The Brilliant Body: Unpacking Trauma and Its Impact with Katie Kurtz

When Bearing Witness: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller

In this interview with trauma expert Katie Kurtz, listeners can expect to come away with an expanded understanding of trauma and what it means to operate through a trauma-informed lens.

Katie provides clarity around key trauma definitions and outlines competencies ranging from basic awareness to active trauma responsiveness, empowering listeners to evaluate their own experience and knowledge.

With nuance and care, Katie addresses concepts like safety, trust-building, and unintended harm, equipping storytellers and creatives with principles to minimize hurt. She also offers transparency about her own learning journey, normalizing missteps while offering suggestions for self-compassion and repairing damage.

Katie gives storytellers guidance on holding space, maintaining boundaries, and sharing responsibly within one’s scope. Her insight bridges theory and practice, making trauma-informed approaches tangible through diverse examples across industries.

About Host Maria Bryan

Maria Bryan is a trauma-informed storytelling trainer. She helps nonprofit leaders tell powerful and impactful stories that resist harm. Maria has over fifteen years in marketing communications in the public sector. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, and is professionally certified in Trauma & Resilience, Trauma-Informed Space Holding, and Somatic Embodiment & Regulation. Maria is a firm believer that storytellers make the world a healthier, safer, cleaner, and happier place.

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