Trauma-Informed Lens

In Episode 5, Matt, Curt, and Jerry continue discussing some of the ways that experiences can impact individual people as well as groups of people collectively.  In this episode, we touch on a phenomenon known as intergenerational, or transgenerational, transmission.  Previously, prevailing views held that child-rearing practices were the mechanism of transmitting similar patterns of behavior across generations.  More recent findings related to epigenetics have added to our understanding through the identification of biological and genetic mechanisms supporting transgenerational similarities in behavior patterns.  The hopeful news is the incredible capacity of humans to adapt to changing conditions through a variety of mechanisms.  Not only can the actions we take today to improve our world make a difference in the immediate context, but also those actions can make a difference to generations that follow.

Links

Jerry’s Question of the week: If exposed to trauma can harm us and connections can help us heal and maintain our health, how do you strike a balance in your work and life?

In Episode #4: Trauma & Epigenetics, Matt, Curt, and Jerry explore the topic of epigenetics. Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.  Epigenetics is the field of research that examines alterations in gene expression caused by mechanisms other than changes in DNA sequence.  This relatively recent field of study suggests additional mechanisms through which experiences can directly influence traits passed on from parents to children.  Epigenetics expands our understanding of factors influencing heritability to include behavioral patterns, and environmental conditions.

This Poverty Genetic – Through the Wormhole

In this episode, Matt, Jerry, and Curt start to talk about applying the biological concept of homeostasis to varying levels of individuals, groups, organizations, and systems.  There’s A LOT to talk about here, and certainly many questions to be asked.  One question to consider is the difference between the effect of previous learning, and what is a biological drive towards establishing and maintaining steady states.

Jerry’s Question of the Week: As you begin to deal with clients, pay attention to what you are experiencing internally?

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Mentioned Resources

White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg

If our podcast is all about a “trauma-informed” lens, maybe we should talk about what experiences qualify as traumatic.  In this episode, Matt, Curt, and Jerry talk about various issues leading to the categorization of experiences as traumatic. This week’s Bright Shiny Objects segment includes our casters’ top attention-getting topics or experiences since the last episode.  Matt presents the perspective of chronic vs acute stressors, leading to a discussion of some of the implications of differential categorization of experiences.

Jerry’s Question of the Week: How do we understand someone’s behavior that seems maladaptive as adaptive? Add your thoughts to the comment section below!

Podcasters: Matthew Bennett, Curt Mower, and Jerry Yager

Matt, Curt, and Jerry introduce themselves and talk about their journey to the trauma-informed paradigm. They discuss how this knowledge has influenced their thinking and careers as service providers and leaders.

Jerry’s question of the week. What do we know that helps children, families, and adults heal and grow. How does your organizational environment support it? Please put your thoughts in the comment section!

Dr. Jerry Yager is a Clinical Psychologist, currently in private practice, with more than 30 years of experience in the assessment and treatment of traumatized children and adolescents. He specializes in working with children and adolescents who exhibit self-destructive behavior and have severe mental illness such as clinical depression, bipolar mood disorder, post-traumatic distress disorder and psychosis. Before moving to private practice, Dr. Jerry served as Director of Training & Community Education at Denver Children’s Advocacy Center, and was the Executive Director of the Denver Children’s Home, which shares a mission with Denver Children’s Advocacy Center to provide high quality mental health care for low-income children whose problems would otherwise go undiagnosed and untreated.

Dr. Jerry received his Doctorate in Psychology from Nova University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Colorado. He is a ChildTrauma fellow with the ChildTrauma Academy, under the leadership of Dr Bruce Perry, and conducts professional training in Colorado, nationally and internationally. Dr. Jerry has served as the president of the Colorado Association for Family and Children Agencies. He is a clinical consultant for Devereux Cleo Wallace Behavioral Health Services, Lutheran Family Services, Tennyson Center and Denver Children’s Advocacy Center. Dr. Jerry currently is a member of the Colorado Court Improvement Project and Colorado’s Systems of Care steering committee. He chairs a Trauma-Informed Schools consultation team for the State of Colorado. Dr. Jerry has testified in court as an expert witness on the developmental impact of abuse and neglect on children and adolescents and has testified at the Colorado State Legislature for bills related to children and adolescents’ crime victims’ rights. Dr Jerry was honored at the 2016 National Crime Victim Law conference as the Child Advocate Victims’ Rights Partner of the Year.

Matt Bennett, MBA, MA, has a master’s degree in community psychology and executive development (nonprofit management), as well as a master’s in business administration in health care. Mr. Bennett specializes in the delivery of trauma-informed care, quality improvement, results-based leadersh