Someone asks you in passing, “What is it you do, exactly?” Tell us how you’d respond.

In essence, I want to know how people relate to the people and institutions they depend on. I especially want to know how that dynamic is impacted by betrayal and courage. It’s a novel approach to trauma psychology.

What makes it novel?

As a field, we’ve developed a collective understanding of certain fundamental truths over many decades. For example, we’ve known for a long time that trauma is inherently harmful. My unique contribution is to question the role of human and institutional dynamics as a “complicator” in trauma psychology.

What types of questions do you study?

Yikes. Do you have any answers?

Based on decades of research, I’m here to tell you: the answer to every one of those questions is a resounding YES. These insights have created whole new paths of scientific research about the human and institutional dynamics of trauma. A helpful term I coined is “institutional betrayal.” I love my work because this type of public-impact scholarship can make a real difference in people’s lives. I do many interviews in the mainstream media about sexual violence in current events. It’s very satisfying to help people better understand topics that affect their daily lives.

Betrayal is a major theme in your work. How does this relate to your idea of “institutional courage”?

For the past decade, my graduate students and I have spent so much energy on institutional betrayal—discovering how harmful it is, how prevalent it is. I started thinking, “It doesn’t have to be this way.” I wondered what a cure would look like. And the concept of institutional courage came to me. I think it rings true because it takes a lot of courage to change the status quo—particularly an oppressive one. That’s exactly what institutional betrayal is.

What does institutional courage look like in practice?

When we talk about institutional courage as a concept, we’re really talking about proactive practices by institutions to be more accountable, transparent, and supportive of people who depend on them. As a starting point, I developed 10 guidelines that institutions can use to embody more courage. Clearly, our institutions are at different starting points on that journey. Change is hard, and it takes time. 

Do you have any examples of institutions that are “good at courage”?

Sexual violence is also a major theme of your work. Is that the only focus of this nonprofit?

Sexual violence has been my primary academic focus for decades. So, it is the basis of much of our nonprofit’s knowledge, and it will remain a primary focus of Courage. And yet, these concepts of betrayal and courage apply to all realms of social problems. Racism. Climate change. COVID-19. Voter disenfranchisement. Bullying. We can broadly apply these lessons.

Victims of sexual violence are some of your most passionate supporters. What would you like for them to understand about you?

I care deeply about their suffering. I get so many emails from individuals who have been profoundly hurt by betrayal trauma, by institutional betrayal. They often ask for my help directly. Sometimes it leaves me feeling helpless because I am a scholar and educator, not a clinician. I am trying to make a difference in the world using the skills I have. At the same time, I want to really encourage people who are touched by my work and need personalized attention to seek qualified help. A good first step might be to contact RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network), which is committed to being available 24/7 to listen, help, and connect you with local resources.

How has courage been important in your life?

This leads me to share a painful personal experience. I am a very private person, so I do not talk about this lightly. While I was still a young scholar, and shortly after I started to develop betrayal trauma theory, my own traumatic childhood experiences were made painfully public without my permission. That fueled the creation of a (now-defunct) institution that misappropriated science in order to discredit victims of sexual abuse. It was a terrible time for me, but I continued my work and refused to be silenced.

More recently, I have needed courage to call my own employer to account for violating federal laws that enforce equal pay for women. I was very reluctant to engage in what has become a lengthy legal battle. Ultimately, I decided it was a battle worth fighting. I do not want the many women I mentor—let alone my own daughter in graduate school—to experience this form of betrayal.

What brings joy to your life?

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