{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F133ad9df-7c4f-4742-8627-33dc0c872884","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Unmasking the Self: How to Peel Back Layers and Reconnect to Your Core \u2014 Alicia Zielinski Straub","description":"On this episode of Wellness Reimagined, host Shreya and licensed professional counselor Alicia Zielinski Straub unpack what \u201cunmasking\u201d really means\u2014moving beyond conditioning, perfectionism, and performance to meet your core self with honesty. Alicia blends clinical counseling, somatic practices, breathwork, and yoga to show how the body tells the truth even when the mind spins. We cover leaving a high-pressure corporate career, navigating fear versus excitement during transitions, building nervous-system safety, and why discomfort is often the price of growth. If you\u2019re seeking grounded, practical ways to get out of contraction, reconnect with purpose, and create genuine alignment, this conversation is for you.\nAbout the guest:\nAlicia Zielinski Straub is a Licensed Professional Counselor, somatic facilitator, yoga teacher, and retreat host. She guides clients to uncover authenticity through mindfulness, body awareness, and nervous-system informed tools\u2014often taking the work into nature for deeper integration.\nKey takeaways:\n\n\nUnmasking starts by noticing where you\u2019re performing or people-pleasing; authenticity grows when you choose belonging over \u201cfitting in.\u201d\n\n\nYour body is reliable data: tension, shallow breath, and tightness signal contraction; ease and presence signal safety and alignment.\n\n\nSomatic skills\u2014breath, stillness, orientation to senses\u2014help shift from hypervigilance to parasympathetic \u201crest and digest,\u201d where insight and choice return.\n\n\nDiscomfort can be a cue for growth: step outside the familiar in small, repeatable ways to reset your baseline of safety and capacity.\n\n\nHabits aren\u2019t identity: implicit patterns run on autopilot until you slow down, feel, and rewire with consistent practice.\n\n\nSupportive environments matter: nonjudgmental, curious communities help nervous systems relax so change can stick.\n\n\nNature amplifies integration; walking and movement consolidate insights that arise in stillness or talk therapy.\n\n\nPractical checkpoints: track body signals, schedule daily micro-practices (2\u20135 minutes), and design \u201cminimum viable\u201d steps for change.\n\n\nConnect with the guest:\n\nWebsite/Email: https://aliciazstraubcounseling.com/\u00a0(contact email available on site)\nInstagram & Facebook: @journeywithalicia\n\nEmail/phone available via her website.\n\n\n\nWant to be a guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? DM on PM - Send me a message on PodMatchDM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik\nDisclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are the personal opinions of the guest and do not reflect the views of the host or Healthy Mind By Avik. We do not intend to harm, defame, or discredit any person, organization, brand, product, country, or profession mentioned. All third-party media used remain the property of their respective owners and are used under fair use for informational purposes. By watching, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer.\n\nHealthy Mind By Avik is a global platform redefining mental health as a necessity, not a luxury. Born during the pandemic, it\u2019s become a sanctuary for healing, growth, and mindful living. Hosted by Avik Chakraborty\u2014storyteller, survivor, wellness advocate\u2014this channel shares powerful podcasts and soul-nurturing conversations on:\n\u2022 Mental Health and Emotional Well-being\u2022 Mindfulness and Spiritual Growth\u2022 Holistic Healing and Conscious Living\u2022 Trauma Recovery and Self-Empowerment\nWith over 4,400+ episodes and 168.4K+ global listeners, join us as we unite voices, break stigma, and build a world where every story matters.\nSubscribe and be part of this healing journey.\nContactBrand: Healthy Mind By AvikEmail: join@healthymindbyavik.com | podcast@healthymindbyavik.comWebsite: www.healthymindbyavik.comBased in: India and USA\nOpen to collaborations, guest appearances, coaching, and strategic partnerships. Let\u2019s connect to create a ripple effect of positivity.\nCHECK PODCAST SHOWS AND BE A GUEST:Listen our","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/af536c43-36c6-4d23-977b-34b65adf71d0/zwrlny5wbmc.jpg"}