20. Stories from Death Row: How ‘Criminal Justice’ is Failing Adult Children of Trauma with Patti van Eys, PhD

 
 
 

Overview

In this episode, Dr. Patt van Eys provides an incredible foundation of understanding about psychiatric illnesses and the U.S. system for diagnosing and treating mental health concerns. Listeners will find this conversation SO helpful as Dr. Patti connects child development, attachment, and dissociation to the critical ages of neurological growth for babies 0-3 years of age. For those parenting or teaching children who are neurodiverse, this episode will bring clarity to new research around “developmental trauma” and how this phenomenon can manifest in adults. Dr. Patti regularly visits prison residents with death sentences, and works to explain how trauma, dissociation, and the brain’s protective instincts should be considered when assessing criminal behavior.

“A brain cannot develop without what we call the serve and return from the caregiver to the babY. That's how the brain wires. What fires together, wires together.”

“And their shame begins to shed and they say thank you and they're so grateful. Thank you for helping me understand what happened to me and how I got here.”

“But I do believe that we, as a national people, should be jumping up and down and stomping our feet for resourcing early brain development.”

Episode Highlights

2:58 - An introduction to Dr. Patti Van Eys

14:20 - DSM-5 and language evolution around developmental trauma

26:28 - Early brain development and attachment

35:39 - Understanding dissociation and developmental trauma disorder

53:17 - Understanding children with adverse childhood experiences

1:01:36 - Trauma, justice, and healing

Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission

⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast

Emmaus House - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti

What Happened to You by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey - the trailblazers in the work of development trauma for the last 30 years

Dr. Patti van Eys - Learn about her work and request a consultation

Neurosequential Network - A biologically respectful approach to treating children

Connect with Lauren

Email / Instagram / Leave a Review

Connect with Dr. Patti

Linkedin⁠ / ⁠Website⁠

 
 
 
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21. Reimagining the U.S. Justice System Informed By Survivors of Childhood Trauma with Cyntoia Brown Long

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19. Understanding the Power of Racial Identity for Transracial Adoptees with Angela Tucker