In this episode of the Covenant Eyes Podcast, host Karen Potter and co-host Rob are joined by Adam Young, licensed clinical social worker, former pastor, author, and host of The Place We Find Ourselves podcast.

Adam shares deep insight into how early life experiences shape the brain, body, and nervous system—and why engaging our personal stories with care and support is essential for healing. Together, they explore trauma, shame, memory, and the redemptive truth that God designed us for restoration.

This conversation offers hope for anyone carrying unresolved pain, reminding listeners that healing is possible and that our bodies and hearts were created with the capacity to recover and be made whole.

✨ Episode Topics Discussed

• Why shame resists being brought into the light
• How personal stories shape the brain and nervous system
• The difference between explicit and implicit memory
• Why unresolved trauma often lives in the body
• Understanding complicity and misplaced shame
• The concept of “the trauma before the trauma”
• How family systems shape vulnerability and healing
• Why healing requires community and trained support
• Trauma-informed therapy and what to look for in a clinician
• The hope of healing rooted in God’s design and goodness

📘 Resources Mentioned

Adam Young Counseling – https://www.adamyoungcounseling.com
The Place We Find Ourselves Podcast – https://adamyoungcounseling.com/podcast/
Make Sense of Your Story by Adam Young – https://www.amazon.com/Make-Sense-Your-Story-Everything/
The Allender Center – https://theallendercenter.org

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Shame, Silence & the Path to Healing
00:25 – Welcome & Guest Introduction
01:35 – Adam’s Background & Work
02:10 – The Importance of Personal Stories and Adam’s Book
03:32 – Why Shame Keeps Stories Hidden
04:45 – Explicit vs. Implicit Memory
06:40 – Understanding Complicity and Moving Past It
10:25 – The Trauma Before the Trauma
11:51 – Betrayal, Trust & the Body’s Awareness
13:26 – Finding and Naming Formative Stories
14:14 – Trauma-Informed Therapy
16:46 – Trauma in the Body & Nervous System
18:54 – Generational Trauma & Healing
20:09 – Resources & Where to Find Help
20:46 – Encouragement & Closing Reflection

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