20. The Body Remembers: Trauma, Cyclical Healing, and Decolonizing the Stories We Carry with Danniel Worthen Cullumber
In this episode, Emma sits down with trauma therapist, doctoral researcher, and holistic practitioner Danniel Worthen Cullumber, MSW, LCSW, founder of Willow Medela Wellness. Together, they explore how trauma, chronic stress, and cultural conditioning shape the way women understand and inhabit their bodies—and how healing often begins with rebuilding a relationship with our own internal rhythms.
Danniel shares her integrated approach, blending somatic awareness, meaning-centered storytelling, nervous system education, and a decolonizing lens. She explains how the body “remembers” what the mind tries to outrun, why cycles and biorhythms matter in trauma recovery, and how awareness—not perfection—is often the missing link in healing.
They discuss:
• How trauma disrupts connection to the body’s natural signals
• Why nervous system regulation and cyclical awareness are inseparable
• The role of cultural narratives and decolonizing frameworks in women’s healing
• How grief, burnout, and life transitions show up in the body
• Why self-observation is more powerful than self-judgment
• Practical ways women can begin rebuilding trust with their bodies
This conversation is validating, gentle, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, dismissed in your symptoms, or unsure how to begin healing after trauma, this episode is a grounding place to land.
Connect with Danniel Worthen Cullumber:
Website: www.willowmedelawellness.com
Email: info@willowmedelawellness.com
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The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Cyclical Doula Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Emma Goff or Emmamma LLC. This podcast is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.