In this episode, Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn get into the profound challenges and existential questions that emerge during life's toughest moments. Drawing from Steve's personal battle with cancer and Kenya's childhood hardships, the hosts explore the delicate balance between maintaining joy and facing unexpected adversities.

Listeners will hear heartfelt stories about faith, divine synchronicity, and the importance of gratitude. Steve recounts his surprising journey through the VA healthcare system, while Kenya shares her faith journey and the protective presence she felt during challenging times in an orphanage. The duo also discusses the emotional transitions after the holiday season, the diversity of holiday celebrations, and the significance of maintaining compassion throughout the year.

As they reflect on the past year and look forward to the new beginnings of 2025, Steve and Kenya encourage listeners to embrace their identities as sons and daughters of a higher power, finding comfort and guidance in faith. This episode promises to be a powerful exploration of resilience, hope, and the enduring spirit of celebration. Don't miss this inspiring conclusion to a year of deep reflections and heartfelt conversations on Coached Soul!

Key Moments:

04:55 Seasonal warmth and compassion are needed year-round.

09:27 Maintaining Christmas joy amid life's challenges.

13:40 Daughter's question prompted profound spiritual reflection.

16:12 Diagnosed with cancer; questioning faith, imperfections.

24:56 Faith brings peace and joy amid darkness.

28:48 Embrace positivity; understand your divine identity.

31:19 Happy New Year

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, hosts Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn get into the true essence of success. They question whether material abundance defines success and explore how societal pressures, holiday stress, and personal setbacks can shape our perceptions.

Through heartfelt conversations, personal anecdotes, and reflective exercises, Steve and Kenya offer practical tips for shifting mindsets toward fulfillment and connection. They discuss the importance of cultivating deeper relationships, finding inner peace, and navigating the holiday season intentionally and clearly.

Join Steve and Kenya on this transformative journey as they guide listeners to discover what true success means. Tune in to uncover valuable insights on unlocking a healthier, happier self.

Key Moments:

00:10 Material wealth doesn't define parental success.

05:50 Success: Inner peace and strong family connections.

06:47 Cultivate alignment with clarity to attract better.

10:05 Finding strength and contentment through Philippians' wisdom.

16:56 Set intentions for a joyful December now.

21:07 Building connections and self-growth beyond challenges.

24:01 Best December: freeing, creative, memorable, joyful experiences.

25:35 Emotional growth fosters maturity and self-definition.

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

This is the continuation, rather part 2 of the episode 145. In this episode Steve Hudgins sits down with Therese Tonning, a distinguished therapist specializing in Emotional Quotient (EQ) Therapy from Norway. The discussion delves into the intricacies of EQ Therapy, a transformative approach focused on emotional intelligence and trauma release. Therese shares insights on how unresolved traumas can lead to narcissistic traits and the importance of both individual and group therapy in healing.

The episode explores the structure of the EQ Therapy training program, conducted part-time over three years, with detailed coursework, immersive group sessions, and emotional processing. Therese also emphasizes the necessity of parental involvement in youth therapy and the profound impact of familial dynamics on trauma.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the therapeutic journey, the effectiveness of EQ Therapy in addressing personality disorders, and upcoming plans for expanding this powerful therapeutic approach globally. Therese also recommends the book "The Myth of Normal" by Gabor Mate, which aligns with the concepts discussed during the episode.

Key moments :

00:10 EQ therapy school expanded to three Norwegian cities.

04:53 School offers online courses; EQ therapy program.

09:08 Connecting intuitively with clients, guiding interactions.

13:09 Childhood trauma influences adult personality disorders.

17:08 Understanding and expressing emotions important for kids.

21:02 High divorce rates in complex blended families.

23:30 Part-time work feels full-time, intense experience.

26:20 Online EQ therapist course in progress.

About the guest :

Therese Tonning embarked on her journey into therapy by joining the inaugural group of students at the EQ Institute in 2010. Founded by Haredes Palstadter and her daughter, Dura, in 2006, the EQ Therapy and subsequently the EQ Institute quickly garnered attention for their innovative approach. Therese completed her education at the institute in 2012, marking the beginning of her professional career in a rapidly growing field. Since its inception, the EQ Institute has expanded to three cities and now graduates about 300 students each year, underscoring its significant impact on modern therapy practices.

Website : https://eqi.no/

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, host Steve Hudgins sits down with Therese Tonning, a distinguished therapist from Norway, to explore the nuances of EQ Therapy—Emotional Intelligence Therapy. Therese, who has dedicated over 12 years to this practice, explains how EQ Therapy focuses on working through emotions to achieve profound healing. They discuss the origins of EQ Therapy, its differences from other therapeutic modalities like EMDR and somatic therapy, and the innovative techniques involved, such as closing the eyes and guided emotional release.

Therese provides valuable insights into how this approach can help clients, even those resistant to traditional therapies, and offers a unique perspective on trauma and emotional well-being.

Through their conversation, Steve and Therese uncover the incredible potential of EQ Therapy and its ability to foster emotional intelligence and personal growth, making this a must-listen episode for anyone seeking a new path to healing.

Key Moments:

00:00 Welcome Norway; therapist practices EMDR for PTSD.

05:19 Feel suppressed emotions to achieve true release.

07:07 Holding clients encourages emotional safety and comfort.

10:53 EQ therapy releases trauma for personal growth.

13:47 Guiding through EQ therapy by sensing emotions.

17:24 Visualize, release emotions, comfort inner self.

22:59 Preventing secondary trauma for therapists handling trauma.

26:50 Returning to school improved therapy effectiveness.

About the guest :

Therese Tonning embarked on her journey into therapy by joining the inaugural group of students at the EQ Institute in 2010. Founded by Haredes Palstadter and her daughter, Dura, in 2006, the EQ Therapy and subsequently the EQ Institute quickly garnered attention for their innovative approach. Therese completed her education at the institute in 2012, marking the beginning of her professional career in a rapidly growing field. Since its inception, the EQ Institute has expanded to three cities and now graduates about 300 students each year, underscoring its significant impact on modern therapy practices.

Website : https://eqi.no/

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, host Steve Hudgins and co-host Kenya Evelyn, a therapeutic life coach, delve into the holiday spirit and the myriad of emotions it brings. They discuss the joy of gift-giving and the season's pressures, from managing societal expectations to maintaining emotional well-being.

Drawing from personal anecdotes, Kenya shares her experiences of finding beauty and peace during the holidays, while both hosts stress the importance of self-care and being a good neighbor. This episode offers valuable insights into finding contentment and joy amidst life's changes, highlighting themes of gratitude, connection, and the acceptance of both light and dark moments.

Join Steve and Kenya as they guide listeners through a transformative discussion aimed at fostering a healthier, happier self this holiday season.

Key Moments:

05:49 Everything is for personal growth and understanding.

08:32 Expectation-free gift-giving fosters contentment amidst challenges.

11:08 Self-guidance through faith avoids victim mentality.

14:34 Experiences shape us beyond education or status.

17:14 Embrace life's complexity; find beauty within.

20:10 Faith: forging attitude, trusting Him, right place.

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, host Steve Hudgins gets into the complexities of blended families and the unique challenges they face. With a rich background as a therapist and a doctoral candidate specializing in community care counseling focusing on family and marriage, Steve is well-equipped to provide valuable insights. He discusses the high divorce rates in second marriages, the importance of setting boundaries, and the critical role of attachment styles in relationships.

Joining Steve is guest Torund Bryhn, who interviews Steve to uncover practical strategies and research-backed advice for fostering healthy and thriving blended families. The episode also emphasizes the significance of taking a sabbatical post-divorce to rediscover oneself before entering a new relationship.

Tune in to this episode of Coached Soul for an engaging and informative discussion aimed at empowering individuals to build better relationships and healthier family dynamics.

Key Moments:

00:10 Coach Soul: Guiding men, marriages, and blended families.

06:18 Therapy addresses relationship fear; writing book soon.

13:05 Narcissism, codependency, and boundaries disrupt blended families.

15:24 Research aims to understand and address the causes of divorce.

19:56 Avoid blame, reflect on self, prevent divorce.

22:56 Take time post-divorce before introducing a partner.

25:21 Navigating parenting, relationships, and faith-based support.

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, host Steve Hudgins and co-host Kenya Evelyn explore the themes of accountability and responsibility as the year ends. Reflecting on their journey, they explore the importance of taking full ownership of one’s actions, embracing true leadership, and the transformative power of self-accountability.

Kenya shares a captivating story from her homeschooling experience, illustrating how even the youngest among us can exhibit leadership qualities. This episode features a heartfelt conversation packed with insightful reflections on making responsibility enjoyable, the essence of taking immediate action, and the empowering ripple effects of personal growth.

Steve narrates an inspiring incident about teaching his son the value of responsibility through practical actions, while Kenya explores how confronting personal shortcomings and asking for help can lead to significant personal and communal growth. They highlight that everyone possesses an innate ability to respond and lead their lives with purpose, whether a child or an adult.

Listeners are invited to tune in to feel enriched, empowered, and ready to embrace their leadership qualities. Every choice made today shapes a better tomorrow.

Key Moments:

00:40 We lead by example; everyone influences others.

06:28 Responsibility: The ability to respond empowers autonomy.

10:31 Embrace responsibility; respond, don’t react.

12:45 Embrace strengths and weaknesses and excel in life.

14:38 Upgrading self, reframing trauma, embracing leadership, urgency.

21:26 Embrace self-kindness for authenticity and resilience.

23:52 Listeners create and receive shared consciousness together.

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this episode, host Steve Hudgins, a licensed professional counselor, and co-host Kenya Evelyn, a therapeutic life coach, explore the theme of navigating loneliness during the holidays, focusing especially on those separated or divorced and without their children.

The discussion offers practical ways to shift from loneliness to gratitude, including hosting "Friendsgiving" gatherings to foster community. Kenya shares her Thanksgiving traditions, such as decorating with fall colors and writing gratitude cards, emphasizing the transformative power of gratitude practices.

The role of music in processing emotions and bringing joy is highlighted, along with the importance of daily gratitude exercises and robust support systems. Personal stories of vulnerability and faith provide listeners with insights into embracing one's season of opportunity.

The episode wraps up with actionable tips for maintaining a grateful heart and mindset shifts to help listeners navigate the holidays with an attitude of thankfulness and abundance.

"Coached Soul" prioritizes your well-being and thanks you for tuning in to this heartfelt conversation.

Key Moments:

00:10 Exploring personal growth through therapeutic podcast.

05:22 Music bridges emotions and enhances life's joy.

06:59 Embrace positivity; choose music wisely.

12:41 Seek authentic happiness before time runs out.

17:05 Shift into possibility; embrace discomfort for change.

19:16 Military as support during challenging runs.

22:06 Challenge yourself to embrace worthiness without fear.

25:15 Faith fuels resilience and gratitude in life.

About Coached Soul:

Coached Soul is an empowering podcast hosted by Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through interviews with guests who have overcome significant challenges. Coached Soul is not just a podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/