Hidden Trauma That Shaped a Life - Coming Back From The Edge with Cari Rickabaugh

In today’s episode, I speak with massage therapist, coach, and survivor Cari Rickabaugh. Cari's story begins in a home filled with fear, emotional manipulation, and a secret she wouldn’t uncover for over three decades. We explore how trauma can shape our inner voice, the limits of traditional therapy, and how one intuitive call from a friend led her to a life-changing coach. Cari speaks candidly about her healing journey—from uncovering childhood abuse, to rebuilding her sense of self, to now coaching others with the same compassion and depth that saved her life.

Key Takeaways

• Childhood trauma runs deep.
• You can't heal what you don't remember, and it can shape your life unknowingly.
• Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all - healing through coaching, not talk therapy.
• Resilience is remembering—and surviving—what once felt unspeakable.
• Nature, cold plunges, and breathwork practice.
• Real support and community matters. 
• Helping others can also be a tool for healing. 
• Even buried pain can find a way out. 
• Seeking help is a courageous step towards healing.
• It's possible to redefine one's identity beyond past experiences. 

About:  With 20+ years experience, Cari ignites radical personal evolution.  Blending her skills as a Massage Therapist, Master Bodyworker, and Trauma Healing Life Coach, she assists her clients in attaining powerful life transformations.  Her unique fusion of somatic techniques, energy work, and coaching - rooted in her own resilience in overcoming trauma and abuse - empowers emotional release and healing, and authentic self-discovery.  Her extensive experience, including work with clinics, chiropractors, and professional athletes, underscores her commitment to holistic well-being.  As a published author, public speaker, and podcast host, Cari inspires lasting transformative change, guiding clients to a vibrant, renewed life. 

Connect with Cari at Linktree

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:09 Childhood Trauma & Family Dynamics
• 7:07 Stockholm Syndrom, Internal Collapse & Silence
• 9:37 Neglect - Another Trauma
• 12:02 Massage Therapy as a Life Raft
• 15:26 Relationships Reflecting Childhood Pain
• 17:17 Failed Therapy Attempts & Suicide Planning
• 26:14 The Life-Saving Call & Meeting Coach Dave
• 29:48 Breakthrough Sessions & Remembering the Abuse
• 35:34 Reclaiming the Narrative: Processing with Anger & Compassion
• 45:55 Finding Community
• 49:44 Co-Authoring the Book “Unlocking Your Hidden Potential”
• 57:20 Becoming a Coach
• 1:00:22 Cold Plunging, Meditation & Grounding in Nature
• 1:08:21 Healing by Releasing the Past From the Body
• 1:15:11 Speaking Challenges Ahead
• 1:19:42 Advice to People Who Are on the Edge Like She Was
• 1:21:33 Connecting with Cari
• 1:23:06 Box Breathing - A Tool For When You Get Caught Up in Your Thoughts
• 1:26:54 Final Thoughts