Root For Each Other: A Branches Podcast

Just as our survivors have unique and transformative stories to share--so too, do our advocates. This special series highlights a personal moment with an advocate as we chat with them about why they do this sometimes difficult work.
To kick off this series, we're taking a moment to catch up with our Director of Client Services, Amber! Amber has served in many roles at Branches and has a strong advocacy approach that focuses on housing first, being trauma-informed, and survivor centered interventions. Today, we'll chat about why these things are so important to remember when working with survivors.
Finally, the "Why" Series was created to bring to the light the complexity and beauty of the relationship between advocate and survivor and to intimately connect our listeners with the healing, reconstructive power of advocacy. We hope you enjoy!

In this brand new Root for Each Other series, join advocate and social worker, Sarah Cunningham for episodes dedicated to self-compassion and healthy healing. In this episode, Sarah discusses how we can turn common New Year's resolutions into meaningful goals that best serve our individual needs.

In this episode, advocates, Shannon and Sara sit down with advocate, Christina Meade from Contact Rape Crisis Center to discuss the parallel between domestic violence services and sexual assault services. In this episode, we found out that services can look very different---but still, it is clear that the experience of trauma informs all of the work that we do.

In another "Read for Each Other" installment of the podcast, Sara and Shannon talk with our editor, Josh, about Branches' most recent staff book club selection, What Happened to You? by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey. It's a book about the effects of trauma on the human brain and how a collective mindfulness of trauma could solve chronic social issues, so obviously we're excited to dig in! Join us as we mix in a non-advocate perspective on the book and how awareness of the universal trauma experience is helpful for everyone, not just victim advocates.

Join us for this episode when we take a look at what we mean when we say trauma-informed advocacy and how that relates to running and participating in a support group;. If you've ever considered what it would be like to join a a support group but hesitated--this is a great episode for you! Sarah talks us through what they look like, why they're effective, and most importantly, how they help survivors heal from domestic violence related trauma.