Systems change when people change. And people change through stories. Dr. Bruce Perry candidly offers compelling insights on the power and science of storytelling. This episode demonstrates how some of the most important things we can do to improve family well-being and change systems starts with listening.
Show Notes:
01:45 | Matt shares his origin story as a caseworker and shares what happened when he stepped back from his social worker checklist and listened to someone’s story.
07:00 | What are the origins of the book title “What Happened to You?” as it relates to Dr. Bruce Perry’s work?
09:10 | How can we alter the trajectory of the current child welfare system?
10:12 | What happens when practitioners ask families “What happened to you,” versus “What’s wrong with you?" Dr. Bruce Perry references how this question shift derived from Dr. Sandra Bloom’s work on The Sanctuary Model.
12:15 | Matt shares, “I think that if we’re worried about kids who are coming into CPS and we’re worried about their safety (which we are), then we have to be worried about their parents, their families, and their communities, too.”
13:00 | Dr. Bruce Perry on his decision to use storytelling in his work.
14:10 | Dr. Bruce Perry shares his insights on the impact of storytelling on a listener.
17:48 | Matt shares an audio clip from Episode 2 “LOOKING FOR THAT WARM HUG ALL MY LIFE” with Shrounda Selivanoff.
19:50 | Dr. Bruce Perry recalls his book with Oprah where she describes her experience of being seen and preludes stories from a documentary he’s working on.
21:20 | How can people create powerful connections and open brave spaces for deep understanding?
22:45 | Dr. Bruce Perry asks, “how do we make it easier for our front-line people to be the providers of [full, present] moments.”
25:50 | Assessing and working towards relational wealth versus relational poverty.
26:45 | What is “traumatic wisdom” and where does it come from?
30:12 | Dr. Bruce Perry offers advice to organizations and systems on chasing change.
32:10 | Matt shares final thoughts.
Resources:
Documentary Film “From Place to Place” | Institute for Family
EP 66: Social Workers in Film | NASW Social Work Talks Podcast
Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry on 60 Minutes: Treating childhood trauma | CBS News
Resources | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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