2-05 Understanding Childhood Trauma and the Impact of the Covid Pandemic

50% of the American population has been exposed to traumatic events in childhood. Why do those events affect so many people so deeply and for so long? And how does covid affect those survivors and the rest of us? Fr. Ken has worked with childhood trauma survivors for the last nineteen years. He will introduce some concepts that help us to understand the impact and consequences of childhood trauma, so that we can recognize the symptoms and respond more compassionately and effectively.

Fr. Schmidt comes from the Kalamazoo Diocese where he as the Advocate for Priestly Ministry and Support. A canonist and a Licensed Professional Counselor, he's a cofounder of the Trauma Recovery Program (TRA) in his Diocese, and cofounder of Trauma Recovery Associates. TRA educates and fosters the development of organizational leaders, human service providers, and trauma survivors to respond more effectively to the impact of childhood trauma. He's published in the areas of psychology, spirituality, pastoral theology, and canon law.