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Heart-Centered Therapist: Elevating Practice in Mental Health, Relationships, Self-Care and Personal Growth
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118: Your Pain Has a Name: Identity, Healing, and Compassion with Monica DiCristina
Manage episode 509962443 series 3560010
In this episode of A Simple Therapy Podcast, Sindee Gozansky sits down with Monica DiCristina, LPC, therapist, writer, and podcaster, to explore the healing power of naming our pain. Monica shares her personal journey of living with undiagnosed OCD and intrusive thoughts, and how finding a name for her struggle became the first step toward freedom.
Together, Sindee and Monica talk about separating identity from wounding, why coping behaviors don’t define us, and the importance of listening to the “trauma whispers” in our daily lives. They also discuss the cultural pull toward quick fixes, and why true healing is a slow, compassionate practice rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
This conversation is full of gentle wisdom, rich metaphors, and practical ways to turn toward yourself with curiosity and kindness. Monica’s story and her book, Your Pain Has a Name, remind us that while we can’t avoid pain, we can begin to untangle it—and return to the truth of who we are.
00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:49 - Meet Monica DiCristina: Therapist, Writer, Podcaster
03:10 - Your Pain Has a Name: The Story Behind the Book
08:22 - Naming Pain vs. Labeling: A Compassionate Distinction
10:21 - Separating Identity from Wounds and Coping Behaviors
14:34 - The Myth of Quick Fixes in Mental Health
19:08 - Listening to the Narratives We Believe About Ourselves
22:32 - The Core Questions: Am I Safe? Am I Loved?
27:26 - Sharing Her Story: Why Monica “Went First” in Her Book
31:06 - Redrawing Your Family Map and Boundaries That Heal
36:26 - Therapists’ Takeaway: The Healing Power of Presence
38:40 - A Gentle First Step for Facing Your Pain
40:23 - Where to Find Monica’s Work, Book, and Podcast
Check out Berries:
https://heyberries.com/heart-centered Use Discount Code: Sindee50 for $50 off your first month
Shop Mental Health Threads: https://mentalhealththreads.etsy.com
Connect with Monica DiCristina
Connect with Sindee Gozansky:
Visit my website: asimpletherapypodcast.com/
Join the Heart-Centered Therapist Community FB group: facebook.com/groups/478651669638167
Instagram: instagram.com/heartcenteredtherapist/
YouTube: youtube.com/@asimpletherapypodcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sindeegozansky/
Want to be a guest on the podcast?
Email Sindee: [email protected]
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