When we're back around family, something ... regressive happens. Old dynamics resurface, our nervous systems fire, and parts of us we thought we'd outgrown suddenly take the wheel. In this episode of Full But Not Finished, I explore how family gatherings activate protective parts of the psyche, and how that shows up in our relationship with food.

Drawing from Parts Work (Internal Family Systems therapy), we look at the inner characters that might appear in these moments — the Rebel, Pleaser, Victim, and Educator — and the roles they play in keeping us safe. We also talk about how these parts intersect with food: rebellion that turns into "what the hell" eating, people-pleasing that overrides hunger cues, and the Victim part that seeks comfort when connection feels out of reach.

You'll also meet the helpful parts that can bring balance: the Inner Anthropologist who observes without absorbing, the Nervous System Whisperer who tracks overwhelm, the Protector who validates without spiraling, and the Inner Humorist who remembers that laughter regulates, too.

🎧 Listen for insights on:

• Why family gatherings reactivate old protective parts

• How food becomes a coping tool in relational stress

• Somatic tools to regulate before reacting

• Balancing authenticity and connection

• Using humor as nervous system balm

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