Unconditional Love As A Principle of Trauma-Informed Care, with Rev. Sanghoon Yoo

When Bearing Witness: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Storyteller

Reverend Sanghoon Yoo has walked an incredible journey - from a social worker dealing with trauma and crisis to becoming a pastor and experiencing his own period of trauma and burnout. This led him to the trauma-informed care movement over a decade ago.

In this episode Rev. Yoo shares how principles of unconditional love and creating a "community of belonging" are key to being trauma-informed, even for those without clinical training. He powerfully reframes trauma-informed practices not just as an individual healing approach but as a societal justice issue that we all contribute to positively or negatively.

Rev. Yoo's perspective bridges the worlds of faith and science. He highlights how showing compassion and safety and making space for people's stories without correction creates the foundations for a trauma-informed community. Just as importantly, he emphasizes that to hold space for others' pain, we must start with self-love and self-care.

Ultimately, Rev. Yoo casts a vision of communities becoming resilient together across all divides - faith traditions, sectors, politics, and more. Being trauma-informed is an ongoing journey, but one that can bring hope through the powerful pivot of asking "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"

Listen as we learn from Rev. Yoo, whose lived experience and spiritual wisdom make him a unique voice in the trauma-informed movement.

About Rev. Sanghoon Yoo
Rev. Sanghoon Yoo leading a trauma-informed movement in the faith space. He’s the founder of The Faithful City and Arizona Trauma Informed Faith Coalition and has led ministries and social services at Arizona State University and the Phoenix metropolitan area for over three decades.

Connect with Rev. Sanghoon Yoo

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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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