FEATURES
What Happens When We're Connected: Ralf Marzen & Maya Vaughan on Healing Through Relationships
In this episode of The Aliveness Project: Conversations on Connection, Ralf and Maya explore why connection is central to healing, and how survival strategies can make disconnection feel safer than contact.
They cover embodiment, authenticity, shame as a strategy of disconnection, and the clinical reality of rupture and repair. There’s also a grounded conversation about modern relationships, including why conflict can be essential for intimacy.
View the episode here.
RESOURCES
Social and Relational Health Risks and Common Mental Health Problems Among US Children
The Mitigating Role of Family Resilience and Connection to Promote Positive Socioemotional and School-Related Outcomes
This paper highlights that many US children’s mental health problems link to social and relationship stresses, not just “what’s in their head”. It reports 21.8% of ages 3–17 have mental, emotional or behaviour conditions, rising from 15.1% to 60.4% with more risks. Strong parent–child bonds improve self-control and school outcomes. Read the Research Paper.