Trauma 101: What It Is and How It Affects Both the Betrayed and Betrayer w/ Scott Stolarick

Host Tara McCausland interviews psychotherapist Scott Stolarick, who shares how his work in corrections and with  sex offenders led him to recognize trauma as a driver of maladaptive behavior and the need for both accountability and support rather than shame. They discuss common misconceptions about trauma, differences between recent and historical trauma, and how childhood coping strategies can become harmful in adult relationships. Scott emphasizes trauma’s personal nature, the importance of validating first disclosures, building safety and trust, careful history-taking, and thoughtful use of modalities like EMDR with informed consent, concluding with encouragement for those beginning or continuing recovery.

00:00 Conference Invitation
01:40 Meet the Host and Guest
03:49 Scott’s Background
04:43 Seeing Trauma in Sex Offenders
09:44 Myths About Trauma
13:05 Fresh vs Historical Trauma
14:19 Trauma for Addicts vs Partners
17:54 Childhood Maladaptive Coping Skills Brought into Adulthood
21:32 What Counts as Trauma
25:06 Building Resilience
28:33 Why Trauma Awareness Matters
31:17 Healing Order of Operations
35:54 Effective Trauma Modalities
37:25 Closing Advice for Recovery
38:36 Final Thanks and Wrap