• 419: Breaking the Silence: Family Secrets, Abuse, and Generational Healing

  • May 5 2025
  • Length: 28 mins
  • Podcast

419: Breaking the Silence: Family Secrets, Abuse, and Generational Healing

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  • Trigger Warning: This episode contains sensitive material about abuse, incest, and generational trauma. Please listen or watch at your own pace, and practice self-care as needed. Episode Overview: In this powerful and vulnerable conversation, Dr. Debi Silber speaks with author and advocate Babs Walters about the lifelong impact of childhood abuse, the burden of keeping family secrets, and what it truly takes to heal. Babs courageously shares her deeply personal story, tracing the effects of trauma through her family history—and how she finally found freedom and purpose in breaking the silence. Key Themes Covered: The Legacy of Abuse and Secret-Keeping Babs recounts her childhood experience of incest, the secrecy that surrounded it, and the emotional and physical toll it took on her body and relationships. Dissociation and Survival As a child, Babs survived by dissociating and escaping into books—one of the few places she found hope and happy endings. From Silence to Advocacy Her journey from secrecy to speaking out includes therapy, education, and eventually, writing her memoir. Her mission: to make sure no other child feels as isolated as she did. Family Secrets and Their Lasting Damage The harm isn't just in the trauma—it’s in the demand for secrecy. Babs explains how family systems force silence, and how that pressure keeps generations stuck. Generational Trauma and Its Roots A shocking story about her father’s childhood reveals the hidden trauma that shaped his inability to love, empathize, or protect his children. The Healing Journey With over 45 years of therapy, programs like est (Erhard Seminars Training), and a commitment to self-growth, Babs shows that deep healing is possible—even decades later. Breaking the Chain Despite being criticized by her children for her own “extreme” parenting, Babs is proud to have disrupted the abusive legacy passed down through generations. Her Memoir and Mission: Babs made a vow as a child to someday write a book that would let another little girl know she wasn’t alone. That book is finally here—along with her advocacy work, speaking, and involvement with Brave Voices, a Library of Congress archive preserving survivor stories. Notable Quotes: “I made a promise to myself that one day I’d write a book so some other little girl wouldn’t feel all alone.” “The pain was bad—but my self-talk may have been worse.” “Healing isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And it’s never too late to begin.” Resources & Where to Find Babs: Website: https://babswalters.com Instagram: @babswalters Resources & Links Learn more about the PBT Institute  What Stage Are You In? Find out here  Want to bring the 5 Stages of Healing into your organization? Contact us about corporate programs  Explore our flagship program Reclaim  Become a Certified PBT® Coach/Practitioner  Final Thoughts from Dr. Debi: Healing from trauma takes courage, community, and compassion. Babs is living proof that no matter your age or how long it’s been, healing is possible—and your story has power. If you’re keeping a family secret, know this: you’re not alone, and you don’t have to carry it forever. Be sure to share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. And as always, take what serves you, leave what doesn’t, and treat yourself with gentleness as you heal.
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