You are not broken.

FEBRUARY 2024

TRIGGER WARNING: C-PTSD and abuse, but no specific event details.

Subscriber First Name,

Version 2.0 of my website is LIVE! Go check out all the changes here.

Feel free to reply to this email and let me know what you think.

I’ll be making tweaks to it over the coming weeks, but I’m really happy with where we’re at right now. My goal is to resonate with the people I can most help. Speaking of…

This month marks one year since I opened Brandi Fleck Coaching. Since then, I’ve coached 20 different clients. I think that’s pretty good for a new coach!

(I currently have spots open, if you’d like to get 1:1 coaching this year!)

When I first opened, I knew I wanted to help trauma survivors with childhood emotional abuse and neglect histories. While some people with this type of history don’t develop C-PTSD, many do.

The thing is, a pattern that is emerging in my coaching practice is that my clients all have C-PTSD symptoms, whether they’ve been diagnosed or not.

C-PTSD stands for complex post-traumatic stress disorder. The complex part comes in when traumatic events happen repeatedly over prolonged periods of time. Think, abuse.

Symptoms are similar to PTSD but include a few extras:

Anxiety
Flashbacks or nightmares
Avoiding situations, places, and other things related to the traumatic event
Heightened emotional responses
Persistent difficulties in sustaining relationships
Nervous system dysregulation
Lack of identity or sense of self

If you suspect that you might have C-PTSD, there are two things you should know:

It’s not actually a disorder. The naming is outdated and many people are starting to drop the “D” and refer to it as C-PTS. There’s nothing inherently wrong with you and you’re not “crazy.”
That’s because C-PTS is a brain injury that can be healed.

The further down the rabbit hole I go into C-PTS(D) research, the more sure I am that I was living with undiagnosed C-PTSD too. I’m also sure that it’s nearly gone now after 7 years of my own self healing. More on that another day…

In the meantime, here are two great resources I really like if you want to learn more about healing C-PTS(D).

Journal Prompts

Do I think something is wrong with me?
What would it be like to let go of that thought?

Subscriber Q&A

Q: Why is all this self healing work worth it if the person I’m closest to doesn’t even see or acknowledge my progress?

A: There’s a lot to unpack here, but to make a long answer short, healing from trauma is worth it because you get to discover who you truly are and healing makes your life better. Your life being better enables you to have better relationships, true connection, health, spirituality, purpose, and more. You get to experience happiness and pleasure. You also learn how to navigate hard situations better so they’re not as hard.

At the end of the day, it’s your life. Your worth does not derive from someone else’s acknowledgement of it or ability or inability to see it. You’re worthy of healing and love and so much more just because you exist.

You must believe that though, at least somewhere in the depths of your soul, to go on a self healing journey and see results.

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If you have a question, hit reply to this email and ask. I’ll answer it on a first-come, first-served basis in upcoming newsletters. If you’d rather submit a question anonymously, go HERE.

New from the Blog

What is Trauma?

This is a jumping off point to understanding what trauma is, how widespread it is, and how it impacts our lives—from reactivity in relationships to chronic physical health issues.

Understanding Coping

This is an educational article describing what a coping mechanism is and how to determine if yours is healthy or unhealthy. It also contains a huge list of behavioral adaptation examples.

How to Stay Motivated

This is advice on how to stay committed to your goals and make progress, even when it’s hard.

NEW BFC Website!

Check out my new website and reply to let me know what you think! Does it resonate?

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Somatic Embodiment and Nervous System Regulation Certification

Somatic means of the body. We do a lot of talking in coaching, which is considered from the head down. But it’s also okay to work from the body up. That’s where somatic exercises come in. They help regulate your nervous system and release stored trauma.

To that end, I’ve started classes to become certified in somatic embodiment with leading trauma expert, Linda Thai. The first class was just last week, and I’m excited!

The program ends in April, so I should be able to start integrating this modality into my coaching packages by the summer.

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This month, I’ll be giving my Self Healing the Root workshop live for the second time to coach Stephanie B. Dunn’s Restore group cohort of clergywomen experiencing burnout.

Stephanie told me that the women in the first group referred back to my workshop for the entire length of their group coaching program with her because the information was so helpful.

When I do the workshop live, I tailor it to the group’s specific needs. Did you know that trauma is related to burnout in many ways?

Are You Progressing in The Workshop?

If you’ve stalled out on the Self Healing the Root workshop yourself, reply to this email and let me know where you’re stuck and how I can support you through it.

Or, if you’ve finished it and have seen some results, please leave feedback.

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Trauma-Informed Coaching Directory

I’m now in the Moving the Human Spirit trauma-informed coach directory. You can see my entry here.

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Upcoming Article on Decision Making After Abuse and Neglect

This past month I was interviewed by Bold Journey, a new online magazine. In the interview I talked about how past abuse and neglect impact decision making, how you can strengthen your decision making skills after you’re safe, and how making aligned decisions is related to reducing overwhelm.

I can’t wait to share it with you when it’s published!

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I’m Available to Guest on Your Podcast

I’m guesting on my first podcast as a trauma-informed coach. It’s called The Sparking Entrepreneur with SparkG Media hosted by Kiran Agrahar and Subrat Sahoo.

The interview is today! Fingers crossed it goes well. I’ll let you know when the episode airs.

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Group Coaching at BFC Postponed

Several newsletters ago, I mentioned working on a group program. It’s still in the works, but I’ve decided to postpone it for a while to focus more on serving 1:1 clients with complex trauma. I’ll still keep you posted when beta testing opens.

What’s new with you? I’d love to hear.

And, see you in your inbox next month.

Peace out,

Brandi resting elbows on table holding hands up while smiling at you.

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This email is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for therapy or medical advice. I am a coach and educator. I am not a licensed medical professional.