Conversations for Couples

In this powerful episode of Conversations for Couples, Julie and David Bulitt are joined by artist, author, and mental health advocate Tracey Yokas, whose memoir Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing explores her family’s painful but inspiring journey through mental illness, eating disorders, and the complicated healing process that followed.

Tracey shares the story of her daughter’s sudden descent into severe anorexia, depression, and anxiety following the unexpected death of Tracey’s mother—and how it impacted not only their daughter’s life, but their marriage and personal histories. Tracey opens up about her own background with trauma, her late diagnosis of chronic PTSD, and the emotional hurdles she and her husband faced in learning to support their daughter and themselves.

The conversation dives deep into parenting under pressure, the dynamics between partners during a crisis, the generational impact of trauma, and the role of creativity in healing. Tracey also discusses how mixed media art became a tool for emotional regulation and self-care—and how she now helps others reconnect with themselves through creative practices.

Married for 37 years and parents of four daughters (two adopted, two biological), David, a divorce lawyer, and Julie, a family therapist, have both been witness to families struggling with life’s most difficult challenges and at the same time, they have weathered their own struggles at home.  Authors of two award winning books, the Bulitts delve into the conversations they have had, those they should have had and those that every couple needs to have in order to find success, happiness and fulfillment.  

Additional resources I hope will help, if you need them.

Dr. Becky Kennedy @goodinside with one question to ask your teen.