Real Talk with Cortni: A Candid Look Inside the Healing Journey

In this video, I sit down with Cortni, who is nine weeks into my trauma healing course. Even though she was experiencing back pain the day we recorded, she still showed up fully for this interview. Cortni didn’t have the questions in advance - she only glanced at them a few minutes before we started filming. What you’ll hear is completely unscripted and straight from the heart.

She shares the moments that shifted her perspective, how she’s beginning to respond differently to triggers, and what surprised her most about the healing process. This isn’t a highlight reel - it’s a real, honest conversation about growth, compassion, and learning to give yourself grace. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to do this kind of work, Cortni’s story will speak to you.

Maggie: Today I'm here with Courtney and she's going to answer some questions about the course. She's nine weeks into it, and let's get started.

Maggie: Was there a moment in the course where something clicked for you?
Cortni: Yes, a few times. There was a time when I was upset with my son and in the midst of that it, it hit me.  I was upset with my son for destroying an object of his sisters, and I was making that object more important than him. It hit me right then and there it clicked and all of a sudden, my anger vanished. It was more of an understanding.
And there was a time when I was explaining to you how I felt guilty about, whatever mom reason I had and, and you said, well, is that you just being a perfectionist? And, then the next time it happened, I was like, this is me trying to be that perfect mom - and I'm not, you know, no one is perfect. And so, there's a few times that things have clicked.

Maggie: After the nine weeks, what are some of the changes you've noticed in yourself since starting?
Cortni: I have a lot more compassion for myself and how I take care of myself without that guilt. Of thinking, you know, you're just being lazy. Well, am I being lazy or am I just taking a bath after a long day because I've taken care of kids and, you know, done whatever?  You've helped me with my shame.

Maggie: How are you responding to challenges or triggers differently than you were before?
Cortni: I still have them. It's not like they're gone. I was explaining to you the other day how my husband asked me a simple question, and I snapped at him, but right after I snapped, I went back to - Whoa. Like what was that? I recognized that way faster than I would have. Before it would've been - I snapped, and I just stayed in a foul mood and just kind of puffed up my chest and walked off. But now it's like, I might be triggered and have a reaction, but then I immediately am like, why?
And then, I can recognize why, and it helps me. Not only am I easier on the person that I'm speaking with, but also myself. I give myself more grace.
Maggie: That's awesome. That was part of the trauma responses where you recognized that you went into a fight response.  That was so cool that you were able to witness yourself doing that and then pull yourself back.
Cortni: Yes, I did pull yourself back really quick. It was another moment where it clicked. Like, oh, this is what she's talking about.
Maggie: That's good.

Maggie: What tools or lessons from the course do you use the most in your daily life?
Cortni: Self-care right now and maybe the asking why more? I use that a lot more. Instead of just going with whatever emotion and feeling and just riding with that wave until it crashes and burns and somebody is, you know, somebody's crying.
Maggie: Somebody's what?
Cortni: Crying. Those are the things that, I implement in my daily life.

Maggie: What surprised you most about your own growth or healing during this time that the sessions worked?
Cortni: I wasn't hurting during the sessions. I wasn't just sitting there sobbing like, ah, you know, this happened and, you know, and blah. So how uplifting I felt after the sessions.  Instead of feeling weighed down, I felt, I feel lighter. So that surprised me.
Maggie: That makes me feel so good.
Cortni: Okay. Good.

Maggie: Okay. Final reflection and future. If someone's on the fence about joining this course, what would you say to them?
Cortni: You don't have anything to lose. It's not going to harm you.  These, things aren't really taught in school. You know, you're not going to learn this elsewhere. And it's important, I would strongly recommend this for anyone who is a parent. It's really going to impact how you parent and really help. 

Maggie: How would you describe this coaching journey in one or two words?
Cortni: It's been gentle. Gentle and transformative.
Maggie: Aw. Yes. I love that.

Maggie: What's next for you on your healing journey after this?
Cortni: Well, we still have more to go. So, I plan to stay with that and stay in the present right now. You know, the self-care is important in my life.  When I do have these emotions come up, continue to ask why, and are you being a perfectionist?  And is this really, do you need to put the stress and are you putting the stress on yourself or things like that?

Maggie: That's it for my questions. I'm so proud of you.
Cortni: Oh, thank you, Maggie. I'm so proud of you. I am.
Maggie: Aw, thank you. Why are you proud of me?
Cortni: This is awesome. Like you're, you're trying to help other people because you went through it. Right? You know? It's kind of why I wanted to be a teacher. Because I had one teacher that would give me a, like, she told my dad during a parent conference, she said, "if I could hug her every single day I would, but I can't, the school wasn't going to allow me to hug her". And it was like this person saw in me that I needed a hug every day. I wanted to be that teacher for just one kid.
And it's like, you're doing what, I would, what I aspire to do - to help others through my own journey. So, it's, yeah. It's really nice to see. And you love it?
Maggie: I do.
Cortni: There's a song by Dirty Heads. I'm on vacation every single day 'cause I love my occupation.
Maggie: I never heard that.
Cortni: It's awesome. It's like reggae. My kids love it.
Maggie: I'll have to look up Dirty Heads. Look, you'll just send it to me.
You smile a lot more now.
Cortni: Yeah.
Maggie: Yes, you do.
Cortni: Yeah. Well, I'm laughing at my pain right now. If I don't laugh, I'm going to cry.

Interested in your own healing journey?
For a short time, we’re offering a limited-time opportunity to experience the first 5 weeks of this coaching course for free. Here's what we’ll cover:

• Week 1: Why work on trauma

• Week 2: Big “T” and little “t” trauma

• Week 3: Understanding the healing process

• Week 4: Self-care

• Week 5: Trauma and relationships

After the 5 weeks, you’ll have the option to continue into the full 26-week program (the remaining 21 weeks are paid). If you choose not to move forward, there’s absolutely no cost and no pressure—just a chance to gain real insight and support.

👉 Click here to book your free 30-minute discovery call
You don’t have to navigate healing alone. You’re worthy of peace, and it starts with one small step.

Love and Courage,
Maggie