Lifting The Veil Of Dissociation & Coming Home To Ourselves!Lifting The Veil Of Dissociation & Coming Home To Ourselves!
A Quest for Well-Being
Clinical psychologist Dr Claudia Herbert talks with Valeria Teles about dissociation, trauma, and the gradual process of coming home to an authentic, embodied self. Their conversation blends psychology and spirituality while addressing hope, limits, and courage in deep healing work.
1:01:40•26 May 2026
Lifting the Veil of Dissociation and Becoming Comfortably Alive
Episode Overview
- Each person’s uniqueness means one-size-fits-all therapy approaches are ineffective and potentially harmful.
- Dissociation is described as a survival-based splitting, where parts of the self go into exile when trauma overwhelms.
- Healing involves gradually reconnecting with exiled parts, building resources, and strengthening an embodied, authentic self.
- Even with narcissistic patterns, change depends on an inner wish to face truth, shame, and the impact of one’s actions.
- Trusting intuition and an inner sense of truth is presented as key to healthier choices and genuine growth.
“"No two human beings are exactly the same... therapeutic approaches that just do a one-size-fits-all just don't work."”
How do people find strength in their journey back to themselves after trauma? This conversation on A Quest for Well-Being follows that thread with warmth, honesty, and a gentle dose of humour. Clinical psychologist and trauma psychotherapist Dr Claudia Herbert talks with host Valeria Teles about what it really means to "lift the veil of dissociation" and come home to ourselves.
Claudia shares that no two people are the same and insists that "therapeutic approaches that just do a one-size-fits-all just don't work," stressing how important it is to honour each person’s uniqueness. You’ll hear Claudia describe her own path from an intellectually driven, “in her head” professional to someone who feels deeply embodied, connected, and "comfortably alive". She explains dissociation as a survival strategy: parts of the self go into exile when trauma makes it unsafe to be fully present.
Her work focuses on helping clients gently reconnect with these exiled parts, rebuild nervous system regulation, and strengthen their core, authentic self. The episode also tackles difficult questions around narcissistic and even psychopathic patterns. Claudia offers a nuanced view: some people are very far from their own light, yet "there's always hope" if there is even a small inner wish to change.
She is clear that genuine transformation needs courage, honest self-reflection, and a therapist strong enough not to be pulled into unhealthy dynamics. Spiritual language weaves naturally through the discussion—words like "source", "light", and "connection" sit alongside clinical ideas such as structural dissociation and parts work. It makes this especially appealing to anyone who appreciates both psychology and spirituality in healing.
If you’re curious about dissociation, trauma, or feeling more "at home" in your own skin, this conversation offers a calm, grounded space to reflect on your own journey. What might happen if you started trusting that quiet inner sense of truth a little more?
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