#beyondthetraumawall

Raising Money for the Next Book

Posted on May 8, 2026May 8, 2026 by Florence

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a post on LinkedIn ‘saying the quiet part out loud’, about the challenges of the past few years and my financial situation. You can find the post here: LinkedIn

I mentioned that I have started work on a new book, but that the lack of funds stands in the way of getting past paywalls and ordering books for the research needed, slowing the process.

I have decided to start a GoFundMe page, to see if I can raise some funds to get going. And as a small offering, I disclose the working title of the new book on the page.

Any contribution is greatly appreciated.

You can find the page here: GoFundMe

Recognising the Trauma in Hate

Posted on March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 by Florence

I am seeing more and more marches, rallies, and demonstrations planned, in different countries this month, against hate, racism, and crumbling democracies. On the one hand, this is heartening. To see people stand up, stand together, and stand against injustice and aggression gives hope. It makes me, and many others, feel less alone. But then, there is the other hand. It also makes me feel somewhat uneasy. Not because I object to these acts of solidarity and principle, but out of worry about the shape they may take.

Different Aspects of the Beyond the Trauma Wall Initiative

Posted on March 2, 2026March 2, 2026 by Florence

Through many conversations and other interactions with people about the Beyond the Trauma Wall Initiative, a clearer sense of its practical aims is emerging. Writing my upcoming book, ‘The Trauma Root of Social Work: Beyond the Trauma Wall’ has also contributed to that. It is through having very different conversations with people from different sectors and backgrounds that the generally applicable through-lines gradually become more visible. I want to share them with you here.

Online Trauma Training?

Posted on February 13, 2026February 13, 2026 by Florence

Those of us who offer training and capacity building related to trauma-informed (or trauma-proactive) practice and approaches are under pressure to offer online and self-paced programmes. I want to share some reflections on this.

But How Will We Pay for It?

Posted on November 11, 2025November 8, 2025 by Florence

The reform I propose, both in child protection and in wider social services, comes with a high return on investment in the long-term. (You can get a sneak peek at what I write about that in the book ‘The Trauma Root of Social Work: Beyond the Trauma Wall’ here: https://florencekoenderink.substack.com/p/return-on-investment-of-breaking) However, like all reform, in the short-term, investment is required for capacity building and service development. This will reliably raise an outcry of ‘it is impossible’, ‘where would we find the money?’ etc. This is understandable under the current attitude to the economy that seems to see people as a drain, which the economy needs to be protected from, and corporations and ultra-rich individuals as benefactors that must be protected and supported.

Challenging this attitude is a kind of radical reform in its own right. It is one that makes a lot of sense and creates a lot of financial room in national budgets due to its high return on investment that starts the moment action is taken based on the reversal of this belief. It is a hard sell, though, to propose taxing big business and the rich. Even though they currently, although they are in higher tax brackets, tend – in practice – to pay a tax rate considerably lower than those in the lowest tax bracket.

Who Am I to…?

Posted on November 5, 2025November 6, 2025 by Florence

A few weeks back, I was talking to someone about Beyond the Trauma Wall and the book I am writing for it. They asked the very reasonable question ‘who are we to tell others…?’ This stuck with me and got me thinking. In a wonderful way, it helped me clarify my resolve for what I am doing.

The Ability to Offer Support with Trauma

Posted on August 20, 2025August 20, 2025 by Florence

When someone has experienced trauma, or an event so overwhelming that it has the potential to become trauma if it is not processed, they are in need of support. To be able to process either current traumatic stress or past trauma, we need to feel safe and supported at a deep level. To experience this safety, we need to feel connected with other people, to not feel alone and helpless. However, it is not a simple thing to support someone with trauma, and not everyone is able to do so.

The Blog as a Writing Sandbox

Posted on July 30, 2025July 30, 2025 by Florence

Since the launch of this website, I have been using the Beyond the Trauma Wall blogs as a sandbox to develop and put words to ideas that were rising as I was doing the research for my new book ‘The Trauma Root of Social Work: Beyond the Trauma Wall.’ This has been very helpful not to lose the thoughts and inspirations that arose while I was not ready yet to put pen to paper (aka start typing). Now that I am working on the first draft of the manuscript, it has been a little quiet here, since my writing is happening elsewhere. However, I am not done sharing my thoughts and work.

The Pushback Against a Trauma Focus in Social Work

Posted on June 28, 2025June 28, 2025 by Florence

While the understanding of the role of trauma in some aspects of social work is increasing, and with that, the training offered and policies changed, not everyone sees this as a positive development. Others do welcome the change in principle, but are disappointed or frustrated with the practice, or worried about the feasibility. That is why I want to address some of the objections that are raised against trauma-informed practice in social work.

The Whys of Reform to Include a Trauma Lens

Posted on June 6, 2025June 6, 2025 by Florence

It is useful to have a look at why it is necessary to have reforms of various sectors to make sure that they are truly trauma-informed. As well as to point out that while this can seem like a daunting task, it is very feasible and worthwhile.