TraumaTies

Reesie Sims was still a college student when she began working with trauma victims at the Ohio State organization It’s Abuse. She decided to make it her life’s work by moving to Washington D.C. to work at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network and becoming a licensed therapist before starting her current role at Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC).

On this week’s episode of TraumaTies, host Bridgette Stumpf, Executive Director at NVRDC, discusses trauma and recovery with Reesie, who serves as the Therapeutic Services Manager at NVRDC. Reesie is responsible for leading support groups for trauma survivors and works individually with crisis and short-term clients.  

This episode explores the power of therapy, the importance of differentiating between stress and trauma, and the need for more compassion. 

Name: Reesie Sims

What she does: As the Therapeutic Services Manager at NVRDC, Reesie is in charge of daily operations and activities for the Therapeutic Services Program. Reesie manages a caseload of crisis and short-term therapy clients, runs support groups for survivors, and gives clients the tools they need to make the best decisions for their own mental health. 

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

[07:14] Individual realities: Reesie explains that two people might respond to an event very differently because everyone’s ability to manage emotional responses is unique, just like any other aspect of their personality. 

[13:10] Brain function: Traumatic experiences can change the brain, overwhelming its ability to process information, which can cause the traumatic memory to get “stuck” at the forefront of the brain, says Reesie.

[18:24] Long-term implications: Reesie affirms that the lasting effects of traumatic experiences can present themselves both psychologically and physically.

[22:03] Knowing the signs: Being compassionate with everyone in our daily lives is essential, especially if the person is a trauma survivor. To gauge whether someone is experiencing a past or perceived trauma in the moment, Reesie says to pay attention to body language and focus on “listening to hear and not listening to respond.” 

[23:34] Stress v. trauma: According to Reesie, stress is more of an immediate response, while the long-term stress of responding to a disturbing event can mutate into trauma. 

[33:50] Empowerment: Reesie strives to help the survivors she works with feel as empowered as possible. This is partially achieved by creating a safe space to share about their experience if and when they want. 

[38:34] Book recs: Reesie recommends a few books — “The Body Bears the Burden,” “The Body Keeps Score,” and “True Refuge” — for people wishing to become more informed about their own trauma or that of a loved one.

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Brought to you by Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), TraumaTies: Untangling Societal Harm & Healing After Crime is a podcast that creates space to dissect the structural and systemic knots that keep us from addressing trauma.

Rooted in a belief that survivors of crime deserve respect for their dignity in the aftermath of victimization, NVRDC seeks to empower survivors and to transform existing response systems to be more inclusive of the diverse needs that survivors often have after crime.

NVRDC also provides free, holistic, and comprehensive advocacy, case management, and legal services to victims of all crime types in Washington, DC. Visit our website to learn more about how to access our trauma-informed education training and how to partner with us to expand survivor-defined justice.

What is trauma? Defining trauma as a concept is challenging — there isn’t a black and white definition. Trauma is not defined by an event, but rather it’s defined by the person who experienced the event. 

TraumaTies was brought to life by the Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC) to create a space that is open for everyone to address trauma after a crime. Our hosts, Bridgette Stumpf, Executive Director at NVRDC, and Lindsey Silverberg, Head of Services with NVRDC, share what to expect as you join them on this journey. Together they unpack the shared language of trauma and the ways in which trauma is a thread connecting us all in the human experience. 

This episode introduces you to the initial concepts and definitions surrounding trauma and explores our hosts’ backgrounds in supporting, understanding, and working with individuals who have experienced trauma.

“It's so beautiful to see how resilient folks are, and getting the privilege of seeing somebody from that acute moment,” Lindsay says. “And what happens after, how they're able to build resiliency and lead these lives…while it changes them, it really is fascinating to be part of that journey with them.”

Name: Lindsey Silverberg

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

Connect: LinkedIn  

Name: Bridgette Stumpf 

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

Connect: LinkedIn  

[02:53] What defines trauma: Bridgette explains that trauma is not defined by an event, but rather by the person who experiences the event. 

[04:46] Shared community trauma: Lindsay shares examples of what would be considered a shared community trauma including 9/11, the DC sniper, and the current war in Ukraine.  

[07:56] Trauma changes how we view the world: Bridgette talks about the research being done to understand the nuances of how trauma changes us. 

[10:18] Supporting people through acute trauma moments: Lindsay shares her experience working with people who have experienced trauma and how she sees them through the initial acute moment and the long-term aftermath. 

[17:59] Leaning into trauma education: Bridgette recounts how it was through a training course for law enforcement that she really discovered her interest in trauma education. 

[20:13] Distancing ourselves from trauma: Bridgette explains why we’re conditioned to create distance between ourselves and trauma, and discusses the far-reaching consequences this can have for people. 

[25:25] The paradox of trauma: Bridgette references Brené Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart and how creating a language portal is a paradox when it comes to talking about trauma.

☑️ Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & LinkedIn.

☑️ Subscribe to TraumaTies on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.

Brought to you by Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), TraumaTies: Untangling Societal Harm & Healing After Crime is a podcast that creates space to dissect the structural and systemic knots that keep us from addressing trauma.

Rooted in a belief that survivors of crime deserve respect for their dignity in the aftermath of victimization, NVRDC seeks to empower survivors and to transform existing response systems to be more inclusive of the diverse needs that survivors often have after crime.

NVRDC also provides free, holistic, and comprehensive advocacy, case management, and legal services to victims of all crime types in Washington, DC. Visit our website to learn more about how to access our trauma-informed education training and how to partner with us to expand survivor-defined justice.

It may be invisible to some and ever-present to others--but trauma entangles us all.

Brought to you by Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC), TraumaTies: Untangling Societal Harm & Healing After Crime is a podcast that creates space and conversations to dissect the structural and systemic knots that keep us from addressing trauma.

We want this podcast to be an experience--one where you leave understanding how you can be a mitigator of trauma and minimize the deeply painful and costly consequences, no matter who you are.

Rooted in a belief that survivors of crime deserve respect for their dignity in the aftermath of victimization, NVRDC seeks to empower survivors by informing them of all of the options available and working to transform existing response systems to be more inclusive of the diverse needs that survivors often have after crime. We call this Survivor-Defined Justice and it’s our highest principle.

This podcast is just one of our many resources we are developing as we seek to create empowering experiences for all survivors of trauma across the nation via our trauma-informed education training, culture shifting, and systems transformation work. NVRDC also provides free, holistic, and comprehensive advocacy, case management and legal services to victims of all crime types in Washington, DC. Please follow @NVRDC & @NetworkforVictimRecoveryDC on social media and/or visit our website at NVRDC.org to learn more about how to access our trauma-informed education training and how to partner with us to expand survivor-defined justice.

Coming soon to podcast players everywhere.