The Trauma-Informed Lawyer

CW: our discussion briefly mentions suicide and murder

In this episode, Iain Smith shares how becoming trauma aware has changed his approach to practice and the way in which he relates to his clients. He also explains why justice systems everywhere need trauma informed education to effectively reduce crime and criminalization. CW: Some discussion of child abuse is had with no details provided. The focus of this episode is on trauma awareness and how judges and lawyers can positively improve and redirect the lives of offenders by simply being kind and compassionate with them, and by recognizing how a history of childhood trauma may be influencing their criminal behaviour.

This episode touches on sensitive subject matter including sexual assault, suicide, PTSD, mental health and murder.

It is time to courageously reflect on how you show up, how you impact others, how others impact you and why we all need to make space for psychological safety and boundaries in our workplaces.

Dimple Dhabalia began her career as a lawyer but after a stint at the Attorney General's office in Denver, she found her calling as an asylum officer. Working for almost two decades at the crossroads of the government and humanitarian sectors, Dimple found her job fulfilling, but it also led to vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and burnout.

With a mission to put the word “human” back in “humanitarian,” she started “Roots in the Clouds” which - among other things - supports humanitarians around the world in challenging the narrative of service before self and normalizes improving and protecting mental health in the workplace.

Dimple’s book is titled, Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self. You can find here on Twitter @dimpstory And don’t forget to check her website: rootsintheclouds.com

You can also listen to Dimple's podcast, Service Without Sacrifice: Conversations on Hope and Healing here: https://pod.link/1720788849