Why do so many people feel stuck, no matter how much healing, therapy, or inner work they do?
In this deeply honest and transformational episode, therapist, coach, and creator of The Adult Chair® model, Michelle Chalfant, reveals the hidden reason why so much personal development fails to create real change. With warmth, grounded wisdom, and radical compassion, Michelle shares how—despite years of therapy and self-help—most of us remain trapped in unconscious patterns because we’re healing from the wrong place within ourselves.
This isn’t a conversation about working harder on yourself—it’s about understanding where within yourself you’re working from. Michelle unpacks her powerful 3 Chairs model, which explains how we move through life as our Child, Adolescent, or Adult selves. She reveals why most people live their lives emotionally from their adolescent chair—ruled by fear, ego, and survival—and how shifting into the adult chair transforms everything from relationships to self-worth to purpose.
Through relatable stories, personal vulnerability, and decades of therapeutic insight, Michelle explains:
Why your inner child still controls your reactions
How childhood beliefs get hardwired into your subconscious roadmap
The difference between people-pleasing and true compassion
How to reparent your wounded parts to create emotional safety
The five pillars that will radically transform your life
She shares practical tools, like her trigger process for rewiring reactive patterns, how to build self-compassion that actually sticks, and how to integrate your parts to feel whole, grounded, and at peace within yourself.
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I still stuck, even after all the healing I’ve done?”—this episode is a must-listen. It’s a reminder that you’re not broken. You’re simply living from a part of you that was never meant to run your life.
About Michelle Chalfant
Michelle Chalfant is a therapist, holistic life coach, author, podcaster, and creator of The Adult Chair® model—a framework that integrates psychology, spirituality, and grounded practices to help people heal from their past and live authentically in the present. For over 25 years, she has guided thousands through personal transformation, helping them identify and release unconscious patterns, cultivate emotional resilience, and embody their healthiest adult selves.
Michelle is the host of The Michelle Chalfant Show, where she shares practical tools and real conversations to support listeners on their journey of self-discovery and healing. Her teachings are rooted in compassion, directness, and a deep belief in every human’s innate wholeness.
Beyond her books and podcast, Michelle leads live events, retreats, and coaching certifications that empower people to become leaders of their own lives—living from self-awareness, self-compassion, and emotional mastery.
Watch the full conversation now on YouTube
Find Out More About Michelle Chalfant
Visit Michelle’s website: https://theadultchair.com
Read her book: The Adult Chair
Follow Michelle on Instagram: @themichellechalfant
Connect with Michelle Chalfant on Facebook
Check out Michelle’s YouTube Channel @Michellechalfant
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