The Shared Language of Trauma

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.”

Meet the Hosts

Name: Lindsey Silverberg

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

Connect: LinkedIn

Name: Bridgette Stumpf

Company: Network for Victim Recovery of DC

Connect: LinkedIn

Episode Highlights

[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.

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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.