How Childhood Trauma Shapes Our Adult Lives: A Conversation with Grief Counselor Bridget Caletka

https://mosaicstx.org
www.thinspacewellness.com
Kim@thinspacewellness.com
bridget@forgemypath.com

Surrounded by golden aspens on the porch of Seven Keys Lodge in Estes Park, I sat down with grief counselor Bridget Caletka for what became one of the most powerful conversations I've had about loss, healing, and the spaces between.

"Say their names," Bridget encourages as we discuss those we've lost—her mother Alice and my mother Susan. This simple act of naming brings tears to both our eyes, highlighting how rarely we hear the names of loved ones who have passed. We explore why our society has become so grief-avoidant, lacking the mourning rituals that previous generations embraced, instead expecting people to quickly "move on" and return to normal functioning after profound loss.

As a certified nature-informed therapist, Bridget explains how natural settings function as "mirror, mentor, and medicine" in the healing process. This perfectly describes the therapeutic power of places like Estes Park, where the boundaries between heaven and earth seem to blur in what I call "thin spaces." The scientific evidence supporting nature's healing effects on our emotional wellbeing makes a compelling case for intentionally seeking these experiences.

Childhood trauma, particularly losing a parent young, creates patterns that often manifest in adulthood—attachment difficulties, trust issues, people-pleasing tendencies. Yet Bridget offers hope through concepts like Irvin Yalom's "ripple effect," showing how those we've lost continue to influence us and future generations, living on through our mannerisms, values, and the work we do.

Finding specialized grief support can be challenging. Through her work with Mosaics, a Texas nonprofit connecting people with appropriate mental health resources, Bridget advocates for better systems to match people with properly trained grief counselors, especially for traumatic grief.

Whether you're actively grieving or carrying past losses that have shaped you, this conversation offers permission to honor your experience rather than "getting over it." The healing journey isn't about forgetting—it's about integrating loss into the beautiful complexity of who you are becoming. Join us for this intimate exploration of how grief transforms us, and how we can find healing in unexpected places.

#midlifemayhem #midlife #midlifetransformation #healing #grief #naturetherapy #nature #loss

Видео How Childhood Trauma Shapes Our Adult Lives: A Conversation with Grief Counselor Bridget Caletka канала Kim Branum