33 | Unpacking Trauma And Achievement with Psychologist Andrea Michel

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In this episode, we explore the intricate web of trauma, perfectionism and high achievement with Andrea Michel. 

As a developmental psychologist, trauma-sensitive leadership coach, and former corporate badass, Andrea peels back the layers of what it means to be a high achiever, how our childhood traumas shape our professional lives, and the subtle yet significant distinction between burnout and trauma responses in the workplace. She offers a compassionate lens through which to view our inner perfectionist – not as something to be vanquished, but as a part of ourselves that requires understanding and, if we choose, healing.

Whether you're a leader seeking to create a trauma-sensitive environment or an individual ready to confront the roots of your perfectionism, Andrea's expertise will guide you toward a path of self-awareness and empowerment. Press play to join the conversation.

Some key points discussed in this episode include:

• Understanding decision-making
• High-functioning behavior, overachievement, and childhood trauma
• Parenting and trauma
• Forming relationships based solely on achievement
• Self-awareness and Healing
• Differentiating burnout and trauma response 

GEMS DROPPED
“Simply ​put, ​trauma ​is ​any ​experience ​or ​any ​event that ​overwhelms ​our ​internal ​resources. ​​And ​when ​we ​feel ​out ​of ​control ​of ​a ​situation. So ​in ​other ​words, ​trauma ​is ​anything ​that ​happens ​to ​us ​where ​we ​feel ​like ​we ​have ​no ​control ​over ​the ​situation ​and ​we're ​basically ​stressed ​out ​to ​the ​max. And ​so ​I ​like ​to ​say, ​when ​we ​think ​about ​trauma, ​there ​is the ​event, ​there ​the ​experience, ​and ​then ​there ​is the ​expectations. ​So ​the ​event ​is ​the ​thing ​that ​happens, the ​experience ​is ​how ​we ​interpret ​that ​thing ​that ​happened and ​then ​the ​expectation ​is ​how ​do ​others ​around ​us ​respond ​to ​that ​situation.” - Andrea Michel

“What ​I ​come ​into ​contact ​with, ​even ​with ​some ​​clients ​in ​session, ​sometime ​we're ​asking, ​like, ​where ​does ​that ​come ​from? ​Why ​is ​that ​showing ​up? ​Why ​is ​that ​happening? ​What ​was ​that ​about? ​But ​we ​can't ​take ​it ​much ​further. ​And ​I ​just ​feel ​like ​sometimes ​it's ​just ​another ​reminder ​that ​you ​can't ​really ​do ​this ​alone. ​You ​can, ​many ​times ​only ​get ​yourself ​so ​far, because ​we ​can't ​see ​outside. ​We ​can't ​see ​outside ​of ​how ​we ​see.” - Monique R. Shields

“We ​have ​to ​unburden ​ourselves ​of ​things ​that ​we ​ultimately ​cannot ​control ​and ​we're ​not ​supposed ​to ​anyway.” - Monique R. Shields

“If ​you ​want ​to ​stop ​repeating the same ​cycle, ​you ​have ​to ​heal ​the ​trauma.” - Andrea Michel

MENTIONED

EP. 14 Spiritual Knowing and Self-Integrity with Josie Rosario 

GUEST LINKS
Learn more about Andrea Michel | Website | The ​Global ​Center ​for Trauma | Private Coaching 

STAY IN TOUCH
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