Content Warning: The following episode references an incident of sexual trauma. Listener discretion advised.

In this episode, Molly responds to a courageous question from a listener confused about a "transactional" power dynamic from childhood that has left her wondering: If I participated or "agreed" to my abuse, is it still abuse?

Question: "I’ve been doing childhood trauma work for the last three years, and it’s left me confused. I’m trying to figure out why I can’t figure it out — why my father’s obvious abuse doesn’t feel like abuse because it was transactional."

Molly dives into the neuroscience of the developing brain and how childhood trauma installs false beliefs about our self-worth before we even have the words or framework to understand what we’re experiencing. She explores how having a high responsibility drive can lead us to carry blame that was never ours to bear.

In this episode, Molly explores:

• the neuroscience of childhood trauma and the “responsibility trap”
• the power dynamics of transactional abuse
• survival vs. true choice
• how to begin returning blame energetically to where it belongs

Doing childhood trauma work takes guts. It is a radical act of rebellion to decide that you are worthy of healing. If you are ready to stop carrying blame that doesn’t belong to you, this episode is for you.

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