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.
Continue reading “The Blog as a Writing Sandbox”Tag: #beyondthetraumawall
The Pushback Against a Trauma Focus in Social Work
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.
Continue reading “The Pushback Against a Trauma Focus in Social Work”The Whys of Reform to Include a Trauma Lens
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.
Continue reading “The Whys of Reform to Include a Trauma Lens”If Only We Could Prevent Trauma…
This tends to be said rhetorically. It is taken as a given that we can’t. Often trauma is seen as something inevitable, inescapable, and to be lived with. Similarly, too often, trauma awareness or trauma-informed practice is seen as at best recognising and having understanding for the trauma experienced by someone. While I acknowledge that trauma cannot be fully eradicated (people will die, accidents and disasters will happen and people will be affected by that) my belief is that a very large proportion of trauma can be prevented, just not overnight.
Continue reading “If Only We Could Prevent Trauma…”The Need for (Particular) Addiction
Through the research I am doing for the Beyond the Trauma Wall book, my insight into the link between addiction and attachment is crystalising. A few years ago, I started to see a deeper root cause already, I would like to take this a bit further now.
Continue reading “The Need for (Particular) Addiction”Saving the Economy… Through Social Reform
Panic is growing because an economic crisis looms. Trade wars have been initiated, though there is a lot of uncertainty over who will go how far and when, as well as whether anyone will back down. The economic threat is compounded by extreme and sudden cutbacks in funding for foreign development projects, something that even in the medium term will prove not to save any money at all – quite the opposite – despite claims. In short, things look dire, and people feel desperate and powerless. Despite the dystopian feel of the moment, the very bleakness and desperation that makes it so might actually provide an opportunity to achieve real, sustainable change and improvement. We might have reached the point where politicians might just be desperate enough to be willing to listen to ‘crazy ideas’.
Continue reading “Saving the Economy… Through Social Reform”Learning to Hold Space
It’s all great to talk about needing to resolve, and help others resolve, trauma but that’s much easier said than done. Working with a traumatised person to help them face, feel, and process what has happened to them in a way that helps them heal and move on from it is extremely complex and requires specialised expertise and training. Something that, unfortunately and surprisingly, even many psychologists and psychiatrists have never been trained for. However, being unable to do all of that, does not mean we, lay people, are unable to do anything.
Continue reading “Learning to Hold Space”