The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast
This podcast is for anyone still carrying the weight of past wounds and trauma experienced in childhood and adolescence. It explores how childhood trauma shapes beliefs, relationships, sense of self, and nervous system responses. Hosted by Alec Williams, a psychotherapist and trauma specialist based in London, each episode focuses on a specific challenge created by childhood trauma, explaining what it is, why it develops, and how to begin healing.
Episodes
Can You Develop Secure Attachment as an Adult After Childhood Trauma? (Ep 41)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore whether it’s possible to develop secure attachment as an adult, particularly if childhood trauma meant that safety, consistency, and trust weren’t always present in your earliest relationships.Childhood experiences can shape the expectations we carry into adult relationships. You might fear abandonment, struggle to trust other peo
Can You Heal Childhood Trauma Without Forgiving? (Ep 40)
Can you heal childhood trauma without forgiving the people who hurt you?In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore whether forgiveness is actually necessary for childhood trauma healing.We look at why forgiveness can feel deeply freeing for some people, why allowing anger and resentment may sometimes play an important role in trauma healing, and whether it’s possible to re
The Journey Back to Yourself | Trauma, Authenticity & Healing (Ep 39)
What if healing from childhood trauma isn’t about becoming a new and improved version of yourself, but finding your way back to who you were all along?Childhood trauma can shape the way we think, feel and behave. Over time, protective responses such as people-pleasing, perfectionism or hiding our needs can become so familiar that we may begin to lose touch with parts of our natural selves.In this
Grieving the Childhood You Never Had | Loss, Healing & Hope (Ep 38)
In this episode of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore why grief is such an important part of the healing process.You'll learn how childhood trauma in adulthood can show up as sadness, anger, resentment, anxiety, or emotional triggers, why these feelings often reappear at different stages of life, and how acknowledging your losses can become a powerful step towards healing childhood w
Why Childhood Neglect Can Be as Harmful as Physical Abuse (Ep 37)
In this episode of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked forms of childhood trauma: neglect.We'll unpack the research that has transformed our understanding of childhood trauma, including a landmark review that challenged the idea that neglect is somehow "less serious" than other forms of childhood maltreatment.You'll discover how childhood neglect can affect
It Was Never Your Fault: Understanding Self-Blame After Childhood Trauma (Ep 36)
In this episode of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore how developmental trauma and childhood wounds shape the way we see ourselves, and why self-blame can persist long into adulthood.You'll learn how these unconscious beliefs influence your emotional triggers, relationships, confidence, and inner critic, as well as practical ways to begin questioning and healing them.We'll explore:Wh
How Childhood Trauma Shapes Your Attachment Style (Ep 35)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, psychotherapist and childhood trauma specialist Alec Williams explores how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect with others throughout adult life.You'll learn:What attachment theory is and why it mattersThe four attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganised attachmentHow childhood trauma, neglect, abuse, and i
2 Ways Childhood Trauma Creates Your Inner Critic - And How to Heal (Ep 34)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, trauma therapist Alec Williams explores how childhood trauma, emotional neglect and early criticism shape the inner critic that follows many people into adulthood.You'll discover why self-criticism often develops as a survival response, how childhood experiences become the way we speak to ourselves, and practical first steps towards healing.
Understanding Avoidant Attachment and Childhood Trauma: Is It You or Your Relationship? (Ep 33)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore one of the most confusing aspects of avoidant attachment:How do you know whether being single is genuinely what you want…Or whether old childhood wounds and relationship trauma are pulling you away from the very thing you long for?Many people with avoidant attachment desperately want love and connection, yet find themselves repeat
The "I'm Not Enough" Wound: How Childhood Trauma Affects Self-Worth & Healing (Ep 32)
Why do so many people struggle with the painful feeling of "I'm not enough"?In this episode of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore how childhood trauma, neglect, rejection, and attachment wounds can shape our self-worth and influence the stories we tell ourselves about who we are.Together, we'll explore:• Why feelings of shame and inadequacy often begin in childhood• How childhood tra
Why Achievements Might Not Bring Healing: Childhood Trauma and Success (Ep 31)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we dive deep into why achievements alone may not heal deep childhood wounds.Exploring childhood trauma, attachment wounds, and the complex relationship between success and emotional healing, we draw on Self-Determination Theory and stories from elite performers like Andre Agassi and Michael Phelps.Learn why success can improve wellbeing yet
Rebuild Your Identity After Childhood Trauma | Three Steps to Healing (Ep 30)
In this episode, we explore one of the most common questions I hear from clients:How do you rebuild your sense of self after childhood trauma?Childhood wounds can leave you either feeling disconnected from who you are, or not really liking the person that you are.In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, learn 3 powerful ways to rebuild your sense of self after childhood trauma.Expl
How Attachment Wounds Shape Adult Relationships | with Holly Roberts (Ep 29)
Holly's website: www.talkingrelationships.co.ukHow do attachment wounds from childhood quietly sabotage your adult relationships?In this episode, relationship psychotherapist Holly Roberts explores how unmet emotional needs, childhood trauma, and nervous system dysregulation affect trust, communication, and emotional intimacy.Discover the specific patterns that emerge and practical pathways to hea
What Does Healing from Childhood Trauma Actually Look Like? Trauma Recovery Insights (Ep 28)
What does healing from childhood trauma actually look like in real life?In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore the often messy, non-linear and deeply human reality of the healing journey after childhood trauma.From the painful truth that healing can take time, to why things can sometimes feel worse before they feel better, we unpack some of the most common - and least
Strong Reactions, Old Wounds: Managing Trauma Triggers from Childhood (Ep 27)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we break down trauma responses and why your nervous system can react so quickly - and intensely - to everyday situations.If you’ve ever wondered why you get triggered in arguments, shut down under pressure, or fall into people-pleasing patterns, this episode explains the psychology behind it.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Understand what
Why Trust Can Feel So Hard: Attachment, Nervous System & Healing (Ep 26)
In this episode, we explore how childhood trauma affects trust, why trusting others can feel unsafe, and how this shows up in adult relationships - whether that’s fear of being hurt, overthinking, hyper-independence, or trusting too quickly.You’ll learn how trust is shaped by your nervous system, why trust issues are often trauma responses, and how early experiences can lead to patterns like anxio
Rewiring the Abandonment Wound: Attachment, Patterns & Healing (Ep 25)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore one of the deepest and most painful early wounds: abandonment.Whether it’s physical absence or emotional unavailability from caregivers, abandonment trauma can leave lasting imprints on the nervous system - shaping how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how safe you feel in relationships.You’ll learn:What an abandonme
Why Childhood Trauma Creates Shame - And How You Can Heal (Ep 24)
Shame is one of the most painful emotions many people carry after childhood trauma, yet it’s also one of the least talked about.In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore the powerful role shame can play in shaping how we see ourselves and why it can become so deeply embedded after difficult early experiences.In this episode we explore:• What shame is and why all humans ex
Breaking Free From the Story Childhood Trauma Created (Ep 23)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore how early experiences form deep core beliefs and narratives around self-worth, identity, and relationships - often without us even realising it.This episode will help you understand where those narratives came from - and more importantly, how to begin changing them.You’ll learn how to:Recognise the hidden story driving your though
4 Myths That Might Stop You From Healing Childhood Trauma (Ep 22)
In this episode of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore 4 common misunderstandings and myths about childhood trauma that can quietly block healing.By the end of this episode you'll have a deeper understanding of why:You don’t need clear memories for trauma to affect you“Good parents” doesn’t always mean you won't be carrying woundsAnd why you might still feel stuck, even years laterIf
3 Ways Childhood Trauma Affects How You See Yourself (Ep 21)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore how childhood trauma shapes your self-image, self-worth, and identity.If you’ve ever felt not good enough, too much, or unsure of who you really are, this episode will help you understand why.We break down three common ways childhood trauma affects how you see yourself and you’ll learn why these patterns form in early life, how th
Can Childhood Trauma Really Change The Brain? Exploring Neuroscience and Healing (Ep 20)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore the neuroscience of childhood trauma, and explain how early life experiences can impact key areas of the brain, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.Research from neuroscience and trauma psychology shows that the brain is not permanently damaged by trauma. Thanks to neuroplasticity, the brain can reorganize,
Inner Child Work Explained: How to Heal Childhood Wounds (Ep 19)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we delve deep into inner child work and how it facilitates healing childhood trauma and wounds.Discover what inner child healing truly means from trauma-informed and psychological perspectives. We discuss how childhood trauma and attachment wounds influence adult emotional patterns and behaviours, and share effective techniques for reparenti
Childhood Neglect: Signs, Impact & How to Heal (Ep 18)
In this episode, of the Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast we explore childhood neglect - one of the most overlooked yet impactful forms of developmental trauma - and how unmet relational needs can shape emotional wellbeing, attachment patterns, and adult relationships.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Understand what childhood neglect and relational trauma actually areRecognise the diff
How to Start Healing Childhood Trauma as an Adult: A Holistic Approach (Ep 17)
In this episode, of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore why trauma doesn’t live in just one place - and why healing often requires a more holistic, integrative approach.By the end of this episode, you’ll:Understand why healing childhood trauma is rarely solved by a single therapy approachLearn the main ways trauma shows up in adulthood - thoughts, behaviours, nervous system, attachmen
5 Signs Childhood Trauma May Still Be Affecting Your Life (Ep 16)
In this episode of The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast, we explore five subtle but powerful signs that unresolved childhood trauma may still be affecting your emotional wellbeing, relationships, and sense of self today.You’ll learn how early experiences influence adult self-worth, emotional reactions, and recurring life patterns - often in ways that are easy to miss.By the end of this episode, y
What Your Nervous System Wishes You Knew About Trauma Healing (Ep 15)
In this episode, we explore why slow and steady pacing in psychotherapy often leads to deeper, safer, and more lasting healing, and how moving too quickly can sometimes make things harder rather than easier.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Understand why going faster in trauma work can sometimes slow progress or increase symptomsRecognise how the nervous system responds to overwhelm a
How Childhood Trauma Affects Adult Relationships: Attachment, Patterns & Healing (Ep 14)
In this episode, we explore how childhood trauma affects adult relationships, and why the patterns you struggle with in intimacy, friendship, and connection often didn’t start in the present.From attachment styles and nervous system responses to people-pleasing, avoidance, and fear of abandonment, we unpack how early relational wounds quietly shape the way you love, attach, and respond to others t
Breaking the Cycle: Healing the Patterns Childhood Trauma Created (Ep 13)
In this episode, we explore how childhood trauma creates deeply ingrained cycles of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours that can follow us into adulthood.By the end of this episode you'll be able to:Understand what trauma cycles are and how they form in childhoodRecognise why patterns that no longer serve you once had an important protective roleIdentify how these cycles show up in your nervous sys
The Beliefs You Didn’t Choose: How Early Experiences Shape Core Beliefs (Ep 12)
In this episode, we explore how the core beliefs we carry about ourselves in adulthood can often be formed in response to childhood trauma - not because they were true, but because they helped us survive.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Understand what core beliefs are and how they form as adaptive survival responsesReframe beliefs like “I don’t matter” as protective strategies rather
The Hidden Cost of “I’m Fine” - Understanding Emotional Numbness After Childhood Trauma (Ep 11)
In this episode, we explore emotional numbness - the quiet, often unseen trauma response that can shape how we think, feel, and show up in the world.We break down how numbness forms, why it once protected you, and the ways it can quietly shape your adult life today.By the end of this episode, you’ll learn:the neuroscience and psychology behind emotional numbnessthe key signs and patterns to help y
Ever Freeze and Not Know Why? The Hidden Trauma Response Nobody Talks About (Ep 10)
In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most misunderstood trauma responses: freeze. If you’ve ever gone blank in conflict, shut down in conversations, or felt disconnected from your own life, this episode will help you understand why.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Clearly understand what the freeze response is and why your body uses itRecognise how freeze shows up in your day
5 Steps to Discover How Trauma Shapes You (Ep 09)
In this episode, we walk through the five key steps that help you finally understand how trauma has shaped you.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Identify which type of trauma you’ve experiencedUnderstand the core wound that experience left in your sense of selfRecognise how trauma shows up in your body, emotions, and beliefsSpot the protective patterns that were once survival strategie
When Anger Is Really Trauma: 4 Steps for Healing (Ep 08)
In this episode, we explore anger as a trauma-based fight response, helping you understand why it can feel so intense and how to begin working with it rather than against it.By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:Understand the difference between everyday anger and a trauma-based fight responseRecognise how your body and nervous system communicate through angerIdentify the underlying wounds
From Survival to Regulation: Nervous System 101 (Ep 07)
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of the human nervous system and why our bodies sometimes overreact, get stuck in survival mode, and how trauma can shape our nervous system responses.By the end of this episode you'll be able to:Understand the basic structure and function of the human nervous system.Recognise how trauma can impact nervous system responses.Understand your personal
How Trauma Shapes Us - and What You Can Reclaim (Ep 06)
In this episode we explore how early relational trauma shapes our sense of self - and what we can reclaim as we begin to heal.We dive into how protective adaptations like people-pleasing, perfectionism, withdrawal, or over-achieving often feel like “who we are,” and how to start reconnecting with the authentic self beneath the layers of survival.Alec also shares practical insights from therapy, in
From Contraction to Expansion – Signs You’re Healing (Ep 05)
In this episode, we explore what it means to move from contraction to expansion after relational trauma.By the end of this episode, you’ll know:How relational trauma can show up as contraction in your body, emotions, and relationships - from slumped posture to emotional withdrawal.What contraction looks like in everyday life and why it’s often a protective response.How small, embodied moments of e
Connection or Protection: What’s Driving Your Relationships? (Ep 04)
In this episode, we explore one of the deepest dilemmas many of us face after relational trauma:How do we form meaningful connection with others - when parts of ourselves are still protecting us from getting hurt?You’ll walk away with:A clearer understanding of why you relate the way you do.Insight into your own protector parts and what they might be trying to keep you safe from.And a practical he
Why Trauma Isn’t Just About Big Events (Ep 03)
In this episode, we’re breaking down a common misconception about trauma - that it only “counts” if it’s something dramatic or extreme. By the end of this episode you'll:Know the difference between Big T and little t traumaUnderstand how the more subtle, everyday experiences - like emotional neglect or inconsistency - can quietly shape the way we see ourselves and relate to others. Understand how
What Is Relational Trauma - And How Does It Show Up In Your Life? (Ep 02)
In this foundational episode, we unpack one of the most important questions at the heart of this series: What is relational trauma?By the end of this episode, you’ll understand:The difference between relational trauma, developmental trauma, and attachment traumaWhere and how relational trauma often develops - from families to adult relationships and workplacesThe common signs and symptoms that may
Welcome Episode (Ep 01)
Episode 1: Welcome to Healing Relational TraumaIn this very first episode of Healing Relational Trauma, host Alec Williams, a psychotherapist and relational trauma specialist based in London, shares the inspiration behind the podcast and what you can expect from the journey ahead.You'll get a sense of why he created this podcast - to explore what it means to heal, connect, and live more fully afte
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