EP 43: Kelsey's Shift From A Survivor Of Abuse To An Empowered Advocate And Leader — That's Where I'm At

In this episode of That's Where I'm At , Laura sits down with Kelsey Elizabeth Matthews, a first-generation college graduate, published author, and advocate for mental health and empowerment. Kelsey, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was honored as a Truman Scholar, shares her remarkable journey of resilience.

From growing up in an abusive environment in East Haven, CT, to overcoming institutional betrayal and narcissistic abuse, Kelsey uses her experiences to advocate for those affected by emotional and verbal harm. Her professional journey spans rehabilitative mental health, substance abuse prevention, non-profit leadership, and community engagement. As the Founder and CEO of Phoenix Rising Coaching & Consulting, LLC, and a Maxwell Leadership Team member, Kelsey empowers individuals and leaders to overcome challenges and become agents of transformative change.

Kelsey discusses her passion for ethics, power dynamics, and leadership, shaped by her survival story and advocacy for others. She also shares her journey as a public speaker, including her TEDxUNLV talk, "Transformative Leadership: The Power of Love to Change the World," and her plans for graduate studies in Social Work and Social/Personality Psychology.

Tune in now!

Timestamps

[01:14 ] Kelsey's background, struggles, and advocacy

[03:05 ] Early childhood challenges

[06:19 ] How Kesley grew up amidst dysfunction and codependency

[10:50 ] Kesley's experience with a traumatic childhood incident

[18:01 ] How lack of care and safety shaped Kesley's emotional well-being

[23:43 ] The impact of addiction and the lack of awareness about overdose prevention

[29:24] How our childhood experiences shape who we become

[38:53 ] Boundary violations and manipulation by her therapist

[42:01 ] How intermittent reinforcement prolonged the emotional pain

[1:01:00 ] The unexpected role of Kesley's therapist in leading her to Christ

[1:10:12 ] The contrast between harmful institutions and those that provide real support

[1:20:30 ] Kelsey's path to self-awareness and resilience through therapy and advocacy

[1:30:45 ] The importance of self-love in building healthy relationships

[1:39:44 ] Kelsey's message of hope for others facing similar challenges

Notable Quotes

You can't make sense of disorder. You can't make sense of chaos.
The worst thing that ever happened to me is the best thing that ever happened to me.
What happens is that with trauma bonding, it's the person who's hurting you is also the person who's loving you or soothing you.
When you live in gaslighting, you end up gaslighting yourself.
People mistake my kindness for weakness, and that's funny because I never end up being what they bargain for. I end up kicking and screaming because I will fight for myself.
You can only love others as much as you love yourself.

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