The Centre for Healing Podcast

Guest: Tom Ahern — Counsellor, Author & Fellow Traveller on the Path

Book: Sitting on the Other Side (2026)

Website: ahern.blog

About the Episode

Ryan from TCFH sits down with Tom Ahern, counsellor and author, to discuss his latest book, Sitting on the Other Side (2026).

A collection of personal reflections written between 2021 and 2024, the book explores psychotherapy, anxiety, grief, love, and what it means to live a meaningful life.

Drawing on his experience of returning to therapy as a client while learning to sit on the other side of the room as a therapist, Tom reflects on the complexities of healing, vulnerability, and the human experience.

What began as a book about overcoming OCD and anxiety gradually evolved into a deeper exploration of anxiety as a defence against the overwhelming realities of existence.

The death of Tom’s beloved dog, Steve, brought these questions into sharp focus, prompting him to confront loss, mortality, ambition, and the desire for external validation.

In this conversation, Ryan and Tom explore what it means to navigate life’s uncertainties, sit with grief, and find meaning in the experiences that shape us.

About Natalee Hudson

Natalee Hudson (Mbe.HolCounsMedTeach.)
Founder, Principal & Head Teacher at the Australian Meditation & Holistic Counselling College

Natalee Hudson is a passionate advocate for holistic wellbeing who has dedicated her career to uplifting, empowering, and supporting others. With over 25 years of experience in the community services sector, she has made a meaningful impact across the holistic field and is a dedicated mentor to aspiring professionals.

Throughout her career, Natalee has supported people through a wide range of life experiences and challenges, including grief and loss, alcohol and drug-related issues, mental health struggles, trauma recovery, and significant lifestyle changes.

Her approach is grounded in compassion, understanding, and a genuine commitment to helping people navigate difficult seasons of life. Through her work, Natalee continues to inspire hope, encourage resilience, and empower others to create meaningful change.

Connect with Natalee

Australian Meditation & Holistic Counselling College: https://www.amhcc.com.au/

Contact Natalee:
https://www.amhcc.com.au/contact-8

Why Trauma-Informed Is More Than a Buzzword

The term "trauma-informed" is everywhere, from job listings and clinic websites to corporate wellness programs. But when it's used as a marketing phrase or a compliance checkbox, it loses its true meaning.

In this free class, Ryan Hassan and Matt Kay, Co-Creators of Embodied Processing, explore what it truly means to be trauma-informed. They unpack why understanding the nervous system, working with the body—not just the story—and embodying trauma-informed principles as an ongoing practice are essential for genuine healing.

Over the past decade, Ryan and Matt have dedicated their work to making trauma education practical, compassionate, and accessible. Through The Centre for Healing, more than 130,000 people have completed their free Trauma-Informed Certificate Course.

If you're looking to deepen your understanding of trauma, this class is the perfect place to begin.

In This Class You'll Learn

The difference between trauma-informed as a marketing label and trauma-informed as a lived practice.

Why repeatedly talking about trauma can sometimes be retraumatising—and what to do instead.

How traumatic imprints become stored in the nervous system and later manifest as anxiety, addiction, chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, and relationship challenges.

The three levels of trauma-informed work, from foundational awareness through to practitioner-level skills.

Three practical principles for working with trauma:

Finding a resource.

Welcoming the parts of yourself you've disowned.

Safely turning toward bodily sensations.

Why being trauma-informed doesn't mean abandoning healthy boundaries or tolerating harmful behaviour.

Who This Class Is For

This class is ideal for:

Coaches, therapists, practitioners, and helping professionals wanting a deeper understanding beyond certification.

People working in mental health, education, healthcare, social work, or community services.

Anyone on their own healing journey who has realised that insight alone isn't enough for lasting change.

Chapter Timestamps

00:00 — Ryan and Matt share their personal healing journeys
04:07 — What you'll learn in today's class
04:30 — Why "trauma-informed" has become a buzzword
09:23 — What trauma-informed is not
16:32 — What trauma-informed truly means
18:35 — Why compassion and healthy boundaries go hand in hand
23:55 — Understanding trauma: the nervous system, orphaned parts, and painful narratives
34:27 — Talking about trauma vs. working with trauma
36:01 — The three levels of trauma-informed practice
37:43 — Three foundational principles: all parts are welcome, and you're not broken
43:29 — Principle One: Finding a resource
51:27 — Principle Two: Welcoming the orphaned parts
55:53 — Principle Three: Safely turning toward sensation and understanding the Window of Tolerance
58:47 — The Embodied Processing Flowchart and your next steps
59:49 — Live Q&A

Ready to Go Deeper?

If this class resonates with you, continue your learning with our free Trauma-Informed Certificate Course the starting point for thousands of students around the world.

If you're ready to become a certified trauma-informed practitioner, our Embodied Processing Practitioner Training provides a comprehensive framework for working with trauma safely, effectively, and compassionately.

You can also explore our Embodied Processing Pre-Training Webinar to learn more about the certification pathway.

Learn more at: https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/

Much love,

The Centre for Healing Team

Awakening, Embodiment & Trauma with Daniel Wald and Matt Kay

Join Matt Kay and Daniel Wald for an intimate, kitchen-table conversation exploring the nature of awakening, embodiment, trauma, anger, and the lifelong process of integrating realization into everyday life.

Daniel is a senior teacher of VortexHealing® Divine Energy Healing, an energy healing and awakening modality facilitated by divine intelligence. Matt is the Co-Creator of Embodied Processing at The Centre for Healing.

Throughout this open and honest conversation, Matt and Daniel share personal stories, insights, and the challenges they've encountered along the spiritual path. Together, they explore the common pitfalls that can arise before and after awakening, how unresolved trauma and emotional patterns continue to surface, and the profound role consciousness plays in healing and transformation.

Daniel also reflects on his own journey, sharing how childhood experiences shaped his adult life and how those wounds were gradually processed and integrated following a fundamental awakening. Together, they inquire into deeper existential questions surrounding life, death, identity, and what lies beyond our personal belief systems—pointing toward the direct experience of Truth and the ongoing invitation to embody that realization with authenticity, presence, and compassion.

Whether you're exploring spirituality, trauma healing, or personal transformation, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into living from a place of greater awareness and wholeness.

Learn More About Daniel Wald & VortexHealing®

🌐 VortexHealing® Divine Energy Healing
https://www.vortexhealing.org/

🌐 Daniel Wald
https://danielwald.com/about/

Explore Matt Kay's Work

Embodied Processing Practitioner Training
https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/embodied-processing

Awakening Support Groups
https://www.mattkay.com.au/awakening-support

Devotional Inquiry Skool Community
https://www.skool.com/devotional-inquiry-5039/about?ref=f3f4f99c5d77470dadab5bb3f80b4bf9

Awakening & Embodiment with Ric Weinman and Matt Kay

Join Matt Kay and Ric Weinman for a thought-provoking conversation exploring the nature of awakening, embodiment, and spiritual transformation.

Ric is the founder of VortexHealing® Divine Energy Healing, an energy healing and awakening modality guided by divine intelligence. Matt is the Co-Creator of Embodied Processing at The Centre for Healing. Together, they dive into topics including awakening, embodiment, self-inquiry, devotion, and the unfolding journey beyond identification with the personal ego.

Throughout the conversation, Matt and Ric share personal stories, insights, and lived experiences, reflecting on what led to their own profound awakenings and how those experiences continue to shape their lives and work today.

Whether you're exploring spirituality, personal growth, or deeper states of consciousness, this episode offers valuable perspectives on living with greater presence, authenticity, and awareness.

Learn more about Ric Weinman and VortexHealing®:

🌐 https://www.vortexhealing.org/

Explore Matt Kay's offerings:

Embodied Processing Training
https://www.thecentreforhealing.com/embodied-processing

Awakening Support Groups
https://www.mattkay.com.au/awakening-support

Devotional Inquiry Skool Community
https://www.skool.com/devotional-inquiry-5039/about?ref=f3f4f99c5d77470dadab5bb3f80b4bf9