A Trauma Survivor Thriver’s Podcast

Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking may not look like how you imagine and you may not realize how close to home it really is.

In episode 14, Katherine McGibbons, Human Trafficking Survivor and Co-Founder of Twelve11 discusses her personal experience of being trafficked and how she was able to escape. Katherine also gives us the facts about human trafficking and how you can identify it in your community.

Although the words human trafficking may invoke an idea of moving humans around, the truth is it can take place within a single country, or even within a single community or even in a single home. It's the process of trapping people through the use of violence, deception or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal gain.

 

Informed Consent

In this episode of A Trauma Survivor Thriver's Podcast, learn about what consent really means. Melissa Hoppmeyer,Chief of Special Victims and Family Violence Unit at Prince George County State Attorney's Office explains consent in accordance to the law, domestic violence, how to deal with trauma-focused investigations and more.

Melissa Hoppmeyer, Esq. has assisted in drafting numerous legislative bills and has testified before the Maryland General Assembly on numerous occasions to help implement stronger criminal laws for crimes of violence and to ensure that domestic violence and sexual assault victims are treated fairly throughout the civil and criminal judicial system. She also serves as a technical trainer for law enforcement, fellow prosecutors and the community on issues including consent education, sexual assault laws, child abuse investigations and prosecutions, domestic violence, criminal procedure, and how to properly conduct trauma-focused investigations. Hoppmeyer is also the co-founder of Right Response Consulting, focused on sexual assault/harassment/title IX training and investigations and co-host of No Grey Zone Podcast.

Childhood Trauma

Lorilee Binstock takes an in-depth look at the short and long-term effects of childhood trauma, featuring  Dr. Samantha Sweeney, child psychologist and Elementary Youth Development Senior Manager Melanie Holland Orr of Horton's Kids, a mentor program for children and teens living in at-risk neighborhoods in Washington, DC.

Dr. Sweeney discusses the damaging effects of childhood trauma and the debilitating consequences of not treating mental illness, especially when it stems from trauma. Melanie then joins the podcast to share the amazing work Horton's Kids are doing and why recognizing trauma in at-risk communities will contribute to the success in children in those communities.

Anti-Asian Sentiment During COVID

Since the beginning of the COVID Pandemic, Asian Americans have been forced to endure acts of bigotry and hate from verbal abuse to physical attacks. On September 17, 2020, the House passed a resolution condemning anti-Asian sentiment. But what kind of trauma does this xenophobic rhetoric create in our society while many officials are fanning the flames. Dr. Helen Hsu, Asian American Specialist, Psychologist, Stanford University Lecturer and former consultant for the Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why, joins me to answer that question. We also discuss the mental health stigma surrounding Asian cultures.

Suicide Survivors

The content of this podcast may contain trigger information. Discretion is advised.

According to a report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide rates for adults in the US are on the rise.

Each person who dies by suicide leaves behind an estimated six or more “suicide survivors” — people who’ve lost someone they care about deeply and are left grieving and struggling to understand.

Teresa Amelia, wellness coach and suicide survivor who lost two family members to suicide shares her traumatic experiences after losing two family members to suicide. 

 

My Story: Suicide Awareness

September is Suicide Awareness Month and more times than I can remember, I've experienced suicidal ideations and five serious suicide attempts. The hard truth is that when depression hits, it's hard to even understand any other way out. In Episode 7, Chad Moses of TWLOHA defines suicide as "a fatal result of a restricted perspective." Therefore, in order to combat suicidal thoughts, we need to broaden our perspective, open our minds to the many possibilities for healing and talk to the survivors who have found their purpose. In my podcast series, I speak to so many people who have experienced suicidal ideations, attempted suicide and not only survived but thrived, including myself. Hear about my path to recovery with my Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Dr. Dale DeNunzio (Episode 3). Hear Melissa Dobbs (Episode 6), and Matthew Bocchi's stories (Episode 8) and how they persevered after unthinkable trauma. Broaden your perspective and begin living your life openly and authentically, because it's never too late to thrive.

Sway: 9/11, Abuse & Addiction

After losing his father in 9/11 at the age of nine, Matthew Bocchi was on a mission to find out what happened in his father's final moments. In his search for answers, a family member took advantage of his vulnerability which inevitably sent him down a dangerous road to addiction. Through all of this adversity, he found hope and a purpose. On today's podcast, Matthew discusses his personal struggles which he details in his riveting forthcoming book, Sway, which will be released September 8, 2020.  

Suicide Prevention

September is Suicide Prevention Month. In this episode, I speak with Chad Moses at "To Write Love On Her Arms." Both Chad and I discuss our experiences with self-harm and suicidal ideation and how we were able to endure and find a life worth living. We also talk about ways we can help loved ones navigate thoughts of suicide. Chad also discusses TWLOHA's Suicide Prevention Campaign and how you can be a part of it.

*The content of this podcast may contain triggering information for some listeners. Discretion is advised.

Healing Through The Arts

In this episode, we speak with Trauma Survivor Thriver Melissa Dobbs. She describes her personal story and how healing through the arts helped her connect to her inner child, grow a wildly successful business and help other children heal their own trauma.

Winners for the #atstgiveaway are:

Anna in Florida!

Veronica in South Carolina!

Thanks for your participation.

Child Abuse During Quarantine

Today, we speak with ChildHelp Developmental Officer Michael Medoro about the shady statistics surrounding child abuse during this time of quarantine.