A real conversation with Dr. Valdesha DeJean on navigating shame, emotional safety, and resilience inside the home after a layoff.What happens after the layoff email hits? Not just at work but at home?In this deeply personal episode of Laid Off Legends, I sit down with nationally recognized psychiatrist Dr. Valdesha DeJean to explore the emotional ripple effect of layoffs, not just on the individual, but on spouses, kids, and family systems.

We talk about:

✅ Why anxiety after layoffs is contagious inside a home

✅ How to create emotional safety in hard conversations

✅ The hidden role of gender dynamics in shame

✅ Why vulnerability matters—and how to offer it wisely

✅ How to rebuild confidence and connection over time

✅ And the powerful question every laid-off parent should ask their family:“What value do I bring outside of my paycheck?”

This episode is a must-watch for anyone navigating career disruption while trying to stay grounded for the people they love.

💬 If you’ve ever felt like you had to “hold it all together” after losing your job, this is your permission to stop pretending and start rebuilding, with your family, not in isolation.

Resources:

Laid Off Legends Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/laidofflegends/about

(You'll find the Layoff Recovery course in the Classroom)

Dr. DeJean's work:

Site: https://www.drdejean.com/

Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists/valdesha-dejean-atlanta-ga/1525542

Dr. Aliya Rao's work on relationships and unemployment:

https://www.aliya-hamid-rao.com/