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The Shadow Sessions

The Shadow Sessions

By: Hiba Balfaqih
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Summary

 The Shadow Sessions is hosted by Hiba Balfaqih, an unconventional psychologist and trauma alchemist. We explore the stories that most people bury—particularly those tied to shame, trauma, and identity. Our goal is to shed light on the hidden corners of human experience, allowing listeners to hear stories that challenge societal norms and spark deep,introspective conversations.Hiba Balfaqih Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • Sold At 4 For Drug Money by her Mother

    Sold At 4 For Drug Money by her Mother
    May 7 2026
    We grow up with a core belief: a mother is safety, protection, and home. But what happens when that foundation breaks? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Jazmine, who survived profound abuse within her own home—where harm was not hidden, but normalized, and the person meant to protect her became the source of danger. This conversation goes beyond abuse itself. It explores attachment trauma, how early betrayal reshapes a child’s understanding of love and safety, and the lasting psychological impact of growing up without protection. Jazmine reflects on identity, trust, and what it means to rebuild a sense of self when your earliest blueprint for care was distorted. She also shares the difficult but powerful process of learning to create safety from within. This episode is about trauma, resilience, and what it takes to reclaim your life when the place that should have been safest was not.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Sentenced to Life at Just 13 Years Old

    Sentenced to Life at Just 13 Years Old
    Apr 30 2026
    What kind of system gives a child a life sentence? In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Ian, who at just thirteen years old was tried as an adult for a non‑homicide offense and sentenced to life in prison. This conversation goes beyond one case. It examines the structure of the justice system—where children, particularly Black and Brown youth, are disproportionately treated as adults, perceived as more dangerous, and denied the protections of childhood. Together, they explore what it means for a developing brain to be told its life is already over, how identity is shaped inside systems built on punishment, and why rehabilitation is often replaced with permanence. This episode is about justice, perception, and the deeper question of whom society chooses to protect and whom it is willing to give up on.
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Human Trafficking Survivor Speaks Out

    Human Trafficking Survivor Speaks Out
    Apr 23 2026
    We often talk about war in terms of soldiers, politics, and strategy. But conflict creates another reality—one where systems collapse, laws disappear, and exploitation thrives in the chaos. In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Lurata, who was trafficked during wartime, in a world where protection had vanished, and survival meant navigating danger no one should ever face. This conversation explores how conflict zones create conditions where trafficking and exploitation can flourish, and what it does to the mind when violence is no longer distant—but personal and constant. Lurata shares her experience of survival, the psychological impact of living without safety, and the long process of reclaiming identity and voice after systems meant to protect people fail. This episode examines war not just as a geopolitical conflict but as a human reality in which the most vulnerable often pay the highest price.
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    1 hr and 12 mins
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