The Centre for Healing Podcast

In this episode of The Centre for Healing Podcast, Mel sits down with Valery Alignment—a multidisciplinary practitioner, mentor, and teacher—for a heartfelt, wide-ranging conversation that feels like two friends having coffee. Together, they explore what it really means to live and work as a trauma-informed practitioner, especially when your life is full (motherhood, business, healing work) and your nervous system is your most important tool.

Key topics & takeaways (bullet points)

Adult friendships and why healing can change your social circle

Why practitioners must develop stronger boundaries (time, energy, identity)

Pricing and charging as a nervous system and values conversation (not hourly worth)

Agency and sovereignty: trauma-informed work means respecting the client’s deeper “yes/no”

Nervous system + energetics: two expressions of the same system (the “antenna”)

The myth of “love and light” and why anger can be constructive and healthy

React vs respond: creating a pause before action

“You are the niche”: competition narratives dissolve when you embody your unique signature

Mentorship matters: self-awareness grows, but blind spots remain

Valerie’s program: The Holistic Human (Practice mastery, self-mastery, intuition mastery)

Guest bio

Valery is a holistic teacher, guide, and founder of Valery Alignment. Her work sits at the intersection of applied psychology, spirituality, emotional development, and energetic mastery. She supports practitioners, self-healers, and leaders in understanding human patterns, dismantling internal blocks, and aligning their lives and work with truth, integrity, and purpose. Valery is the creator of The Holistic Human and PostureCraft™️, and teaches through systems she has lived, tested, and embodied—bringing depth, clarity, and structure to inner work beyond trends or surface-level healing.

Links:

Website:

https://www.valeryalignment.au/

VA IG: https://www.instagram.com/valery.alignment/

PC IG: https://www.instagram.com/posture_craft/

The Holistic Human, designed to support practitioners to deepen their skills and self-mastery through three pillars:
https://www.valeryalignment.au/the-holistic-human-2026

Trauma-Aware Parenting - https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/trauma-aware-parenting

Find out more about The Centre for Healing and explore our trainings here - https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/

Show Notes: Healing with Pets and Humans

Guest: Fabienne Wydler

In this heartfelt conversation, we explore the powerful and often overlooked relationship between humans and their animal companions—and how healing can unfold on both sides of the leash.

Key Takeaways:

Our pets often mirror unresolved emotions, unexpressed needs, and weakened boundaries in their human companions, gently holding space for what wants to be seen and healed.

Deepening your connection and attunement with your pet can offer profound insights into your own emotional world, supporting personal growth and transformation.

Animals provide a non-judgemental, emotionally safe presence—particularly supportive for neurodivergent children who may find it easier to express themselves with animals than with people.

Behavioural challenges in pets (such as anxiety, aggression, or destructiveness) often point to deeper emotional or relational dynamics within the human–animal bond. Healing the root cause can create lasting change for both.

Resources Mentioned:

Fabienne Wydler’s website: fabiennewydler.com

Free booklet on emotional mirroring: Available for download via Fabienne’s website

Connect with Fabienne:

Instagram: @healingwithfabienne

YouTube: Heal With Animals

Facebook Group: Heal With Animals

Podcast Episode: Exploring and Inquiring into Parts

Guests: Ryan Hassan & Matt Kay

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Ryan Hassan and Matt Kay guide listeners through the fascinating world of parts work, explaining how different aspects of ourselves form, interact, and influence our behaviours. They share practical tools for relating to these parts with curiosity and compassion, as well as embodied techniques for deeper self-exploration.

Key Topics Covered

1. Understanding Parts

What are "parts" and how do they form?

How parts develop as coping mechanisms during childhood experiences and challenging environments.

Understanding internal conflicts and self-sabotaging behaviours that arise when parts are in opposition.

2. Relating to Parts

Adopting a compassionate and curious approach to your parts.

Welcoming all parts of yourself—even those you may dislike or want to suppress.

Recognising that parts are aspects of yourself, not separate entities.

3. Embodied Inquiry

Exploring parts through embodied inquiry, a somatic, felt-sense method.

Sample inquiry questions:

When did this part first emerge?

How has it served or sabotaged you?

What does it believe about you or the world?

What does it need, and what would happen if it weren’t present?

Key Insights & Takeaways

Parts are often created as survival mechanisms, helping maintain autonomy and connection, particularly after developmental trauma or a lack of safety and empathy.

Healing involves integration and wholeness, where all parts are acknowledged and understood.

Cultivating the ability to compassionately witness your parts and respond to their needs with empathy is crucial for personal growth, individuation, and lasting healing.

Resources & Next Steps

Embodied Processing (EP) provides a structured approach to exploring and working with parts.

Click the Embodied Processing free pre-training here - https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/embodied-processing-pretraining

For personalized guidance, consider reaching out to Ryan, Matt, or a certified EP practitioner.

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Ryan Hassan and Noel Haarburger explore the inner critic—its origins, mechanisms, and how it influences our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Listeners are guided through understanding the difference between a healthy conscience and an unhealthy inner critic, learning strategies to engage with it, and cultivating self-compassion and personal resilience.

Key Topics Covered

Understanding the Inner Critic

Also referred to as the inner judge or superego.

Plays a role in shaping self-perception and behavior.

Origins and Development

Often rooted in childhood experiences and early survival strategies.

Cultural expectations and societal norms can amplify the inner critic.

Inner Critic Dynamics

Interaction with the “victim” part of the self and coping strategies.

Contradictory demands that often create internal conflict.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Conscience

Healthy conscience guides ethical behavior and personal growth.

Unhealthy inner critic fosters guilt, shame, and self-judgment.

Futility and Pervasiveness

Inner critic demands are often impossible to satisfy.

Can manifest in multiple areas of life, creating chronic stress.

The Myth of Necessity

Belief that high achievement requires a harsh inner critic is false.

Self-Compassion

Central to countering the inner critic.

Involves developing the “adult self” to nurture, protect, and guide the inner child.

Key Insights & Takeaways

The inner critic often begins as a childhood survival mechanism.

Cultural and societal pressures compound its intensity.

Awareness and observation of the inner critic is crucial for transformation.

The inner critic is contradictory, leading to emotional and physical exhaustion.

Effective strategies include:

Using humor and paradox to disrupt its patterns.

Practicing assertiveness to set boundaries with internal judgments.

Cultivating self-compassion and an adult self to respond rather than react.

Practical Conclusions & Actions

Daily Dialogue: Regularly engage in conversations with the inner critic to understand its motivations.

Dual Awareness: Develop the capacity to observe the inner critic without fully identifying with it.

Origin Exploration: Reflect on situations that trigger the inner critic and their roots.

Defend & Disengage: Learn to protect yourself while maintaining compassion for the inner critic and the self.

Listen and Learn: This episode provides actionable guidance for anyone looking to transform the impact of their inner critic, reduce internal conflict, and cultivate a more compassionate, empowered self.

Understanding Boundaries and Boundary Setting

Episode Summary

In this insightful episode, Noel Haarburger and Ryan explore the art of setting and maintaining healthy boundaries. They discuss why boundaries matter, how they are shaped by early experiences, and offer practical strategies for cultivating strong, flexible boundary skills. Whether you tend to be overly accommodating or struggle with rigidity, this episode provides tools and perspectives to help you navigate relationships with confidence and authenticity.

Key Topics Covered

The Cell Membrane Analogy: Understanding boundaries as flexible yet protective, like a cell membrane.

Boundary Extremes: Recognizing patterns of being too accommodating versus overly guarded.

Anger and Assertiveness: How integrating these emotions supports effective boundary setting.

Early Attachment and Trauma: How childhood experiences influence boundary patterns in adulthood.

Practical Exercises:

Saying “yes” and “no” with clarity

Visualizing personal boundary spaces

Role-playing real-life boundary scenarios

Insights and Takeaways

Healthy boundaries are a cornerstone of personal growth, yet many struggle to establish and maintain them.

Suppressing anger or assertiveness can create resentment and emotional blocks; embracing these emotions is essential.

Self-awareness, emotional integration, and vulnerability are crucial for reclaiming your capacity to set boundaries.

Boundary work is relational—surrounding yourself with supportive people enhances your growth.

Sustainable boundary development requires ongoing self-reflection, self-compassion, and challenging limiting beliefs.

Resources Mentioned

Gabor Maté – Exploring the link between boundaries, anger, and physical health.

Book: When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

Connect with Us

Join the Healing Hub membership for ongoing support and resources: The Healing Hub

For questions or enquiries, email: [email protected]