Trauma Talks: Exploring Personal Narratives of Trauma-Informed Care through Podcasting

Abstract

Trauma Talks: Rising from the Ashes is a podcast series developed by The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC). The series aims to present a variety of personal audio narratives that explore how trauma-informed care (TIC) intersects with individual experiences of healing and connection following traumatic events. The operationalization of TIC principles in the interviewing process is illustrated throughout, and a qualitative analysis is presented, exploring how podcast guests experienced these principles in practice. Justification for the creation of a podcast series illuminating TIC is outlined, and implications for social work educators on the use of podcasting is discussed. Podcasting is ultimately highlighted as a useful product and tool to harness technology for social good and provide guidance toward manifesting TIC.

Keywords:

• Trauma-informed care
• sanctuary
• podcasts
• narratives

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the interviewers and interviewees who have shared their experiences and wisdom for TraumaTalks.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Josal Diebold

Josal Diebold, LMSW, is a PhD Student at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Her area of focus is white antiracist community organizing, as well as applying a trauma-informed framework to organizing and social movements. She has been an interviewer for the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care’s Trauma Talks podcast.

Mickey Sperlich

Mickey Sperlich is an assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She studies the effects of trauma and mental health challenges on women’s childbearing, postpartum experiences and early parenting outcomes. Sperlich is co-developer of a psychosocial intervention for pregnant survivors of abuse; the Survivor Moms’ Companion, and is dedicated to developing and evaluating trauma-specific approaches to interrupt cycles of violence and vulnerability.

Elyse Heagle

Elyse Heagle, MSW, RSW is a Registered Social Worker currently in private practice in Ontario, Canada. Elyse holds special interest in working with individuals and groups from a trauma-informed perspective, and provides trauma-specific treatment. Elyse has worked in community agencies, hospital settings, and has staffed training workshops for therapists learning the Internal Family Systems model. She has also been a podcast interviewer and trainer for the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care.

Whitney Marris

Whitney L. Marris is an MSW student at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Her experience includes providing direct services to trauma survivors in various community-based settings, contributing to organizational trauma-informed training efforts, as well as educating and activating policymakers and stakeholders around engendering structural change through a trauma-informed, human rights-affirming lens. Whitney has served as an interviewer for the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care’s Trauma Talks podcast series.

Susan Green

Susan A. Green, LCSW is a Clinical Full Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She is the Co-Director of the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work and Buffalo Center for Social Research. Professor Green is the Principal Investigator (PI) on multiple grant projects for the implementation of trauma-informed approaches in various agencies, organizations and systems of care. Recently, Professor Green released the Trauma Institute’s Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual (2019) with a colleague. She has been a contributing author and presenter for peer-reviewed, trauma-related publications and presentations. Clinically, Professor Green practices and is trained and licensed in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Professor Green sits on various committees and councils for trauma-related practices, curriculum, and community work.