ERP 474: How to Build More Emotional Health & Resilience — An Interview with Rachel Kaplan

About this Episode

Ever feel like you’re going through life with an invisible weight holding you back—old hurts, unspoken fears, or emotional “constipation” clogging your sense of connection with yourself and others? Many of us are conditioned to avoid our discomfort, stuff down our feelings, or simply muscle through, only to discover that real joy and closeness remain just out of reach. The struggle to feel truly seen, cared for, and emotionally vibrant isn’t just personal—it’s a modern epidemic.

In this episode, you’ll discover how to build emotional health and resilience by learning to recognize, honor, and skillfully process your feelings. Through practical analogies—like emotional “potty training”—and grounded, compassionate guidance, you’ll explore why authentic emotional connection is the missing link to deeper relationships and personal well-being. Whether you’re seeking more intimacy, healing old scars, or just want to feel more fully alive, this conversation offers real-world tools and gentle permission to let your feelings move—and gently transform your life from the inside out.

Rachel Kaplan, MA, MFT, is a licensed psychotherapist and host of the acclaimed Healing Feeling Sh*t Show podcast. Kaplan has studied yoga, meditation, and hands-on healing practices in India and Nepal, earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and trained in cutting-edge trauma modalities such as EMDR. Her “Inner Talks That Heal” TEDx talk explores the internal relationship between our loving and wounded parts.

Check out the transcript of this episode on Dr. Jessica Higgin's website.

Episode Highlights 

07:49 Rachel’s personal journey of healing.

15:42 Avoidance, dissociation, and the societal struggle to stay present.

17:46 The importance of feeling both pain and growth.

22:52 How to recognize, accept, and let go of your emotions in a healthy way, instead of suppressing or avoiding them.

24:00 How emotional constipation develops: Childhood, suppression, and the need for emotional movement.

30:18 Practical steps to reconnect with and care for hidden or neglected parts of yourself.

37:50 How unmet needs and hidden parts show up with partners.

41:49 Self-responsibility in emotional processing: Navigating attachment styles and reactions.

45:37 Vulnerability, repair, and building emotional resilience in relationships.

51:42 Further resources: Rachel’s book, podcast, and ways to continue learning.

Mentioned

Author Rachel Kaplan introduces FEEL, HEAL, AND LET THAT SH*T GO (*YouTube video)

Feel, Heal, and Let That Sh*t Go (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

The Power of Your Other Hand (*Amazon Affiliate link) (book)

ERP 346: Accessing Relatedness & The Priority Of Connection