Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson Fixing vs. Feeling: How to Get on the Same Team with Elizabeth Ferreira
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Feb 2, 2026 
Elizabeth Ferreira, a somatic therapist specializing in trauma-informed relationship work, joins to unpack why people default to “fixing” or “feeling.” She traces these patterns to socialization, trauma, and nervous-system activation. Short takes cover attunement before problem-solving, co-regulation, and simple tools like asking “empathy or solutions?” to get on the same team.
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Forrest's Early Adaptation To Logic
- Forrest describes becoming more problem-solving because it was rewarded and safer than being a sensitive kid.
- He shifted toward logic as an adaptive strategy that reduced suffering in social situations.
Elizabeth's Survival Identity Unraveling
- Elizabeth recounts living with survival strategies that kept her emotionally closed and achievement-focused.
- In relationships she would erupt emotionally later because she lacked regulation and problem-solving capacity.
Attune First, Solve Later
- When someone's distressed, spend time in empathic attunement before offering solutions.
- Trust that with safety and regulation, they can move into problem-solving later.