Journey Counseling, LLC

04/06/2026

Some children did not grow up feeling safe to express their emotions.

Not because they did not have them,
but because those emotions were met with punishment, dismissal, or discomfort.

They may have been told:

“Stop crying.”
“You’re too sensitive.”
“I’ll give you something to cry about.”
“Calm down.”
“You’re overreacting.”

So instead of learning how to understand and regulate their emotions, they learned something else:

Hide it.
Suppress it.
Apologize for it.

Over time, this can shape the way they relate to themselves.

They may start to believe:

• My emotions are a problem
• I am too much
• I need to tone myself down to be accepted
• It’s safer to stay quiet than to express how I feel

And this doesn’t just disappear in adulthood.

It can show up as:

• apologizing for crying or reacting
• saying sorry for needing love or reassurance
• feeling guilty for having normal emotional needs
• keeping the peace at your own expense
• silencing yourself to avoid conflict

This is how someone learns to apologize… not for what they did, but for who they are.

But your emotions were never the problem.

They were signals.
They were valid.
They were trying to communicate something that needed care, not punishment.

And you were never “too much.”

You were just never met properly.

If this resonates with you, both of my books go deeper into these patterns.

I Didn’t Choose to Be Born explores how childhood experiences shape your emotional world, your nervous system, and how you relate to yourself.

Chasing Love That Hurts explores how those same patterns show up in relationships, especially when it comes to attachment, emotional needs, and feeling safe with others.

Both are available through the link here: https://linktr.ee/traumatorecovery

04/05/2026

Your voice DOES matter. Here are the stories of several DV survivors. https://carolineabbott.com/survivor-stories/

04/05/2026

04/01/2026

Breaking the Silence: My Journey as a Domestic Violence Survivor

Today marks a significant milestone in my life—15 years since I escaped a cycle of domestic violence. This anniversary is not just a personal celebration; it's a call to action for everyone to recognize the grave dangers that often follow those who choose to leave abusive relationships.

The emotional scars from my past weighed heavily on me. I struggled with anxiety and flashbacks, often feeling as though I was still living under my abuser's thumb. It was during this time that I realized the importance of attending therapy and sharing my story. Speaking out became a way to reclaim my power and connect with others who had faced similar challenges.

Healing is not linear. t's important to recognize that healing from domestic violence is a journey, and therapy can be a valuable tool in that process. If you are considering therapy or are currently in therapy, it's essential to find a therapist who specializes in trauma-informed care and has experience working with survivors of domestic violence. Remember that you deserve to heal, grow, and thrive, and therapy can be a supportive and empowering resource on your path to recovery.

Statistics show that over 70% of domestic violence murders occur after the victim has left. This reality underscores the urgent need for awareness and support for those in similar situations. Leaving is often the most dangerous time, and it’s crucial for friends, family, and communities to understand this risk.

To anyone reading this who may be in a similar situation, know that you are not alone. Your life matters, and there is hope beyond the darkness. Together, we can break the silence surrounding domestic violence and work towards a future where all survivors are empowered to live free from fear.

I share my story not just as a survivor but as an advocate for change. It is crucial to raise awareness about the risks survivors face after leaving, to educate communities, and to foster environments where survivors feel safe and supported.

Let us remember that the journey doesn’t end with leaving—it is just the beginning.

02/10/2026

📅👇 Want a FREE LIVE WORKSHOP on supporting a Highly Sensitive Child? Type SUMMIT to get a link to our FREE 2026 Parenting & Children's Mental Health Summit March 16-19, 2026: 4 Days | 35 Masterclasses | 4 Interactive Live Workshops | 37 Global Experts

🌿 A highly sensitive child is deeply tuned in — to their environment, to other people’s emotions, and to the subtle details many of us overlook. About 1 in 5 children are wired this way.

💛 They experience the world intensely. Joy feels big. Sadness feels deep. Empathy comes naturally. But that same sensitivity can mean loud noises, bright lights, busy classrooms, or abrupt transitions feel overwhelming.

🧠 These children are often thoughtful and reflective. They ask big, meaningful questions. They notice shifts in tone. They engage in rich imaginative play. While criticism, chaos, or overstimulation can hit them harder, they also tend to be incredibly compassionate, perceptive, and conscientious.

🌱 Highly sensitive children don’t need to be “toughened up.” They thrive in environments that are calm, predictable, and emotionally safe — where their sensitivity is understood as a strength, not a flaw.

02/10/2026

We often expect healing to be a straight line toward relief. But in really it often begins with a breaking.

When your trauma first happened, your body did what it had to do to keep you alive. It shut down, numbed out, stored the pain away. It didn't have the capacity to feel it all back then.

In healing, that capacity starts to grow. And suddenly, the grief, rage, and longing that were locked away start to move through you. This can feel like falling apart but it's actually your nervous system doing what it couldn't do before: processing what's authentic without collapsing.

Messy doesn't mean wrong. Overwhelming doesn't mean you're going backwards. It often means your body has now more capacity to hold what was once unholdable.
*
*
*
If you're in this part of your healing right now, where the old patterns are cracking and the feelings are raw, you don't have to walk through it alone.

We invite you to connect with our community of co-survivors who are learning to safely reconnect with themselves, rebuild self-worth, and learning to form healthy, nurturing relationships. Your journey toward healing and wholeness begins here. Join us today and embrace the support you truly deserve.

To learn more and register, visit: https://cptsdfoundation.org/dailyrecoverysupport/

02/06/2026

Robert 💙