32. The Hardest Thing About Going No Contact with Harriet Shearsmith
To be on the show please apply here: https://hub.liberationacademy.co.uk/podcast-applicationIn this conversation, Helen is joined by author, coach and trainee psychotherapist Harriet Shearsmith to explore the emotional landscape of going no contact with a parent. Through listener questions, they speak to the grief that comes with choosing distance, particularly the longing for the parent you never truly had and the ache of not having a senior adult to lean on when life feels heavy.Harriet reflects on growing up enmeshed and responsible for her mother’s feelings, and how difficult it can be to recognise your own needs when you were raised to anticipate and absorb everyone else’s. Together, they discuss the pain of losing not just a parent but the version of safety and care you hoped they could provide, and the quiet courage it takes to build that safety elsewhere.This episode holds space for the anger, the sadness and the relief. It is a thoughtful and validating conversation about boundaries, grief and the slow work of becoming your own safe place.Grow, connect and thrive with a free 7-day trial of The Hub: https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit helenvilliersliberation.substack.com/subscribe
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31. Why Does Being Seen Still Feel Unsafe?
To be on the show please apply here: https://hub.liberationacademy.co.uk/podcast-applicationIn this continuation of her story, Catherine speaks with Helen about the lasting effects of growing up unheard and disbelieved. Together they unpack the tension between wanting connection and fearing exposure, and how self-protection can harden into invisibility. Catherine reflects on her instinct to stay small, control her surroundings, and apologise for taking up space, tracing each habit back to moments she was ignored or criticised.Helen gently helps her rebuild a new narrative, where boundaries, autonomy and curiosity replace the need to overexplain. Their exchange captures the quiet hope that visibility can exist without threat, that being seen can mean being met rather than judged.Grow, connect and thrive with a free 7-day trial of The Hub: https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit helenvilliersliberation.substack.com/subscribe
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30. How Do I Learn to Exist When I Was Raised to Disappear?
To be on the show please apply here: https://hub.liberationacademy.co.uk/podcast-applicationIn part one of a two-part story, Helen speaks with Catherine about growing up unseen in a family where silence, perfection and religion shaped her sense of worth. Together they explore how childhood invisibility can follow us into adulthood, in relationships, work and even the body, showing up as discomfort with being noticed, fear of conflict or the drive to perform for love.The conversation looks at the lasting impact of emotional neglect, comparison and dismissal, and how learning to be visible again means rebuilding a sense of safety in being known. It is a tender, honest discussion about self-worth, visibility and the slow work of learning to take up space.Grow, connect and thrive with a free 7-day trial of The Hub: https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit helenvilliersliberation.substack.com/subscribe
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29. How Do We Support ADHD at Home, at School and in Adulthood?
To be on the show please apply here: https://hub.liberationacademy.co.uk/podcast-application In this solo Q and A episode, Helen answers questions from the community on parenting ADHD, navigating school systems, and understanding late diagnosis. She explores why children are regulated at school and fall apart at home, how to reduce demands without losing boundaries, and what parents can do when teachers misread overwhelm as defiance. Helen offers clear guidance on scaffolding, co-regulation, and advocating for ADHD needs in environments that expect compliance over connection.She also speaks to the emotional impact of discovering ADHD later in life, including grief for the child you once were, the pressure to mask, and the exhaustion of trying to meet neurotypical expectations. With compassion and practicality, Helen invites listeners to release self-blame, get curious about their nervous system, and build relationships rooted in safety, understanding and support.Grow, connect and thrive with a free 7-day trial of The Hub: https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit helenvilliersliberation.substack.com/subscribe
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28. Why Has My Mother Rewritten Our Past?
To be on the show please apply here: https://hub.liberationacademy.co.uk/podcast-application In this week’s episode Helen meets Sarah, who shares her experience of estrangement after years of gaslighting, blame, and denial from her mother. Together they explore what happens when a parent refuses accountability, rewriting the past to protect their image and leaving their child burdened with guilt. Sarah opens up about the grief of realising she may never be chosen, the pressure to keep peace at her own expense, and the slow process of reclaiming her story. The episode reflects on how survivors can begin to separate truth from narrative and find strength in naming what really happened.Grow, connect and thrive with a free 7-day trial of The Hub: https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit helenvilliersliberation.substack.com/subscribe
Each week Helen invites a guest to explore a problem they’re facing and works through it with them; peeling back the layers to understand what’s happening and offering ways to move forward and make changes to resolve the issue.
Whether it’s coping with narcissistic parents; going no contact; parenting ADHD or Autistic children; parenting after trauma; or their own ADHD or Autism; Helen helps the listener untangle the parts that keeps them stuck.
To access Helen’s community focused on healing, learning and support, visit https://liberationacademy.co.uk/the-hub/ helenvilliersliberation.substack.com
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