Addiction’s Collateral Damage to Families & Children with Andrea Porcelli

The Gifts of Trauma

Hosted by Rosemary Davies-Janes. Produced by J’aime Rothbard.

In this inspiring, honest conversation, Andrea shares her personal story of healing the pain of addiction within her family. She shares the struggles her parents, step-parents, brother, son, and son’s father had with addiction, and explores the wide-ranging collateral damage addiction can cause in families. The long list of emotional burdens carried by family members can include feelings of anxiety, sadness, stress, loneliness, shame and fear. Childhood coping strategies, while initially helpful, can cause long term harm, such as Andrea’s hypervigilance, anorexia, disconnection, and physical burnout.

• In addition, Andrea reflects on: - How her multicultural background, growing up in, and living in different countries shaped her identity, and created a deep sense of not belonging anywhere - Creatives’ ability to express their pain through art, and how that can be a therapeutic outlet when dealing with trauma and addiction - The coaching program she developed for photographers and creatives, and the support program she is currently co-creating for families experiencing addiction - How the healing that she and her loved ones experienced was facilitating by understanding and expressing long hidden and repressed feelings of sadness, loneliness and shame

Andrea ends this interview by urging listeners, who are personally impacted by addiction, to seek out their own support communities and opportunities to speak up.

About Andrea Porcelli Trauma-informed Therapist & Coach for Photographers & Artists Born in Barcelona to South American parents, Andrea grew up moving between Spain, Chile, Argentina, and the Netherlands, surrounded by refugees, musicians, philosophers and poets. She spent years searching for her place in the world. Addiction also shaped her upbringing. Many of her caretakers and community members struggled with substance use, so she inhabited an environment of disconnection, suppressed pain and inherited beliefs about her own survival, love, and worth.

For 25 years, as a producer for international photographers and commercial advertising, Andrea supported creatives in bringing their visions to life. Realizing that her calling extended beyond artistic expression—she launched a coaching program for creatives & photographers that reconnected them to their artistic essence.

In 2011, after facing burnout and other issues, Andrea addressed her own disconnection by studying childhood trauma, stress patterns, and the bodily signals sent in response to unresolved experiences. Inspired by the work of Dr. Gabor Maté, she found profound wisdom through training in Compassionate Inquiry® (CI) and discovered that healing begins with curiosity, presence, and self-compassion. Certifications in Systemic Coaching and Family Constellations, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Yin Yoga, Stress Management Coaching, Psychosocial Counseling, and studies of approaches that integrate the mind, body, and emotional healing, including the Feldenkrais Method, deepened her expertise.

Today, Andrea’s practice is rooted in the understanding that our stories live in our bodies, and true transformation happens when we listen deeply. Through Compassionate Inquiry, Creative Systemic Coaching and Somatic-based techniques, she creates a safe space for individuals to reconnect with their inner truths, release their limiting beliefs, and embrace their full authenticity.

Promotional Link: If you're not a therapist or healer, but you've heard our guests describe the personal transformations they experienced during their Compassionate Inquiry® journeys, and wonder what that would be like for you... Circles is a 10-week small group experience offered to anyone who wants to experience the power of Gabor Maté’s approach to trauma healing. Use this link to find out if this program is for you.

Resources:

Website:

Andrea’s Professional Website

Videos:

Trauma and the Nervous System Stephen Porges & Gabor Maté

Finding Wholeness Through Our Broken Places Tara Branch, Jack Kornfield & Gabor Maté

What is Meant by Authenticity? Gabor Maté

We as Organism Alan Watts

Myth of Myself Alan Watts

Don’t Force Anything Alan Watts

Compassion Prison Project

Step Inside the Circle

The 7 Impacts of Trauma Gabor Maté

What is Trauma? Bessel van der Kolk

How the Body Keeps the Score on Trauma Bessel van der Kolk

Relational Mindfulness: From Trauma to Connection Terry Real

On Grandiosity and Shame Terry Real & Esther Perel

The Hidden Effects of Trauma in Relationships Tomas Hübl & Terry Real :

Developmental Trauma into Integration and Resiliency Dan Siegel

On Disorganized Attachment Dan Siegel

Books:

Buddha’s Brain Rick Hanson & Richard Mendius

Hold On to Your Kids Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté

Scattered Minds Gabor Maté

The Myth of Normal Gabor Maté

When the Body Says No Gabor Maté

The Body Keeps the Score Bessel van der Kolk

The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle

Brainstorm Dan Siegel

Mindsight Dan Siegel

Latin American authors’ books that helped Andrea understand her roots include: Isabel Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Eduardo Galeano, Borges, Cortazar, Mario Benedetti and Pablo Neruda

Music: As her father was a musician, music was a big influence in Andrea’s life. It helped her be with her emotions without shame or fear, and understand her roots. The following artists all contributed to the soundtrack of Andrea’s life: Mercedes Sosa, Violeta Parra, Carlos Gardel, Liliana Herrero, Atahualpa Yupanqui, Pablo Milanes, Carlos Aguirre, Pablo Aznar, Nina Simone, Pat Metheny, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, The Beatles, Soundgarden, Eddie Vedder, and her father, singing folklore and tangos.

Quotes: “Healing is a journey home—to ourselves, our roots, and our wholeness.” - Andrea Porcelli

Social Media:

Instagram: @andreaporcelli

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreaporcelli/

Facebook Business https://www.facebook.com/andreaporcellicoaching/