Writing Your Resilience: Building Resilience, Embracing Trauma and Healing Through Writing

Send us a textImagine working tirelessly for years to publish your first novel—only to have the moment of celebration collide with the collapse of your country. Imagine being forced to flee, leaving behind everything you’ve ever known, and yet… still finding your voice through poetry, storytelling, and advocacy.Today, I have the honor of speaking with Samman Akbarzada—a poet, novelist, refugee, and fierce advocate for human rights. Her novel, Life is a Movie, tells the story of a working child in Afghanistan, while her poetry collection, A Glimmer in the Dark, captures the heartbreak of exile and the enduring hope of survival. Join us as we discuss the power of storytelling, the resilience of the human spirit, and how writing can bear witness to both personal and collective grief.Episode HighlightsPublishing in a War ZoneThe Impact of Crisis and Loss on Our Writing LivesGiving a Voice to Someone Who’s GoneHow Helping Others Empowers YouListening to the HowlWriting as an Act of ServiceSamman’s Best Writing AdviceResources for this Episode: Afghan refugees head to Washington asking special visas be issued for familiesAfghan refugee pleads for resettlement support on Capitol HillVolunteer Information: https://www.volunteermatch.org/Volunteer Organizations in Charlottesville: https://soundjusticelab.org/cville-tulipshttps://www.charlottesvilleunited.org/https://www.virginiaequitycenter.org/Watch the Trailer for LimboSamman Akbarzada is an Afghan refugee and the author of two books: A Glimmer in the Dark, her poetry collection, and Life is a Movie, her debut novel. A second-year student at the University of Virginia, she is committed to working with NGOs and advocating for the rights of underserved communities. Her words capture the suffering, heartbreak, gratitude, and redemption that mark a life lived on the blade of conflict, with love and empathy as her constant guiding light.Connect with SammanWebsite: https://www.amazon.com/author/samman-akbarzadaInstagram.com/sammanwritesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.cConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textLennie Echterling joins the Writing Your Resilience podcast to talk about the lessons he learned from landmine survivors, the difference between empathy and toxic positivity, the importance of fostering your posttraumatic growth, and how to use writing to build your resilience. Lennie’s Bio: Lennie Echterling, Ph.D., is a Professor Emeritus at James Madison University with more than 40 years of experience in promoting resilience, particularly during crises and disasters. He has served as crisis counselor, consultant, and trainer following many traumatic stress events, including tornadoes and floods throughout the United States, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the tsunami in India, the 9/11 attacks at the Pentagon, the shootings at Virginia Tech, and landmine explosions in the Middle East. His awards include JMU’s Distinguished Faculty Award, Virginia Counselors Association’s Humanitarian Award, Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award, Virginia Counselors Career Service Award among many others. Resources mentioned during this episode: The Paradox of Empathy: When Empathy HurtsThriving in a Time of CrisisThe Book of Forgiving: The Four-Fold Path Four Healing Ourselves and Our World by Desmond Tutu and Mpho TutuWriting to Heal with Laura DavisGood Night Jung by Lennie Echterling Episode HighlightsLessons from Landmine Survivors  Triggers for ResilienceDefining Posttraumatic GrowthThe Problem of Toxic PositivityThe Power of Being with Another Person’s StoryThe Struggle to TrustEmbracing and Exploring the Chaos StoryThe Role of Neuroplasticity in StorytellingLessons Learned from Final ConversationsMaking Every Day Valentine’s DayThe Power of Expressing Gratitude  Lennie’s Best Writing AdviceLennie’s Resilience PracticeConnect with Lennie: Email: Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textIf you have a complicated relationship with someone, how do you write about them? Should you craft a linear memoir that reads more like a journey or write something that mirrors your experience? Join me and Lara Lillibridge, author of Girlish, Mama, Mama, Only Mama, and The Truth of Unringing Phones, as we explore the impact of estrangement on the memoir writing process, how to protect your heart as you write about painful experiences, the power of publishing your story, as well as the a-ha Lara had about which part of the writing process actually heals you.Lara’s Bio: Lara Lillibridge (she/they) is the author of The Truth About Unringing Phones: Essays on Yearning; Mama, Mama, Only Mama: An Irreverent Guide for the Newly Single Parent, and Girlish: Growing Up in a Lesbian Home,. Lara is a Creative Nonfiction Editor for HeartWood Literary Magazine. She holds an MFA from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a mentor for AWP’s Writer to Writer.In this episode: When can non-linear storytelling play a role in writing about fragmented relationships?Advice for balancing dark and light moments in memoir writing to present a full picture of the relationship.The importance of audience connection and feedback as a source of resilience during the book launch period.The healing power of revision.Tips for organizing and structuring non-linear memoirs.Resources Mentioned During This Episode:The True Meaning of Success with Courtney MaumWhere Rivers Part: A Story of My Mother’s Life by Kao Kalia YangNew York Times article on Consent by Jill CementEpisode HighlightsCOVID’s Impact on Our CreativityStructuring an Estrangement StoryCrafting a Nonlinear MemoirProtecting Your Heart as You WriteHow Estrangement Impacts UsThe Healing Power of Publishing Your StoryLara’s Best Writing AdviceConnect with LaraWebsite: http://laralillibridge.com/Twitter: https://x.com/Only_MamaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lara.lillibridgeInstagram/Threads: https:/Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textTia Levings joins the Writing Your Resilience Podcast to discuss her experience as a debut author, writing to heal without retraumatizing yourself, the gaslighting that happens in religion, and getting things off your chest and onto the page to educate others with your writing.As you listen to this episode, consider the following questions:  What would you need to do to claim your story? What would tell you it has legs? What would you need to do to see it from a wider lens? If it is a really tough story, how would you care for yourself as you work on it?Tia is an author and guest expert who exposes the abuses in Christian Fundamentalism. She’s been quoted in Salon, the Huffington Post, and the New York Times and appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Her memoir, A Well-Trained Wife, will be published August, 6, 2024 by St. Martin's Press. Online, Tia connects our current news headlines with high-control religious roots.Episode Highlights:Signals Your Project Has LegsHow Writing HealsGaslighting and ReligionFinding the Wider LensUnderstanding Your BoundariesWriting Without Retraumatizing YourselfClaiming Your StoryCaring for the Soft Animal of Your BodyItems mentioned in this episode: The  Best Way to Deal with End-of_year Angst  (Blog post on writing in a vacuum) Welcome to The Anti-FundamentalistShiny Happy People where to find itShitty First Drafts by Anne LamottDr. Ramani On GaslightingPlotting Your Novel with The Plot ClockDeep Work by Cal NewportConnect with Tia: Website: https://tialevings.comTia’s Book: https://tialevings.com/bookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/TiaLevingsWriterFacebook: https://facebook.com/TiaLevingsWriterSubstack: Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textKatie Rose Guest Pryal joins the Writing Your Resilience Podcast to take a deep dive into what neurodiversity is and how it impacts writers.Here are a few questions to ponder as you listen to this episode: What do you know about neurodiversity? Do you consider yourself to be neurodivergent? If you are, how does that impact the way you set up your writing life, what you write about, and how you see the world?Katie Rose Guest Pryal, J.D., Ph.D., is a bipolar-autistic author, keynote speaker, law professor, and expert in mental health and neurodiversity. Her books include Life of the Mind Interrupted: Essays on Mental Health and Disability in Higher Education, the IPPY-Gold-winning Even If You’re Broken: Bodies, Boundaries, and Mental Health, and A Light in the Tower: A New Reckoning with Mental Health in Higher Education. She writes frequently for national magazines and speaks around the country about mental health and neurodiversity. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.Episode HighlightsDefining NeurodiversityThe Power of a DiagnosisThe Problem of OverwhelmReclaiming the Word SelfishLearn to CopeFitting into the Narrow Band of “Normal”Writing and Neurodiversity Items mentioned during this episode: Katie’s post about overwhelm: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzbTVgJgc5L/Compton Cowboys: https://www.instagram.com/comptoncowboys/Contact Katie: Substack: https://krgpryal.substack.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/krgpryal/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krgpryal/Twitter: https://twitter.com/krgpryalConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textDr. Ramani Durvasula, author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People, shares her insights into narcissism, how narcissistic abuse survivors can heal, how to get support, and how to care for yourself when writing and promoting a book on tough topics.Dr. Ramani’s Bio: Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in California, the founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training and Consulting, and professor emerita of psychology at California State University Los Angeles. She is the New York Times bestselling author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. She is also the author of multiple other books including Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility and Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist. She has lectured and trained therapists around the world on best practices on working with clients experiencing narcissistic abuse and has developed a 36-hour virtual training and certification program in conjunction with PESI to train clinicians on how to use an Antagonism-Informed approach with clients experiencing narcissistic relationships. Dr. Durvasula hosts a popular YouTube channel with over 1.6 million subscribers, hosted the critically acclaimed podcast Navigating Narcissism, and is a featured expert on the digital media platform MedCircle. She has also been widely involved in the governance of the American Psychological Association, including the APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology and the APA Minority Fellowship Program. Resources Mentioned During This Episode:Dr. Ramani’s Healing ProgramHealing from Gaslighting CourseCourse on Narcissistic Abuse for TherapistsDr. Ramani NetworkConnect with Dr. RamaniWebsite: https://doctor-ramani.com/ YouTube: @DoctorRamaniInstagram: @DoctorRamaniX@DoctorRamaniTikTokConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textWhat does it mean to write the truth when your story includes trauma—and how do you do it without retraumatizing yourself or your readers?That’s what I’ll explore with this week’s guest, Beth Docherty—a trauma-informed healthcare educator, musician, and emerging memoirist—as she shares her journey from research chemist to advocate for safer, more compassionate care. Together, we dive into one of the most important questions memoirists ask: How do we write about hard truths in ways that are honest, responsible, and healing? Get your notebook, open your heart, and get ready to explore nervous system regulation while writing, what your readers really need from you, and how to know when your story is ready for the world.Episode Highlights2:19: Balancing Truth and Care for the Reader4:45: Understanding Your Window of Tolerance8:31: Attending to Your Audience’s Needs 16:06: Making Sense of Your Story18:00: Preventing Overexposure20:46: Author and Speaker Self-CareResources Mentioned During this Episode:Beth's Essay: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/doctor-trauma-informed-health-care-septic_n_686af8dde4b0762f74e11c1e?eyo#The MothThe Power of Writing Rituals | Building a Resilient Writing Practice (Pt 1)Managing Your Creative Energy | How to Write What Matters Every Day (Pt 2)Working with Your Inner Critic | How to Make It Your Creative Ally (Pt 3)Finish Strong & Plan Your Next Writing Session | Building a Resilient Writing Practice (Pt 4)Beth’s Bio: Beth Docherty is a chemist, musician, writer, and a passionate advocate. She is the Principal of The TRUST Project, a research and outreach initiative dedicated to educating medical professionals and students about the connections between trauma, health, and well-being. Beth lectures nationally at universities, conferences, medical facilities and public events, speaking on the importance of trauma-informed care. She is an active member of the Physical and Behavioral Health Action Team of the HEAL PA initiative, which aims to implement trauma-informed practices acrConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textThis is the 75th episode of the Writing and Resilience Podcast, and I would not have made it this far without your generous support of this podcast and my work. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.Now, about today’s episode. What if the key to writing through pain isn't pushing harder, but rather being radically kinder to yourself? That's what I'll explore with Dr. Risa Ryger, clinical psychologist, international speaker and founder of 93% Consulting. We explore what it really means to change and write through pain, not from a place of brutal self-judgment, but from a place of self-trust, curiosity, and compassion. If you're navigating trauma in your writing, wrestling with your inner critic, or wondering how to begin without overwhelming yourself, this conversation is here to support you. Get ready to feel seen, affirmed, and gently challenged. Episode Highlights2:11: Starting from the Place of Not Knowing4:31: Disruption Isn’t Destruction5:55: Pain in the Change Process14:22: Don’t Get Stuck in the Binary18:24: The Self-Owned Mindset Resources Mentioned During this Episode: Disruptive Conversation with Tia LevingsDisruptive Conversation with Lisa Cooper EllisonDisruptive Conversation with Madonna WilliamsHow to Stop Gaslighting Yourself with Ingrid ClaytonDr. Ryger’s Bio: Dr. Risa Ryger is a Clinical Psychologist, International Speaker, Author, Founder of 93% Consulting, and the Creator of The Disruptive Self-Ownership ProcessTM who served as a consultant psychologist for victim services. She is the host of the weekly Instagram Live series: Disruptive Conversations with Dr. Risa Ryger and she earned her Master of Science, Master of Philosophy, and Doctorate from Columbia University. Creator of the Self-Owned Mindset, she is an excerpt on change whose goal is to help women stop playing small and have the confidence and self-trust to powerfully step forward into their lives and say, I’ve got this.” Dr. Ryger is the proud mother of 2 amazing daughters and lives in NY with her husband and two dogs, Penelope and Sammy – the dog who smiles. Connect with Dr. Ryger:  Website: https://www.drrisaryger.com/Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.risarygerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-risa-ryger-6Connect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textHave you ever felt like your creativity is blocked—but you know the problem isn’t your ideas, your schedule, or even your writing practice? What if your nervous system holds the key to unlocking the stories inside you?In this episode, I’m joined by Jay DeMaio, a trauma-aware Internal Martial Arts teacher based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Together, we explore how Qigong—a gentle, meditative movement practice—can enhance creativity, help regulate your nervous system, and bring your body into deeper harmony so your writing can flow more freely. We also dig into my struggles with rest and boredom when doing things I know are good for me. Grab your pen, open your heart, and discover why slowing down might be the medicine your writing life truly needs.Episode Highlights0:47: What is QiGong5:03 How QiGong Changed Jay15:00: The Impact of Grief and Fear on Our Energy 17:00 Qi Resourcing Exercise 32:00 The Somatic Writing Process34:00 Boredom and the Fallow State41:00 Bringing Curiosity to Our Discomfort44:00 Capitalizing on Summer EnergyResources Mentioned During this Episode: QiGong: What You Need to KnowMore on QiGong and Its Benefits Jay’s Bio: Jay DeMaio is a trauma-aware Internal Martial Arts Teacher based in Charlottesville, VA. Jay holds a five-year certification in QiGong, Qi Healing and Internal Alchemy Meditation from Blue Willow World Healing Center. He has been training for over 15 years via direct transmission from Daoist QiGong Masters from the Dragon Gate Lineage School and the Mt EMei Lineage School. Through his online classes and in-person workshops, Jay guides gentle, empowering QiGong practices that connect the body to its innate healing wisdom and inner medicine. His therapeutic approach is informed by 5 Element Chinese Medicine and psychosomatic science while staying rooted in trauma awareness, deep presence, and compassion.Connect with Jay:  Website: www.jaydemaio.comInstagram and X: @ altar_native_medicineConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production

Send us a textIn this episode, I reconnect with the brilliant and multifaceted Sean Murphy—poet, fiction writer, founder of 1455 Literary Arts, director of the Center for Story at Shenandoah University, and host of the podcast Some Things Considered. Together, we explore what it means to create during challenging times, why writing is a long game built on endurance, and how generosity—both to others and to your own process—can sustain your creative spirit. We talk about literary citizenship, artistic joy, and the mindset shifts that help us keep going when the road feels steep. We also tackle one of my most persistent writing problems—something I know I’m not alone in: how to capture all those great ideas that come to me when I’m shampooing my hair. Episode Highlights2:57: Juggling the Hardships and Hopes of the Writing Life5:29: Differentiating Writing from Publishing7:34: The Process is the Reward12:33: Writing While Wearing Many Hats18:45: Developing a Creative Mindset30:34: Why You Must be a Good Literary CitizenResources Mentioned During this Episode: Some Things Considered: Karen E. Bender & Robert Anthony Siegel | How to Adapt & Thrive as a WriterInformation on the connection between dopamine and our endeavors: Dr. Kay Tye: The Biology of Social Interactions and EmotionsWriting to Heal with Laura DavisHow to Navigate the Business of Writing and Publishing: Expert Advice from Jane FriedmanSean’s Bio: Sean Murphy is founder of the non-profit 1455 Lit Arts, and directs the Center for Story at Shenandoah University. He has appeared on NPR's All Things Considered and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Writer’s Digest, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023. His third collection, Kinds of Blue, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, published in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I'm Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine's 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, aConnect with your host, Lisa:Get Your Free Copy of Write More, Fret LessWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn Free Your Writing Voice, Fuel Your Motivation is a 12-week course designed to help you reconnect with the creative spark that brought you to the page in the first place. https://lisacooperellison.com/free-your-writing-voice-find-your-motivation/ Produced by Espresso Podcast Production