated with them. Ronni and Jennie talk about the role silence plays in their lives now, and how it facilitate...
How Guilty Pleasures Help Us Heal
Survivors of childhood trauma are often made to feel that they don’t matter in the world. Our guilty pleasures can help us tap into what we really want and need, and bring more joy into our lives.
Embracing a Wholistic Approach to Healing
When you are healing from childhood trauma, you need a wide range of supports. Ronni and Jennie discuss how to go about ensuring that you get them.
What If It All Works Out?
Survivors of childhood trauma are often good at worrying—catastrophizing, even. Ronni and Jennie talk about how you can turn that dynamic around and instead imagine how well everything will work out for you in your life.
Change, Trust, Regret, and Joy
Change is an inevitable part of life. How you approach it can determine what you get out of each decision you make.
More on How to Effectively Challenge the Critical Voice Inside Your Head
We all have negative thoughts that run through our minds—for many of us, they can seem like constant companions. Ronni and Jennie talk about what they do to disrupt that train, and how you can turn your negative thoughts around and improve your...
When the Universe Invites You to Heal
There are times when situations keep coming up in our lives—these are invitations from the Universe to heal. Ronni and Jennie talk about how to roll with what is coming up for you, and how to move through those challenges.
Trauma, “Positivity,” and Misplaced Loyalty
Sometimes we cling to things, “hoping” they’ll get better—our trauma background primes us for this. Ronni and Jennie share how they have been able to recognize when this is occurring and move forward.
Authenticity, Transparency, and Boundaries
In this first episode of their 7th season, Ronni and Jennie talk about how authenticity, transparency, and boundaries are interconnected, and how they are related to being true to yourself.
BONUS: Putting More JOY into Your Holidays!
The holiday season can leave us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Ronni and Jennie share ideas for making your celebrations more joyful--which is the reason for the season.
REPLAY: How to Navigate the Holidays with Family
Now is the time to begin planning what you want your holidays to look like—especially if there are some challenges in your family relationships. Ronni and Jennie share ideas for preserving your peace of mind and making space for new traditions ...
BONUS: What Do You Carry from Your Lineage?
Many of us carry the trauma that has run through our families, but we also carry forward gifts. As Ronni and Jennie are with their families for their annual reunion, they reflect on what they hold…and are passing on.
Take a Vacation from Healing!
We all need to take break from the mental, emotional, and physical effort involved in healing from trauma. Ronni and Jennie talk about how to approach this break and what to focus on instead.
Transformational Coaching is Here!
Ronni and Jennie talk about their plans to use all that they’ve learned, in their personal healing journeys and professional trainings, to offer one-on-one transformational coaching—to help anyone who wants to accelerate their own healing.
The Power (and Joy) in Visualization
You don’t need any special training or technique to harness your visualization power. Ronni and Jennie tell you how in this episode.
Getting to the Root of the Problem Brings True Freedom
We tend to revisit patterns or problems many times over our lives, healing in layers. But what does it feel like to get to the root of the problem and experience a major shift in your life? Ronni and Jennie share their experiences.
How to Create Effective Affirmations
Affirmations are a powerful tool for self-transformation. Ronni and Jennie share their tips for creating ones that are specific to your experience, and will work for you.
How to Manage High-Stress Life Situations
Sometimes events around you leave you feeling out of control and under stress. Ronni and Jennie share ways to stay grounded—rooted in the moment—that will break you greater peace.
How a Breathwork Session Can Accelerate Your Healing
After studying breathwork and training to be facilitators, Ronni and Jennie discuss what to expect from a session—and how it could accelerate your recovery process. Use this link to find a certified breathwork practitioner ne...
How Focusing on Your Breath Can Change Your Day…and Your Life
Taking just a few moments to focus on your breath can help you reset/regulate your nervous system, ground yourself, and gain clarity about what you are experiencing. Ronni and Jennie share how they use their breath/breathing in different ways t...
Creating Healthy Parent-Child and Sibling Relationships Throughout Your Life
As your children move into adulthood, their relationships with you (and each other) begin to shift—just like your relationships with your parents and siblings change throughout your life. Ronni and Jennie talk about how they have navig...
Why the World Needs to Hear Your Story
Ronni and Jennie discuss why sharing your story is an important part of the healing process, and how it can help you, as well as others.
How the Heaviness in the World Can Trigger You
If you are healing from trauma, observing pain, chaos, or injustice in the world around you can be extremely triggering. Ronni and Jennie share how they have been handling the recent shifts around them, and what they are doing try to maintain t...