Therapy for the Soul: A Beginner’s Toolbox into Navigating Grief, Trauma, and Loss

Therapy for the Soul: A Beginner’s Toolbox into Navigating Grief, Trauma, and Loss

Guest:

Jenny Fiebig – Licensed Professional Counselor, IFS Trainer, Outdoor Trauma Specialist

Host:

Brooke “Shiny” Edwards

Recording Date:

December 4th, 2024

Episode Summary:

In this deeply insightful episode of The Avalanche Hour Podcast, host Brooke “Shiny” Edwards sits down with Jenny Fiebig, a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma related to outdoor accidents. Jenny shares her journey from outdoor educator and guide to becoming a trauma therapist, blending her love for the wilderness with mental health counseling.

They explore how trauma impacts the nervous system, how to process grief and loss in outdoor communities, and how professionals and recreationalists alike can navigate their emotions without suppressing them. Jenny also walks Brooke through real-time nervous system regulation techniques, providing valuable tools for listeners struggling with anxiety or fear in the mountains.

This episode serves as both an educational experience and an intimate exploration of Internal Family Systems (IFS)therapy, trauma recovery, and the power of self-compassion in high-risk environments.

Key Discussion Points:

• How outdoor trauma manifests in the nervous system

• Understanding the IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy model

• The “warrior mentality” in outdoor culture and why it can be harmful

• Differentiating healthy vs. destructive coping mechanisms after accidents or loss

• Tools for navigating fear, grief, and trauma in the backcountry

• The stress continuum and recognizing the warning signs of mental health struggles

• The work of SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery) in helping trauma survivors heal

Guest Bio & Background:

Jenny Fiebig is a licensed professional counselor in Montana and Colorado, specializing in trauma therapy for outdoor-related accidents. She has a background in outdoor education and guiding, which informs her work in helping individuals heal from experiences of loss, grief, and PTSD related to the backcountry.

Jenny pursued a graduate degree in mental health counseling at Montana State University and became a specialist in IFS therapy, now working as a global trainer with the IFS Institute. She is also deeply involved in SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery), where she helps provide therapy, community, and resources for those struggling with outdoor-related trauma.

Links & Resources Mentioned:

• SOAR (Survivors of Outdoor Adventures in Recovery): https://www.soar4life.org/

• Responder Alliance Stress Continuum: https://www.responderalliance.com/stress-continuum

• Redside Foundation: https://www.redsidefoundation.org/

• IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/

• Jenny Fiebig’s Website: https://www.jennyfiebig.c