Areas of Expertise

Trauma occurs when the physical, sexual, emotional social and/or spiritual well-being of an individual or group is threatened, attacked or denied.  Trauma can have lasting adverse effects.  Trauma responses include anxious reactions, confused thinking about self and the world, apprehension to connect with others, avoidance of triggers, reduction in pleasure, worry about the future, and limited ability to effectively interact with the present.

Human beings cannot avoid relationships.  We are in families, friendships, and romantic relationships.  We are also in professional and academic relationships in addition to our relationship with our local, national and global communities.  The relationship we have with ourselves is often underattended.  Relationships present challenges that leave us overwhelmed, hurt, frustrated, and confused.  The loss associated with relationships - the people in them and our expectations for what was supposed to be - disrupt our sense of safety, justice and hope and leave us uncertain, fearful, isolated, and disillusioned.

Caring for or protecting people and animals who have experienced past or recent trauma,  effects the one providing the care / protection significantly.  Mirror neurons in the brain connect and attach with the pain and suffering of the other.  Without intentional and continuous prevention plans, caregivers / protectors become adversely effected resulting in emotional/mental/physical exhaustion; reduced sense of personal accomplishment/meaning/purpose; isolation; detachment from identity / thoughts / emotions / memory / consciousness. 

The impact of social injustice erodes the wellness as well as the hope of wellness across individuals and groups.  Effects include individual and group suspicion, despair/ doubt that creates uncertainty about personal worth, loss of agency, reduced self confidence and inaccurate assessment of  individual abilities.  The higher instances of violence toward oppressed groups increase the occurrences of trauma related conditions.  Those within oppressed groups tend to care for each other with high levels of emotional, physical, financial and spiritual resources resulting in untended empathic distress.