The Wisdom of the Wound: Introducing a Podcast for Healing, Integration, and Authentic Living

Key Takeaways

Neil Bricco and Jay Getten's podcast will dive into ways to heal childhood emotional wounds by combining compassionate listening and inner child integration. Their approach weaves together clinical psychology, neurodiversity, and ancient wisdom.

Theme	Description
Compassionate Healing	Prioritize empathy over fixing pain, foster safe spaces for honest dialogue with inner child to support authentic recovery
Holistic Perspectives	Draws from Jungian psychology, trauma-informed practices, Indigenous wisdom, neuroscience, cognitive behavioral therapy for well-rounded view of emotional health and neurodiversity
Understanding Internal Narratives	Listeners learn to identify protective behaviors rooted in early pain, distinguish them from true selves, move toward deeper self-awareness and genuine living
Audience Focus	Aimed at those seeking personal growth, therapists, anyone interested in psychology or spirituality; podcast breaks down complex topics into practical, accessible insights

A New Voice in Mental Health and Neurodiversity

The Wisdom of the Wound Project, an upcoming podcast, brings a fresh perspective to the wellness field by integrating clinical psychology, Jungian principles, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the powerful concept of witnessing, all presented through genuine, lived experiences. Co-hosted by Neil Bricco, a psychotherapist, and myself (a licensed marriage and family therapist and neurodiversity advocate), the podcast treats childhood emotional wounds not merely as challenges, but as meaningful sources of insight that support personal authenticity and growth.

The Genesis: From Therapy to Collaboration

The podcast began during a time of personal grief, which led me to seek therapy with Neil Bricco. His "Wisdom of the Wound" method was transformative, and our relationship over time evolved from client-therapist to equal partners. Our shared goal is to help others integrate their wounded aspects. Neil provides clinical counseling and inner child expertise, while I offer neurodivergent and special education perspectives. Together, we combine psychological and physical healing approaches from both neurotypical and neurodivergent viewpoints.

The Hosts: Two Clinicians, One Vision

Neil Bricco: The Architect of Inner Child Work

With over forty years of experience as a therapist, Neil Bricco has worked extensively within schools, concentrating on childhood development and family interactions. Drawing on Jungian principles, his approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the Law of Attraction. Neil maintains that emotional wounds during childhood often result in inaccurate self-perceptions, which can persist into adulthood and manifest as anxiety or self-sabotaging behaviors. Instead of focusing on fixing clients’ pain, his technique emphasizes creating a safe environment where individuals feel acknowledged and understood.

Jay Getten: The Neurodiversity Advocate

My path to co-hosting the podcast reflects its focus on integration through understanding. With experience in autism-focused special education and as a clinical counselor, my academic journey was influenced by a car accident. I aim to reframe neurodiversity positively, seeing conditions like ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia as important societal roles. Despite late diagnoses and challenges, I use these experiences to advocate for others alongside Neil through self-exploration.

The Core Philosophy: The Three Amigos and the Seven Angels

At the center of The Wisdom of the Wound Project is a structured psychological framework designed to illuminate the roots of human suffering and suggest a pathway toward healing and liberation.

The Three Amigos: Architects of Neurosis

Neil introduces the concept of the "Three Amigos," which are three distinct internal voices that arise as a response to childhood wounding. Each plays a unique role in shaping our inner world:

Part	Description	Functions	Common Behaviors	Origin
The Inner Critic	This voice functions as the "judge, jury, and executioner," relentlessly criticizing and undermining the self	Criticizing, undermining	Messages like "you screwed up," "you're stupid," "you'll never be good enough"	Inherited from critical authority figures during childhood
The Ego	Presents a polished persona to others, avoids pain	Masking, constructing protective walls, suppressing vulnerability	Operates from rigid, black-and-white thinking	Response to emotional wounding
The Wounded Child	Carries the raw, vulnerable pain experienced during childhood	Longs to be witnessed, validated, integrated	Frequently silenced by the critic and ego	Experienced during childhood

Collectively, these three components constitute what Neil describes as the "agenda": a defensive and goal-oriented mindset in which individuals continually seek to demonstrate their value, lovability, and competence, frequently at the expense of remaining connected to their genuine selves.

The Seven Angels: Archetypes of Our Healthiest Selves

The Three Amigos symbolize our inner vulnerability, whereas the Seven Angels stand for the strongest and most mature parts of ourselves. These archetypes include qualities like nurturing, protection, wisdom, adulthood, rationality, and compassion, with the seventh Self representing Jung’s idea of integration, bringing together both conscious and unconscious aspects. True healing doesn’t mean rejecting vulnerable parts; instead, it requires adjusting our inner world so that the Seven Angels offer guidance and support, while wounded parts are accepted, validated, and included in the journey.

The Wounded Child's Dictionary: How Pain Becomes Identity

The podcast explores how childhood emotional wounds often lead to mistaken self-identities. Traumatized or neglected children may blame themselves for events like divorce or accept negative labels, creating a "wounded child's dictionary" of false beliefs about self-worth. These misconceptions frequently persist into adulthood, affecting behavior and outlook. Neil’s therapy helps clients identify and change these inaccurate beliefs.

Neurodiversity, Masking, and the Compounding of Suffering

The Wisdom of the Wound Project explores how neurodiversity influences healing. My experiences with ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and dyspraxia demonstrate how undiagnosed neurodivergence can complicate emotional healing. Recognizing differences like sensory sensitivities helps overcome shame and encourages integration. Masking neurodivergent traits, similar to Neil’s defensive strategies, suppresses authenticity and arises from fear. Anxiety and emotional suppression manifest differently by neurotype; in ADHD or autism, repressed pain may cause physical issues, while in bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, it can result in mood swings or psychosis. Emotional patterns impact both psychological and physical health.

The Power of Witnessing: The Core Healing Practice

The Wisdom of the Wound Project highlights the importance of being truly seen for healing. Neil believes recovery requires compassionate presence, not just insight. He notes that emotional wounds often begin in childhood when needs are unmet or talents ignored. In therapy, Neil creates a safe space, helps clients recall a painful childhood moment, and then addresses the inner child with three key questions.

Question	Purpose	Possible Responses
"What are you feeling?"	Allows the child to name emotions	fear, confusion, anger, shame
"What do you need?"	Varies with age and development	understanding, safety, a hug, someone to take them seriously, permission to be themselves
"What do you want to say?"	Grief often surfaces	grief for what was lost, what should have been provided, validation that never came

Neil offers steady presence and affirmation, validating the inner child's expressions. This compassionate witnessing often initiates meaningful healing. When these parts are not seen, shame and hidden traits can surface in unhealthy ways. Continued witnessing enables ongoing growth and healing.

From Survival to Thriving: The Shift from Agenda to Conscious Choice

The podcast contrasts reactive living from old wounds with intentional choices inspired by the Seven Angels. It notes that many people, especially neurodivergent individuals, operate in survival mode due to past experiences and negative messages, neurodivergent people reportedly hear 20,000 more negative comments than neurotypical peers. Progress comes from acknowledging but not being guided by wounded parts (“Three Amigos”) and gradually accessing positive traits (“Seven Angels”).

The Intersection of Ancient Wisdom and Modern Psychology

What sets The Wisdom of the Wound Project apart from typical psychology podcasts is its thoughtful integration of diverse wisdom traditions. The show artfully weaves together several key perspectives to create a cohesive framework for understanding and healing:

Approach	Main Concepts	Healing Focus
Jungian psychology	Shadow self, collective unconscious, integration of opposites	Self-understanding and healing
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)	Practical, observable patterns, restructuring thought processes	Grounded healing
The Law of Attraction	Energy we focus on shapes experience	Practice for shaping lived experience
Eastern philosophy	Observer consciousness, Advaita Vedanta, mindful awareness	Encourages mindful awareness
Indigenous wisdom	Naming ceremonies, integration of all aspects of the self	Healing journey
Evolutionary biology and neuroscience	Neurodiversity, understanding informed by these fields	Contribution to healing process

Although these influences may seem unrelated, we integrate them effectively to construct a comprehensive framework. This framework enables listeners to gain insight into their personal development and guides them in advancing toward their highest potential.

What Makes This Podcast Unique

In a marketplace filled with mental health content, The Wisdom of the Wound Project distinguishes itself through several notable features.

Depth Without Jargon

Drawing from clinical psychology and established theories, we present the material in a way that's easy for everyone to understand. Instead of using technical jargon, we explain complex topics like dissociation, neurosis, and attachment styles in clear, intuitive terms.

Integration of Neurodiversity

In contrast to typical mental health conversations, which frequently overlook neurodiversity or regard it as an issue requiring resolution, this podcast prioritizes neurodivergent experiences. The program critically examines pathologizing terminology commonly present in medical and psychological frameworks and introduces alternative archetypes that are intended to be both precise and empowering for the audience.

Lived Experience Meets Clinical Expertise

The hosts combine their professional expertise with personal experience in their discussions. With Neil’s extensive clinical background and my own twenty-plus years as a teacher, therapist, and through my own healing journey, the podcast delivers insights that are rooted in both theoretical knowledge and real-life understanding.

Emphasis on Witnessing Over Fixing

Modern psychology and self-help often focus on solutions and symptom elimination. This podcast suggests a different approach: healing begins with witnessing rather than fixing. Integration occurs when one stops rejecting parts of oneself and instead creates space for the full range of their experience.

Trauma, Healing, and Neurodivergence as Interconnected

The podcast treats trauma, healing, and neurodivergence not as separate issues, but as deeply interconnected. It explores how childhood wounds impact the nervous system differently based on neurotype, how understanding neurobiology influences the healing process, and how reframing neurodivergence as an evolutionary advantage can transform one’s perspective.

Practical Frameworks for Daily Life

Even as the podcast delves into complex psychological territory, it remains focused on practical application. Listeners learn how to identify their "Three Amigos," notice when these patterns influence their lives, and make conscious choices guided by the "Seven Angels." These frameworks offer concrete support for everyday healing and transformation.

Who Should Listen?

The Wisdom of the Wound Project is designed to resonate with a wide range of listeners:

Group	Focus/Interest
Individuals in therapy or on personal healing journeys	Jungian, somatic, or trauma-informed approaches
Neurodivergent individuals	ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, multiple neurotypes, felt pathologized by conventional models
Parents	Understanding how childhood experiences shape identity, parenting in more conscious ways
Clinicians and therapists	Deepen understanding of childhood wounding, importance of witnessing in healing
Anyone curious	Intersection of psychology, spirituality, and neurobiology
Those grappling with anxiety, depression, or persistent feelings of inadequacy	Explore the root causes of these experiences

Fundamentally, this podcast is intended for individuals seeking greater self-awareness, validation, and personal growth.

The Opening Invitation

As we launch the podcast, we invite listeners to reflect on their personal wounds, inherited illusions, and the journey toward greater wholeness. Neil stresses that our focus is compassion for our vulnerable selves, not spiritual bypassing or forced positivity. The process involves facing pain authentically and learning from it. I emphasize that simply observing these parts of us can be transformative, with acknowledgment being the first step to integration.

Conclusion: Beginning the Journey

The Wisdom of the Wound Project is being introduced at a time when individuals are reflecting on their formative narratives, ingrained behaviors, and established coping mechanisms. There is an increasing recognition that neurodiversity represents a meaningful distinction rather than a disadvantage, and that mental health encompasses more than symptom management.

The project aims to provide support to those who have experienced feelings of inadequacy or brokenness. Its central premise is constructive: individuals are not inherently flawed; rather, their wounds are understandable responses to previous experiences. By acknowledging and addressing these wounds, individuals may derive valuable insights. The initiative encourages participants to engage fully in this process, integrating both their vulnerable aspects and inherent wisdom.

Key Concepts to Explore in Future Episodes

While this preview lays the philosophical and theoretical groundwork, future episodes will delve more deeply into several important areas:

Topic	Description
The Seven Angels	Approaches to consciously inhabit each one
Three Amigos	Practical techniques for identifying and dialoguing
Healing pathways	Tailored to neurodiversity, including ADHD, autism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia
Attachment styles and relationships	Interplay between attachment styles, early wounding, and current relationships
Reframing failure and shame	Reframing failure, shame, and the experience of "playing small"
Body and emotional trauma	The body's role in holding and releasing emotional trauma
Consciousness and evolution	Discussions on consciousness, evolution, and what it means to be fully human today
Technology and AI	Exploration of technology, AI, and the future of human connection and consciousness

Each discussion will be informed by extensive clinical expertise, grounded in the authentic experiences of neurodivergent individuals, and guided by the principle that compassionate recognition of challenges can support personal growth and authenticity.