200. Trauma, Safety, and Healing —3 Types of Trauma + 4 Ways to Restore Trust

The Best of You

Dr. Alison Cook

Health & Fitness, Mental Health

4.9 • 957 Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2026

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if trauma isn’t just about what happened to you—but what your body learned about safety in relationships? If you’ve ever wondered why it’s hard to feel safe in relationships… this episode will help you understand why—and where healing begins. You’ll learn: The 3 ways trauma reshapes your sense of safety The deeper story behind patterns of anxiety, shutdown, or people-pleasing The patterns your nervous system uses to protect you (without you realizing it) The hidden ways trauma can impact your relationship with God 4 shifts that begin to restore safety At its core, trauma isn’t just about what happened to you. It’s about what your body learned in relationships—especially when safety was broken. Whether those wounds began early in life or emerged later through betrayal, loss, or disappointment, your nervous system adapts in ways that are meant to protect you. This conversation offers a compassionate, faith-rooted path forward—helping you understand how your soul and body respond to broken trust, and how safety can be restored over time. More Resources: Connect with @dralisoncook on Instagram Want to go deeper? Join 80,000+ soul menders in our email community and receive weekly reflections and gentle practices here. If you liked this episode, then you’ll love: Episode 179: Building Wise Trust - How to Protect Your Heart Without Closing It Off Episode 188: The Healing Power of Safe People (Not Just Safe Spaces) Episode 191: The 5 Most Important Things I've Learned About Faith, Attachment, & The Inner Life 📖 Find a full transcript and list of resources from this episode here Don't forget to browse this week's sponsors, who make it possible for me to bring you these resources for free + provide you with additional discounts! Quince - How you dress affects your mood and you can trust that Quince has you covered in every day sustainable wardrobe staples. Go to ⁠Quince.com/bestofyou⁠ for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order! MOSH - Save 20% shipping plus FREE shipping on the Best sellers Trial Pack or the plant-based trial pack when you visit MoshLife.com/BESTOFYOU. While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.‍ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	The weight is over. Last One Laughing is back and it's even more brutal than last time. Share your biggest regrets. I don't regret this haircut. What did you ask for? The Shaggy Slim Shady? Joining us this series we have... Romish Wengrenner Nathan, Diane Morgan, David Mitchell, Mel Gedroich, Amy Gledhill, Alan Carr, Bemi Sola, Ike Melo, Sam Campbell, Maisie Adam, and Bob Mortimer.
0:21.5	Anyone want a song?
0:23.3	No.
0:24.3	Last One Laughing, new series, watch now. Only on Prime Video.
0:30.1	At its core, trauma is about broken safety in relationships, where your body learns that connection is no longer safe. When betrayal happens later
0:39.9	in life, it can feel like the ground just falls away beneath your feet, because the assumptions
0:45.4	you carried about the world that people are basically trustworthy, that relationships tend to be safe,
0:51.1	suddenly gets shaken. And your body responds to that shock in very real ways.
0:57.3	Healing often involves not just healing our relationships with other people,
1:01.8	but slowly allowing our understanding of who God is to heal as well.
1:19.9	Hey everyone, and welcome back to this week's episode of The Best of You.
1:22.6	I'm so glad you're here with me today.
1:27.2	Today's deep dive episode is part of what I've been calling our pillar episodes. These are episodes where we step back and talk about some of the core themes that run through so much of the work we do together here at the best of you.
1:36.3	Earlier this year, we talked about connection, how we learned closeness and boundaries in relationships.
1:42.3	We talked about formation and attachment. Some of the deeper ways
1:46.1	our souls are shaped over time. And we talked about joy and play, about the importance of
1:51.5	recovering delight and lightness in our lives. Today, we're turning toward another pillar
1:57.8	that sits underneath so many of our conversations here on the podcast.
2:02.6	And that's the theme of trauma, healing, and safety.
2:06.6	Over the years on this podcast and in my work with so many people, I've noticed something
2:11.1	again and again.
2:12.8	When people begin asking deeper questions about healing, so often what they're really asking about
	...

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