Sarah arrives at 7 AM every morning, stays past 7 PM most nights, and delivers ahead of schedule. Marcus stays calm during every crisis. Both are high performers. Both are also quietly struggling with trauma responses that masquerade as professional excellence.

In this episode, I break down how fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses disguise themselves as your most valued workplace behaviors - and what leaders need to understand about the difference between authentic excellence and survival-based performance.

We explore:

* When intensity reads as leadership (but is actually hypervigilance)
* When productivity masks avoidance through constant motion
* When calm conceals emotional disconnection and dissociation
* When people-pleasing powers performance (at tremendous cost)
* What creates space for optimal functioning vs. effective survival

If you're a leader who wants to support sustainable excellence in your team, this episode is for you.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Hook: High Performance That's Actually Survival
0:30 - When Survival Looks Like Success
4:30 - The Four Trauma Responses at Work
4:30 - Fight Response: When Intensity Reads as Leadership
6:00 - Flight Response: When Productivity Masks Avoidance
7:30 - Freeze Response: When Calm Conceals Disconnection
9:00 - Fawn Response: When People-Pleasing Powers Performance
13:00 - Creating Space for Optimal Functioning
13:30 - Building Psychological Safety That Actually Works
14:45 - Redefining Performance Metrics
16:00 - Supporting Regulation Without Requiring Disclosure
17:00 - Developing Trauma-Informed Leadership Capacity
18:30 - Moving Forward: From Recognition to Response
20:30 - Join the Waitlist for Leading at the Nervous System Level

Ready to lead at the nervous system level? Join the waitlist for my Trauma-Informed Leadership Coaching Intensive: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/tilwaitlist

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

Ever wondered what makes peer support different from therapy—and why it matters for your career? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Jade Miller, a peer support worker specializing in dissociative experiences, to explore how peer relationships create unique healing spaces that traditional approaches often miss.

Jade shares why the power dynamics in peer support matter so deeply for trauma survivors, how to start building authentic professional connections when you're barely making it through your workday, and the real truth about "bringing your whole self to work" (spoiler: they don't actually mean that).

We dig into practical wisdom about:

* Understanding the difference between peer support and therapy
* Navigating authenticity versus professional polish in the workplace
* Building trust gradually when your nervous system is dysregulated
* Creating safe community connections without adding more demands to your energy
* The power of accompaniment in healing and professional growth

About Jade Miller:
Jade is a peer support worker who coaches people with dissociative experiences. After spending seven years helping clients find resources that didn't exist, she's now building Safe Harbor—a peer respite center specifically for people with trauma and dissociative experiences. You can find her at Peer Support for Multiples on Instagram and at peersupportformultiples.com.

Resources mentioned:

Peer Support for Multiples: www.peersupportformultiples.com
Instagram: @peersupportformultiples
Substack: "Apart" by Jade Miller

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and welcome
01:00 - What is peer support and how it differs from therapy
03:00 - The power of accompaniment in healing
04:00 - What makes peer relationships unique
06:00 - Teaching from lived experience
07:00 - Red flags in "expert" approaches
09:00 - Why healing happens in community
10:00 - Building Safe Harbor: A peer respite center
12:00 - Why professional spaces trigger trauma survivors
14:00 - The myth of "bringing your whole self to work"
16:00 - Handling triggers in the workplace
18:00 - Between-session support models
19:00 - The power of "How can I help?"
21:00 - Starting small with community connection
23:00 - Community as rest, not another demand
25:00 - Practical decompression strategies
26:00 - Authentic networking versus transactional relationships
28:00 - Setting clear expectations in professional connections
30:00 - One small step to break isolation today
31:00 - Connect with Jade Miller

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

What happens when you stop protecting your progress and start sharing it? This episode explores the powerful shift from building community to co-creating through collaboration—and why this matters deeply for trauma survivors navigating career development.

If you've spent years learning to trust yourself, the idea of sharing control can feel revolutionary or terrifying. But collaboration isn't about losing your authentic identity—it's about bringing your full self to the table and allowing what you create together to become more than you could protect alone.

I share my personal progression from "unhindered" (2023) to "connection" (2024) to "community" (2025) and now to "collaboration" (2026), revealing how each year built the foundation for the next. You'll discover why collaboration requires something different from cooperation or coordination, and how it asks trauma survivors to practice profound courage.

In this episode, you'll explore:

* The crucial difference between cooperation, coordination, and true collaboration
* Why sharing control doesn't mean losing your authentic identity
* How collaboration builds on the foundation of safety, connection, and community
* The vulnerable courage required when trauma survivors choose co-creation
* Practical ways collaboration might show up in your career journey

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The word that keeps appearing
02:15 - Defining collaboration vs. cooperation and coordination
05:30 - The vulnerability of shared ownership
08:45 - My progression: From unhindered to collaboration
12:20 - 2024: Connection to self and others
14:40 - 2025: Building community and finding your people
17:30 - 2026: When community becomes co-creation
20:15 - What collaboration might look like in practice
22:45 - Your invitation to build together

Ready to explore how collaboration could transform your career development? Book a discovery call at https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min to discuss working together.

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

If you're heading into work while everyone else is opening presents or sitting down to holiday meals, this episode is for you. We're talking about the invisible weight shift workers carry during the holidays—and why it's completely valid whether you're missing celebrations you wish you could attend OR feeling relieved to have a legitimate reason to skip triggering family dynamics.

I'm breaking down what makes holiday shift work particularly challenging for trauma survivors, how to create meaningful moments on your own terms, and the professional strengths you're building (even if it doesn't feel like it right now). This isn't toxic positivity—it's real talk about navigating work when the rest of the world is celebrating.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Hook: You're not alone in working while others rest
00:07 - Introduction: What we're covering today
02:00 - The invisible weight shift workers carry
05:30 - The double-edged reality (grief AND relief)
09:00 - What you're building (whether you realize it or not)
12:30 - Creating your own meaningful moments
16:00 - Building sustainable patterns for your well-being
18:30 - Closing & call to action

What You'll Explore:

* Why shift work during holidays hits differently for trauma survivors
* The double-edged reality of missing celebrations (grief AND relief)
* Developing personalized regulation strategies for holiday shifts
* Creating alternative rituals that honor your reality
* Translating shift work resilience into career advancement

Whether you're in healthcare, hospitality, emergency services, retail, or any role that keeps you working when others rest—you're not alone, and your experience matters.

Resources mentioned:

Discovery call booking: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

Traditional performance management wasn't designed for the 61% of employees who've experienced trauma. In this episode, we explore why annual reviews, feedback sandwiches, and stretch goals often backfire with trauma survivors - and what trauma-informed performance management looks like instead.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Hook: Why performance reviews trigger trauma responses
01:30 - The hidden trauma-performance connection
03:45 - Why traditional approaches backfire
03:45 - #1: The annual review trap
06:00 - #2: The feedback sandwich fallacy
07:00 - #3: The stretch goal problem
07:30 - #4: One-size-fits-all metrics
08:00 - What trauma-informed performance management looks like
09:00 - Principle 1: Predictable, frequent connection
10:00 - Principle 2: Strength-based development
11:00 - Principle 3: Collaborative goal setting
12:00 - What this looks like in practice
14:00 - The business case (statistics)
16:00 - What you can do today
17:30 - Call to action & resources
You'll learn about:

The hidden trauma-performance connection that managers miss
Why self-evaluations create impossible double-binds for trauma survivors
The business case for trauma-informed approaches (43% reduction in turnover)

Practical alternatives that improve outcomes for everyone

Whether you're managing a team or navigating performance reviews yourself, this episode reveals how to create conditions where everyone can perform at their best.

Download the Trauma-Informed Management Quick Reference Guide: https://resilientcareeracademy.myflodesk.com/timqrg

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

Are you stuck on a business decision, unable to tell if you're being strategic or if your nervous system is activated? In this episode, we explore how to distinguish between strategic thinking and trauma responses that disguise themselves as due diligence. You'll learn the specific characteristics of each, which types of decisions are most likely to trigger trauma responses, and practical strategies for moving forward when you're stuck.

This episode is essential listening if you find yourself circling the same decisions endlessly, requiring certainty that doesn't exist, or feeling frozen when it's time to take action in your business or career.

Timestamps:
0:00 - Hook: Is this strategic thinking or your nervous system?
0:07 - Introduction: Strategic vs. Trauma Response
1:30 - Why This Is So Confusing for Trauma Survivors
4:00 - What Strategic Thinking Actually Feels Like
8:30 - What Trauma Response Looks Like
13:00 - Decisions That Trigger Trauma Responses
16:30 - How to Move Forward When You're Stuck
23:00 - Your Intuition Is Still Valid
25:00 - Closing & Call to Action

What You'll Learn:
* Why trauma survivors struggle to distinguish between strategic thinking and trauma responses
* The specific characteristics of strategic thinking versus trauma-based paralysis
* Which types of decisions are most likely to activate your nervous system
* Practical strategies for moving forward when you're stuck in freeze response
* How to honor your trauma-informed intuition while still making necessary decisions

Resources Mentioned:
* The Resilient Career Academy Career Coaching Community (waitlist): https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/resilientcareercoaching-waitlist
* Book a Discovery Call to explore working together: https://calendly.com/cyndibennettconsulting/30min

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

If you're exhausted just thinking about the holidays while everyone else seems to be celebrating... this one's for you.

In this episode of Your Trauma Wise Career Guide, I'm giving you explicit permission to take a career break during the holidays - not because you're failing, but because it might be the most strategic career move you can make right now.

What We Cover:
🎯 Why career breaks feel forbidden for trauma survivors (and why your nervous system makes rest feel dangerous)
🎯 What a "career break" actually means during the holidays (hint: it's not quitting your job)
🎯 The strategic value of rest for your professional success (backed by real client stories)
🎯 How to actually take a break when everything in you is screaming to do more
🎯 What to do instead of career development that actually supports your long-term success
🎯 How to return to career focus after the holidays without losing momentum

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Hook: Feeling exhausted about the holidays?
0:07 - Introduction: Why this episode matters right now
1:30 - Why career breaks feel forbidden for trauma survivors
4:30 - What a "career break" actually means
7:00 - The strategic value of rest (Maria's story)
10:00 - How to actually take a break (5 practical strategies)
13:30 - What to do instead of career stuff
15:30 - Returning to career focus after the holidays
17:00 - Call to action & final permission

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF:
✓ You feel guilty about not working on your career during the holidays
✓ You're exhausted but feel like you can't afford to rest
✓ You're managing trauma responses while trying to navigate family gatherings
✓ You're worried that taking a break will make you fall behind
✓ You're in early to mid-stage healing and work feels like survival
✓ You need permission to prioritize your nervous system over productivity

KEY TAKEAWAYS:
→ Your body's need for rest is not a character flaw - it's information
→ Rest IS productive. Survival IS an accomplishment.
→ Taking a career break during the holidays doesn't mean you've given up on your goals
→ A regulated nervous system is the foundation for sustainable career success
→ You can pause and restart - rest doesn't destroy what you've built

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Free workplace survival guides and boundary-setting tools: cyndibennettconsulting.com/resources

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.

What if the success you're chasing was never designed for someone like you?

During one of my recent open houses, someone asked me: "How do you define success?" It's such a simple question, but the answer is anything but simple—especially for those of us who've been through trauma.

Most success metrics we see in the professional world weren't created with trauma survivors in mind. They measure achievement without accounting for the energy it takes just to show up. They celebrate advancement without honoring the healing journey that makes sustainable growth possible.

In this episode, I share how I define success for trauma survivors: Success is making intentional progress toward meaningful goals while honoring your capacity and supporting your continued healing.

🎯 What You'll Learn:

*Why traditional success metrics create exhaustion for trauma survivors
*The problem with treating success as a destination
*How to define success through intentional progress, meaningful goals, honoring capacity, and supporting healing
*What success looks like at different stages of your healing journey
*How to develop your own trauma-informed definition of success

The world needs your version of success. Not the watered-down, trauma-ignoring version that traditional career advice pushes. The real version—the one that honors your healing, leverages your wisdom, and creates sustainable impact.

Remember, your healing journey isn't a detour from your career path—it's part of what makes you an extraordinary professional.

Ready to build a career that honors both your ambition and your healing? Schedule a discovery call: cyndibennettconsulting.com/contact

📧 Subscribe for weekly trauma-informed career insights
👍 Like this video if it resonated with you
💬 Comment below: How do YOU define success?

#traumasurvivors #CareerDevelopment #TraumaInformed #HealingJourney #ProfessionalGrowth

When you're ready, here are 3 ways I can help you grow your career journey:

1. Free trauma-informed career development resources from my website! Visit https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com for always up-to-date tips.
2. Ready to build a fulfilling career with trauma-informed support? Join The Resilient Career Academy Learning Community, where trauma survivors support each other, share resources, and develop career resilience in a safe, understanding environment
3. Ready for personalized trauma-informed career coaching? Explore my range of virtual coaching packages designed for different stages of your career journey. Visit my website to find the right support for where you are now. [Visit my website: https://www.cyndibennettconsulting.com/1-on-1-coaching]

DISCLOSURE: Some links I share might contain resources that you might find helpful. Whenever possible I use referral links, which means if you click any of the links in this video or description and make a purchase we may receive a small commission or other compensation at no cost to you.