Ep. 42: Jenny Hughes

Who’s taking care of the caretakers?It’s all I can think when I think about Jenny. It takes an especially generous heart to be a trauma therapist. To know the details of the worst of humanity, and still be able to find joy and hope — this is a lesson we all need.Jenny taught me about something called “vicarious trauma,” — which is one of the things she’s dedicated her work to. It turns out, your therapist is human too. Hearing all those stories, witnessing the extraordinary pain and suffering of being human — well, that can create trauma too. What do you do when being a trauma therapist is traumatic?You find a community. We know community is an essential part of a spiritual practice; and spiritual care is what those trauma therapists get when they reach out to other folk to help share the load.Jenny and I talked about how the simplest things are the most effective. The things that are so simple, they seem like they shouldn’t work? If every careworker carries the burden of their work, how does sharing it work? It seems too simple.The breath is like that too. It’s so simple, it shouldn’t work — but it does, every single time.Despite how it sounds, this episode is ringing with laughter and joy and so much love. Jenny and I have a special connection that you’ll hear about in this episode.P.S. Visit Nederland, we’re here and we’re ready for you.------------------------------------00:00 Welcome & Meet Jenny03:16 Growing Up in Nederland11:46 Finding Yoga, Finding Wild Lotus19:15 Holding Space Through Grief25:15 Vicarious Trauma & Vicarious Resilience34:52 Breath, Nature & What Nourishes Us Now---------------------------------------🌲 - Visit Ned: https://www.nederlandco.gov/explore-nederland🎙️ veralester.com — work with me📚 Jenny's books:The PTSD Recovery WorkbookTriggers to Glimmers: A Vicarious Resilience Journal and Workbook🌱 Jenny's work:The BRAVE Trauma Therapist CollectiveThe BRAVE MethodFollow Jenny: 📲 Follow Jenny:YouTube: @braveprovidersInstagram: @braveprovidersFacebook: The Vicarious Trauma Community with Jenny HughesTikTok: @braveproviders This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe