By: Cameron Cassar
Trauma affects every individual in unique ways, and the peacebuilding field must better understand how integral trauma healing is for bridging societal divides. On March 17th, the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation (MHCR) held the second event in our webinar series, Understanding the Role of Trauma in Truth, Reconciliation, and Peacebuilding Processes. The goal of this webinar was to explore how trauma impacts efforts to bridge societal divides and what it means to take a trauma-informed approach within this work.
Screenshot of the panelists and other MHCR staff.
“It is important that any process involving humans that seeks to address and transform conflict integrates knowledge of trauma and takes a trauma informed approach.” said Colette Rausch (GMU Carter School Research Professor and host of the Think Peace Podcast). Other panelists in this discussion included: Mike Niconchuk (Senior Researcher at Beyond Conflict), Dr. Corey Henderson (Research Affiliate at the Carter School’s John Mitchell Jr. Program), Dr. Cherie Bridges Patrick (Founder of Paradox Cross Cultural Consulting) and finally, Kati Sarvela (therapist and member of the Finnish Work Environment Fund for Human Workers). Annalisa Jackson (Associate Director of MHCR) served as moderator for this discussion, directing questions towards panelists which allowed them to provide insight into their relationship with trauma and how trauma correlates with their work.
Screenshot of Colette Rausch breaking down the different responses to trauma
Colette Rausch, a practitioner with over 20 years of experience in domestic and international peacebuilding and reconciliation processes, touched upon her experiences working with individuals and communities who have experienced trauma. She explained how responses to trauma are not always directly correlated to the traumatic event: “Trauma is not necessarily in the event itself. Whether an event or situation prompts a traumatic response or effect is not universal. It is based upon an individual’s own brain and nervous system response and the person’s own history and circumstances.“
Screenshot of Corey Henderson breaking down why it is important to acknowledge our own trauma
Dr. Corey Henderson, a public health expert and behavioral scientist, shared anecdotes from his past and touched upon how trauma affects us unconsciously in ways we don’t normally notice. Henderson explained how it isn’t until we bring our experiences to the forefront that we can begin the process of healing and moving forward from our trauma.”Trauma is truth, when we don't hide from trauma we can come out of the closet with our secrets. We can walk into freedom with the things that seem to have us bound and we can cut ourselves loose to run free.”
Screenshot of Mike Niconchuk discussing why you cannot leave trauma unaddressed in any context
Mike Niconchuk, an applied neuroscientist with Beyond Conflict, shared examples from his time working in post-conflict communities in the Middle East, specifically Jordan. Niconchuk explained the effects of unaddressed trauma on these communities and how these effects increase the likelihood of intergroup violence within these communities: “To address trauma is to fundamentally instigate the peacebuilding process between individual cells in our body and between individuals in our community and then in society at large.” Trauma leaves an imprint on the brain and without properly addressing what has happened in the past, we will be unable to control the narrative of what happens in the future.
Screenshot of Cherie Bridges Patrick breaking down why addressing trauma is so important to dismantling the racial hierarchy
Dr. Cherie Bridges Patrick, social worker and racial justice advocate, spoke of the impact of racial dominance on the lives of every citizen in the country. She explained, until we acknowledge the truth and pain of racial dominance in our country, we won’t be able to achieve the future we dream of. “We have to anchor onto something that will allow us to navigate this equilibrium that happens when we start telling the truth.”
Screenshot of Kati Sarvela explaining the Four R’s of trauma informed work
Lastly, Kati Sarvela, Finnish therapist and educator, provided insights into the Finnish model for trauma-informed work. She elaborated by explaining how the Finnish government uses this and other models to make the Finnish population more trauma-informed as a whole. Kati also expounded upon the Finnish system by explaining how any trauma-informed approach must focus on the four R’s:
Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths to recovery,
Recognize signs and symptoms of trauma within those involved in the system,
Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies/practices and actively
Resist re-traumatization
As the United States begins the tough work of addressing racial and social injustice in our own country, leaders of this movement are advised to keep a keen eye on the role that trauma can play in conflict and divisions, and the importance of acknowledging trauma when seeking to build peace in the US. You cannot truly reconcile differences between communities or in society at large without properly acknowledging the trauma which is at the root of these differences and events such as these can help inform the trauma healing process within our country.
You can view the full webinar here.