Resiliency Within

By Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSWHealth & Fitness Mental Health Education Self-Improvement

Resiliency Within episodes

February 03, 2025 The Mental Health Effects of Climate Change: Advocacy and Healing
Since this show was first aired, climate events have become more frequent. Dr. Lise Van Susteren, a recognized authority in climate change's physiological and psychological impacts, enlightens us about her advocacy efforts. She helps us understand these incidents' cumulative effects on children and adults. Dr. Van Susteren delves into the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences in the context of climate change, elucidating pathways for the recovery and healing of individuals. Moreover, she will share her perspectives on how we can all contribute to preventive solutions, fostering the betterment of our communities. Climate events are happening more frequently throughout the globe. Children and adults witness climate-related occurrences with greater frequency. These include hurricanes, floods, extreme weather and devastating firestorms in many parts of the United States and the world. The aftermath of these events has taken a toll on the physical and mental health of children and adults. Dr. Susteren's wisdom and experience help us all learn how to become more involved in advocacy and healing.
56 min
January 27, 2025 "Building Resilient Communities in the State of Oregon"
Shannon Biteng of the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is the Trauma Informed Organization Manager.

She will share the development and implementation of the ODHS Trauma Aware Program. The program supports over 12,000 human services professionals dedicated to assisting 1.5 million Oregonians in accessing essential resources and enhancing their overall well-being. She will share how the Trauma Aware initiatives foster resilience, promote well-being, and strive to empower individuals affected by trauma and toxic stress.

The Trauma Aware Program actively contributes to ODHS's mission of becoming a Trauma-Informed Organization by fostering supportive interactions at both individual and systemic levels, focusing on equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Their approach integrates evidence-based practices with the insights gleaned from the experiences of their workforce and the communities they serve.

She will discuss an array of programs, which includes Trauma-Informed Practice, Resilience, Healing and Empowerment, Trauma Response Services, Employee well-being, Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention, and the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) program.
56 min
January 20, 2025 Systemic Trauma and Collective Healing (Encore)
Resiliency Within welcomes back John Kania and Laura Calderon de la Barca.

Join this conversation with the Collective Change Lab team who are at the leading edge of shifting how organizations, movements, and collective system change efforts are evolving towards more healing-centered ways of working.

John Kania is the Founder and Executive Director of Collective Change Lab. Laura Calderon de la Barca is a psychotherapist specializing in individual, intergenerational, and collective trauma, as well as a collective healing researcher.

The conversation will include thoughts on how, in the years since the massive disruption and unrest triggered by the pandemic, there is greater openness and receptivity to thinking about trauma more expansively than ever before.

Engaging with trauma is increasingly vital as polarization worsens and challenges escalate into a poly-crisis - thankfully, a deeper conversation is taking root on how to mainstream trauma healing.
56 min
January 13, 2025 The Prophetic Lens and the Racial Solidarity Project (Encore)
Dr. Phil Allen, Jr. returns to Resiliency Within to discuss his journey since the release of his documentary and his first book, Open Wounds: A Story of Racial Tragedy, Trauma and Redemption. In this encore episode, he will explore the themes of his second book, The Prophetic Lens: The Camera and Black Moral Agency, from Martin Luther King to Darnella Frazier, which examines the role of the camera in the fight for racial justice. Allen highlights both the prophetic potential of the camera and the context of Blackness as a liminal existence amid a context dominated by whiteness. He states, "Martin Luther King used news cameras to expose anti-Black violence by white mobs in the 1950s and 60s. Darnella Frazier used her phone to record and post the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin in May 2020. These are just two of many people who have captured images of injustice for the world to see. The Prophetic Lens delves into the camera's role as an indispensable prophetic tool for the security of Black lives and the pursuit of racial justice." Using Walter Brueggemann's Prophetic Imagination as a framework, Allen demonstrates how the camera can be a catalyst for cultural change. He chronicles the use of the camera in film, from J.D. Griffiths' Birth of a Nation to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, revealing how this technology has effectively achieved the goals of its respective storytellers. Dr. Phil Allen, Jr. will also share the work of the nonprofit organization he founded, the Racial Solidarity Project. This organization aims to promote anti-racist, pro-community activism, and racial solidarity through its four pillars of sustainable activism: justice and equity advocacy, education, wellness, and intentional community-building. The Racial Solidarity Project believes that justice work requires solidarity, and solidarity invites healing. They emphasize the term "solidarity" because it reflects God's work and is the central witness of God's relationship with humanity. ______________________________________ 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁: Dr. Phil Allen, Jr. is an ethicist and theologian who integrates Black perspectives on theology and ethics of justice, understanding and healing racial trauma, and fostering racial solidarity. He is an author, speaker, poet, documentary film producer, and the founder and Executive Director of the Racial Solidarity Project (RSP) based in Pasadena, CA. www.philallenjr.com www.thersp.org
57 min
January 06, 2025 The Life-Giving Resource of Friendship
Dr. Peggy Rowe Ward and host Elaine Miller-Karas will explore the meaning of friendships, the joys and sorrows that come from loving relationships, and reflect on their nearly two decades of friendship. Recent research indicates that friends can strengthen our immune system, help us recover from illness more quickly, sharpen our memory, and help us live longer. This knowledge reassures us of the healing and life-extending benefits of friendships, filling us with optimism and a sense of security. Dr. Rowe-Ward, Co-Founder of the Lotus Institute, will share the elements of an innovative offering - a soul mentoring program beginning in September 2024 called Anam Cara. Anam is Gaelic for soul, and Cara means friend, so Anam Cara signifies a soul friend. An Anam Cara was a person to whom you could reveal the hidden depths of your life. This friendship embodied recognition and belonging, transcending all conventions and categories. In Buddhist teachings, the Buddha was once asked about the importance of friends on our path. He responded that we benefit from friends who can support and celebrate with us. Ananda, a beloved senior student of the Buddha, knew that having good and encouraging friends was crucial for the path. He even wondered whether having good friends was half the path. "No, Ananda," the Buddha told him, "Having good friends isn't half the Holy Life. Having good friends is the whole of the Holy Life." This profound statement underscores the transformative power of good friends in our lives, inspiring us to seek and cherish such relationships. The Bible's Proverbs also emphasize the value of friendship: A true friend shows love, no matter what; gives heartfelt advice, bringing joy to the heart; rebukes when necessary, but the correction is done with love; enlivens, influences, and sharpens; and forgives, not holding grudges. True friends are loyal and help in times of need. Join us for a lively, heartfelt dialogue as Elaine and Peggy share their friendship journeys.
56 min
December 30, 2024Healing without Borders: The Trauma Resource Institute
Resiliency Within's host, Elaine Miller-Karas, co-founded the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI). She resigned as Executive Director in 2020 when she welcomed Dr. Michael Sapp as the CEO of TRI.

They will discuss the international organization's past, present, and future. The Trauma Resource Institute (TRI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that cultivates trauma-informed and resiliency-focused individuals and communities worldwide.

TRI is known internationally for its innovative perspectives promoting individual and community well-being.

Two types of training, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM)® and the Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® have been developed by Elaine Miller-Karas. Both models are biologically based and teach wellness skills, cultivating well-being in mind, body, and spirit.

While TRM is oriented toward mental health professionals, CRM focuses on public health and has been taught to professionals and natural leaders of communities.

TRI has brought its healing modalities to more than 70 countries. Dr. Sapp and Elaine have traveled to many places worldwide, including China, the Philippines, Germany, Turkey, Northern Ireland, India, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Nepal.

TRI has built meaningful collaborations with diverse organizations such as the Center for Contemplative Science at Emory University, EdCamp Ukraine, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Fighting Back Santa Maria, and the Christopher Wolf Crusade.

Dr. Sapp and Elaine will elaborate upon TRI's values and its mission.
TRI's mission is:

To take people from despair to hope through simple skills-based interventions based on cutting-edge research about the brain.

To expand access to biologically based treatments by training frontline service providers, community leaders, and clinicians to build local capacity in diverse communities nationally and internationally.

TRI's values include:

Every individual, child, and adult has a natural-born ability to cultivate well-being and can learn an array of self-help skills.

When a traumatic event has resulted in symptoms, individuals are entitled to treatment that is gentle, effective, and culturally sensitive.

Education and intervention about the common reactions to traumatic experiences must be available to diverse populations and cultures.

Treatment of individuals suffering from traumatic stress reactions must be accessible and affordable to all members of society.

__________________________

About Our Guest:

Dr. Michael Sapp

Michael Sapp serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Trauma Resource Institute (TRI), where he has been actively involved since 2010, initially as Senior Faculty for both TRM and CRM.

His educational background includes an M.A. in General Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, both earned at The New School in New York, NY. Dr. Sapp is deeply committed to disseminating TRI's innovative healing approaches to a global audience.

In 2016, he assumed the role of Associate Executive Director, and his exceptional leadership skills led to his appointment as CEO in 2020.

A notable aspect of Dr. Sapp's work lies in his keen interest in neuroscientific approaches to trauma healing. This interest culminated in his co-authorship of the chapter "The Nervous System, Memory, and Trauma" in Ms. Miller-Karas' book, Building Resilience to Trauma: The Trauma and Community Resiliency Models, first published in 2015 and subsequently in its second edition in 2023.

In collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, Dr. Sapp played a crucial role in establishing a CRM Teacher Training program for Angola in 2023. This program aims to educate 180 Young Adult Social Mobilizers (YASM), impacting up to 6,000 Angolan Youth

His humanitarian work was further shaped by experiences in Istanbul, Turkey, supporting Syrian refugees and assisting survivors of the "troubles" in Northern Ireland. He was instrumental in launching TRI's training programs in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
56 min
December 23, 2024 Coping With Seasonal Sorrow
The holidays often come wrapped in ribbons of joy, but for many, they conceal threads of grief, suicide, and seasonal depression. In this episode, Elaine Karas-Miller invites Dr. Jamie Gamboa and Brian Stefan from Spotlight On Suicide (SOS) to explore these difficult truths, offering compassionate insights into the darkness that can creep in under the glow of holiday lights. They unpack the weight of unspoken sorrow and share their practical Suicide Prevention Toolbox — strategies to help when the season becomes too heavy to bear. If you or someone you know has ever struggled to keep going while the world keeps celebrating, this conversation holds a lifeline of understanding and hope.
57 min
December 16, 2024 Encore LESSONS LEARNED FROM BELFAST: HEALING THE WOUNDS OF CONFLICT
Rev. Lesley Carroll has dedicated her life to the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. To her, this mission is a lifelong calling. Her efforts extend beyond the borders of Northern Ireland, as she has been instrumental in fostering dialogues for peace and reconciliation in regions such as Rwanda, Nigeria, Kosovo, and Croatia. She was the past Prison Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. She now serves as the Assistant Commissioner for investigations: Support Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. In these challenging times for our global community, Rev. Carroll generously shares her insights and the valuable lessons she has acquired on her remarkable journey, which can offer guidance and inspiration for us all about how to bring peace and reconciliation to our communities worldwide. Inspired by her experiences, Rev. Carroll introduced the Community Resiliency Model to Northern Ireland. This initiative has led to the establishment of a group of Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are actively disseminating CRM's healing skills throughout the NI community.
57 min
December 16, 2024 Encore LESSONS LEARNED FROM BELFAST:HEALING THE WOUNDS OF CONFLICT
Rev. Lesley Carroll has dedicated her life to the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. To her, this mission is a lifelong calling. Her efforts extend beyond the borders of Northern Ireland, as she has been instrumental in fostering dialogues for peace and reconciliation in regions such as Rwanda, Nigeria, Kosovo, and Croatia. She was the past Prison Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. She now serves as the Assistant Commissioner for investigations: Support Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.
In these challenging times for our global community, Rev. Carroll generously shares her insights and the valuable lessons she has acquired on her remarkable journey, which can offer guidance and inspiration for us all about how to bring peace and reconciliation to our communities worldwide.
Inspired by her experiences, Rev. Carroll introduced the Community Resiliency Model to Northern Ireland. This initiative has led to the establishment of a group of Community Resiliency Model Teachers who are actively disseminating CRM's healing skills throughout the NI community.
1 hr
December 09, 2024 Encore Cultivating Joy During Times of Darkness: The Eight Pillars
The great spiritual leaders, Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote about their commitment to compassion and joy and expressed their ideas in their book, The Book of Joy. Desmond Tutu called himself the “prisoner of hope,” and his message of hope and joy will live on. Many people in our world have expressed being tired and feeling a sense of hopelessness about the world's condition. Desmond Tutu faced great hardship in his life, yet he was hopeful about the world condition, and he would say, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Reena Patel, LCSW discusses with Elaine Miller-Karas, the meaning of joy and how we can be lifted from suffering and hopelessness to embrace the spring of joy within each one of us. They discuss the eight pillars of joy: perspective, acceptance, humor, forgiveness, gratitude, compassion, and generosity. Listeners will be asked to explore how they can nurture their joy to live life with greater meaning and restore hope.
The Dalai Lama states, “There are many different angles for every event in life.” He uses the terms “wider perspective” and “larger perspective.” These involve taking a step back to look at the bigger picture. A wider perspective moves us out of a limited self-awareness and self-interest to the possibility of a global interest. Desmond Tutu expressed the idea of a “God’s-eye perspective,” which he stated allows for the birth of empathy, which creates joy not only in the one but also in the many. This wider perspective leads to the possibility of empathy opening the door to understanding the journeys of others and can prevent us from building walls that keep us from welcoming potential friends and allies. Different perspectives can turn the “I” into the “we.” Desmond Tutu reminded us of the Overview Effect. He stated, “Many astronauts report that once they glimpsed the Earth from space—a small blue ball floating in the vast expanse, lacking our human-made borders—they never looked at their personal or national interests in quite the same way again. They saw the oneness of terrestrial life and the preciousness of our planetary home.” (Dalai Lama et al., 2016). There perspectives are needed during these times.
1 hr

About Resiliency Within

From the publisher's feed

Elaine Miller-Karas will amplify the message of hope, healing and resiliency she has learned from our world community as she has traversed the globe after human made and natural disasters. Hope often springs forth in response to suffering and trauma. Our beliefs and our wellbeing are being challenged during these unprecedented times.