How Shari B. Kaplan Turned Trauma into Purpose Through Holistic Mental Health

What if the hardest moments in your life were not breaking you, but shaping you? In part one, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles sit down with Shari B. Kaplan to talk about trauma, identity, and what it really takes to reconnect with yourself.

Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads is a 2024 People’s Choice Podcast Award Winner (Best Health), 2024 Women in Podcasting Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), 2026 Podcast Tonight Award Winner (Best Mental Health Podcast), and 2026 NYC Podcast Award Audience Choice Winner (Best Hosts), with over 4.5 million downloads and listened to in over 160 countries.

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Mental Health Quote

“Remember who the fuck you are, because healing starts when you reconnect with yourself.” — Shari B. Kaplan

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Episode Description

Shari B. Kaplan does not just talk about healing; she has lived it, worked through it, and built her life around helping others do the same.

In this first part of a two-part conversation, she sits down with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles to share how early life experiences, including head trauma and personal challenges, shaped the way she understands mental health today.

From discovering meditation at a young age to navigating dyslexia, performance pressure, and difficult life decisions, Shari walks us through the moments that changed everything. What stands out most is her belief that we have more choice than we think, even when life feels overwhelming.

This episode also challenges the way most people think about meditation. It is not about sitting still or clearing your mind. It is about finding something that works for your brain, your body, and your reality.

The conversation also gets real about therapy. How do you find the right person? What questions should you ask? And why does the right fit matter so much?

If you have ever felt disconnected, stuck, or unsure where to start, this episode brings it back to something simple. Start where you are, stay curious, and give yourself permission to figure it out.

Keywords: Shari B. Kaplan, trauma healing, holistic mental health, meditation, ADHD, emotional healing, mind body connection, therapy, nervous system regulation, self awareness, mental wellness, identity, healing journey, mindfulness

Meet Our Guest — Shari B. Kaplan

Shari B. Kaplan, LCSW, is an integrative mental health and trauma specialist and the founder of Cannectd Wellness, a holistic mental health and plant medicine center in Florida. With more than 30 years of experience, she blends psychotherapy, trauma protocols, plant medicine, and mind-body practices to support full mind-body-spirit healing.

Website: https://www.cannectd.com
Meet Shari: https://www.cannectd.com/meet-sharibkaplan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharibkaplan/
Instagram (Cannectd): https://www.instagram.com/cannectd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-b-kaplan-lcsw-180b1682

Key Takeaways

• Healing starts when you reconnect with who you are
• Meditation should work for your brain, not against it
• Trauma lives in the body, but so does healing
• You have more control over your day than you think
• The right therapist can change everything

Actionable Items

• Try different styles of meditation until something feels right
• Set one intention each morning for how you want your day to feel
• Talk to more than one therapist before choosing who to work with

Important Chapters

• 00:00 – Meet Shari B. Kaplan
• 03:00 – Early trauma and discovering meditation
• 10:00 – Rethinking meditation for ADHD
• 18:00 – Finding the right therapist
• 25:00 – Setting intentions and mindset
• 35:00 – Responding instead of reacting

Closing CTA

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