Ep 41: When Healing Gets Political: Compassion, Language, and Repair (with Licensed Counselor Alyssa S. Scarano, LPC)
In this conversation, Emily sits down with licensed counselor Alyssa S. Scarano, LPC, NCC, founder of Collective Therapy & Wellness, to unpack what happens when healing gets political. Together they explore how language shapes healing, how self-compassion becomes an act of resistance, and why the practice of rupture and repair deepens both personal and collective trust.
They discuss what it means to hold boundaries and neutrality without bypassing reality, how to balance activism with nervous system care, and how compassion can be a radical choice in a world that rewards punishment and perfectionism.
“Compassion doesn’t enable. Punishment isn’t discipline. Language is how we return to ourselves.”
This episode will leave you feeling grounded, reflective, and ready to embody the version of healing that doesn’t turn away from the world—but participates in changing it.
Time-Stamped Guide
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00:00 – Setting the tone for a grounded, curious conversation
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03:00 – Alyssa’s story: connection, language, and becoming a “connector”
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07:00 – The power of language in shaping our inner and outer world
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10:30 – Regulated vs. reactive: what it looks like in real life
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14:00 – The “rice on the stove” moment: finding compassion mid-overwhelm
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17:00 – Expectation → Neutrality: letting go of moralizing our choices
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20:00 – Is self-compassion enabling? (and what the research says)
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23:00 – Why high achievers self-punish and what that pattern gives us
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28:00 – The intersection of politics and wellness
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33:00 – Rupture and repair: how trust is built through repair, not perfection
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38:00 – Language as a tool for nervous system regulation
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43:00 – Closing reflections on compassion, activism, and community care
Resources Mentioned
- Join ROOTED - Seasonal Membership to Prevent Burnout
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Book a Private Mentorship or Speaking Engagement > email [email protected]