Hosted by Kevin Young. Produced by J'aime Rothbard.

What happens when we stop performing and start being? Cat guides us through her transformational journey from codependent conditioning to embodied authenticity. With wisdom drawn from 30+ years of yoga practice, plant medicine journeys, and navigating her own healing from Breast Cancer, Cat reveals why the answers we seek aren't outside ourselves, but waiting to be uncovered within.

Cat reflects on: - How shedding her protective layers enabled her to access her true strength - Her expanded her capacity to be present, hold space for others and become a conduit for transformation - How humor helps her navigate life's challenges, as everything is funny... eventually - The importance of receiving—from others and ourselves

Through humor, vulnerability, and profound insight, Cat shares many life lessons, including how learning to trust her innate healing capacity revealed the ease that comes from truly holding ourselves from the inside.

About Cat McCarthy, Trauma-informed Somatic Coach

Cat integrates the practice of Yoga, the empathy skills of Compassionate/Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and trauma-Informed somatic movement therapy. Her approach to the relational container in which others safely explore the heart-mind-body terrain is deeply respectful. She supports Compassionate Inquiry's year-long and Circles programs, and co-leads its NVCI Focus group.

A dedicated yoga practitioner and international teacher/trainer, Cat holds certifications in Anusara Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, NYCNVC Facilitation, Compassionate Inquiry® and is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the American Yoga Council. Her extensive studies span the traditions of Rajanaka Philosophy, Neelakantha meditation, The Breathing Project's Embodied Anatomy, and Polyvagal Theory practices.

As an experiential learner and fellow traveler, Cat holds space as a plant medicine journey integrator at a psychedelic wellness center in NYC. She also leads Body-Mindfulness (meditation/breathwork/sound work) classes for the global Spinal Cord Injury population via the Back2Life Center at NYC's Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Cat's entertaining teaching style blends her vulnerable humor, dynamic clarity and attuned presence. When not traversing the globe teaching and training, this Emmy-nominated filmmaker directs/produces non-fiction projects. Her podcast, The Upside of Over, focuses on integrating NVC into our daily lives.

An avid singer who offers vocal and sound resonance courses for embodied self-expression and collective healing, Cat's aim is to support people in rewriting their self-narratives for evolution and growth. She's also developing programs for actors using therapeutic approaches to character development. But her biggest offering is sharing lessons learned in her "cancer discovery" and ongoing life journey.

Promotional Message

If you're not a therapist or healer, but you've heard our guests describe the personal transformations they experienced during their Compassionate Inquiry® journeys, and wonder what that would be like for you... Circles is a 10-week small group experience offered to anyone who wants to experience the power of Gabor Maté's approach to trauma healing. Use this link to find out if this program is for you.

Resources:

Websites:

Cat's Professional Website

Cat's NYCNVC Profile

Cat's Compassionate Inquiry Profile

Cat McCarthy on Emergent Authenticity & Rewriting Scripts