43. The Courage to Heal: Shadow Work, Sobriety & Spiritual Growth
On this episode of the Heart AF Podcast, I sit down with high-end energy healer and trauma-integrative coach Katie Wessels to talk about what it really looks like to heal from the inside out.
Katie shares her raw sobriety journey—from using alcohol and drugs to dissociate and survive, to the moment she chose to finally give herself a real chance at life. She opens up about the accidental drink at a Nuggets game that went viral on Facebook, how her body instantly remembered alcohol, and the surprising wave of community, support, and conversation that followed.
Together, we dive into how trauma gets stored in the body, why our nervous systems hold onto survival mode, and how modalities like yoga, energy work, and shadow work help us feel safe enough to come back home to ourselves.
Katie also shares the heart behind her 12-week program, Integrated As F*ck, created for women who are ready to unf*ck old patterns, reconnect with their inner child, and finally live from a regulated, empowered, feminine place.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in old identities, burnt out, or scared to take off the mask and truly be seen, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone, and that healing is absolutely possible! 🫶
Links & Resources:
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Find me on Instagram: @chelsea.vanbuskirk
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Email: info@chelseavanbuskirk.com
- Find out more about Katie Wessels and her programs here:
- https://www.katie-wessels.com/
- Find Katie on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/katie.wessels.2025