The Truth About Healing Childhood Trauma: You Don’t Have to Stay Silent

What happens when silence is your only survival mechanism? Rich Dunning shares his path from childhood trauma to healing. In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with author Rich Dunning for an honest conversation about his experience with childhood trauma and the long-term impact of growing up in poverty and violence. Rich explains how he spent years using silence as a survival mechanism before realizing that true freedom required him to finally speak his truth. This discussion explores the intersection of pain, addiction recovery, and the difficult process of confronting the past. Rich offers a powerful perspective on how he moved beyond survival to build a meaningful life, proving that our early experiences do not have to define our future. His story provides hope for anyone currently navigating their own healing journey and seeking the courage for breaking the silence. Key Moments: 00:00 Overcoming a difficult past 03:11 Discussing the power of silence 09:24 Writing and purpose of the book 12:38 Challenging childhood and family trauma 13:44 Living at an abandoned train station 19:34 Struggling with addiction and rehab 22:50 The power of breaking silence Rich Dunning’s story is a reminder that the experiences that shaped us do not have to determine who we become. His journey offers a powerful perspective on trauma recovery, addiction recovery, resilience, vulnerability, and the courage it takes to finally speak about what happened. Listen to the full conversation on Coached Soul. About the guest : Rich Dunning is a senior executive in the medical device industry with more than two decades of experience leading in high-stakes environments. Raised in the Bronx in an environment marked by instability and a lack of protection, Rich developed an early awareness and sense of control that would later influence his approach to leadership, decision-making, and writing. Rich began writing Silence Was My First Language more than 15 years ago, presenting his experiences as they were lived. He has also completed two novels, The Jaguar and Selling Arteries to the Devil, both grounded in real-world experiences. He is currently working on additional books, including The Executive and the Escort and When in Puglia. Rich also founded The First Language Foundation, a long-term initiative through which $1 from every copy sold is directed to organizations supporting children facing abuse, hunger, and homelessness. He maintains residences in Lexington, South Carolina, and Brickell, Florida. How to connect Rich : Website : https://www.richdunningbooks.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-dunning-9a3137360/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/richdunningbooks/ About Coached Soul™: Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life. For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/ Subscribe for weekly personal growth insights, and let us know in the comments what part of Rich's story resonated with you the most.