EPISODE · Feb 10, 2026 · 1H 30M
Social Work, Workplace Trauma & Institutional Betrayal | Heliana Ramirez
from Revolutionary Social Work · host Ace and Alicia
Workplace trauma is real trauma, especially when racism, anti-LGBTQ bias, and institutional betrayal are part of the job. In Episode 34 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia Stettler and Causha Spellman-Timmons host a grounded, practical conversation with Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW on toxic workplaces, psychological safety, culturally affirming crisis response, and what it takes to stay bold in advocacy without losing yourself.Ace was taking a burnout break from podcasting, and Alicia and Causha held it down.Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.comConnect / collaborate: [email protected] Links Website: https://www.workplacetraumarecovery.com/Provider page: https://care.headway.co/providers/heliana-ramirezAbout Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISWHeliana Ramirez is a clinical social worker and researcher focused on the trauma of toxic workplaces, including workplace racism and anti-LGBTQ bias. During her own recovery from a toxic workplace, she recognized how unprepared many mental health providers are to address the specific injuries of workplace abuse and institutional betrayal. Drawing on post-traumatic growth and peer support, she developed communal resources to reduce isolation and strengthen recovery, including culturally informed somatic interventions, career-protection tools, a self-help workbook, blog posts, and on-demand webinars for survivors and the clinicians and advocates who support them. Her work spans anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming workforce wellness, occupational psychosocial safety, culturally responsive suicide prevention, somatic trauma therapy, harm reduction, and liberatory community building.Episode FocusWorkplace trauma • institutional betrayal • psychological safety • suicide prevention • culturally affirming crisis response • social work advocacy inside institutions • middle management pressure • somatic recovery • community supportChapters00:00 – Theme song + intro01:50 – Introduction and Guest Introduction07:38 – Exploring Workplace Trauma and Healing13:09 – The Neuroscience of Trauma and Institutional Betrayal18:54 – Navigating Middle Management Challenges21:23 – Social Work's Role in Addressing Global Issues28:49 – Overcoming Fear in Advocacy31:45 – Living with Fear and Ancestral Trauma37:26 – Workplace Trauma and the Me Too Movement40:55 – Navigating Financial Abuse in the Workplace49:05 – Understanding Workplace Abuse Dynamics55:45 – The Intersection of Childhood Trauma and Workplace Abuse59:12 – Gathering for Change: The Waves of Consciousness Summit01:01:27 – Addressing the Suicide Crisis: A Call to Action01:07:59 – Crisis Intervention: Rethinking Our Approach01:13:24 – Cultural Healing: The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention01:19:33 – Boldness in Advocacy: The Future of Social Work#WorkplaceTrauma #ToxicWorkplace #InstitutionalBetrayal #PsychologicalSafety #SocialWork #RevolutionarySocialWork #TraumaRecovery #SomaticTherapy #SuicidePrevention #LGBTQAffirming #WorkplaceRacism #MentalHealth #WorkplaceAbuse #CrisisIntervention #CommunityHealing© Revolutionary Social Work
What this episode covers
Workplace trauma is real trauma, especially when racism, anti-LGBTQ bias, and institutional betrayal are part of the job. In Episode 34 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia Stettler and Causha Spellman-Timmons host a grounded, practical conversation with Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW on toxic workplaces, psychological safety, culturally affirming crisis response, and what it takes to stay bold in advocacy without losing yourself.Ace was taking a burnout break from podcasting, and Alicia and Causha held it down.Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.comConnect / collaborate: [email protected] Links Website: https://www.workplacetraumarecovery.com/Provider page: https://care.headway.co/providers/heliana-ramirezAbout Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISWHeliana Ramirez is a clinical social worker and researcher focused on the trauma of toxic workplaces, including workplace racism and anti-LGBTQ bias. During her own recovery from a toxic workplace, she recognized how unprepared many mental health providers are to address the specific injuries of workplace abuse and institutional betrayal. Drawing on post-traumatic growth and peer support, she developed communal resources to reduce isolation and strengthen recovery, including culturally informed somatic interventions, career-protection tools, a self-help workbook, blog posts, and on-demand webinars for survivors and the clinicians and advocates who support them. Her work spans anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming workforce wellness, occupational psychosocial safety, culturally responsive suicide prevention, somatic trauma therapy, harm reduction, and liberatory community building.Episode FocusWorkplace trauma • institutional betrayal • psychological safety • suicide prevention • culturally affirming crisis response • social work advocacy inside institutions • middle management pressure • somatic recovery • community supportChapters00:00 – Theme song + intro01:50 – Introduction and Guest Introduction07:38 – Exploring Workplace Trauma and Healing13:09 – The Neuroscience of Trauma and Institutional Betrayal18:54 – Navigating Middle Management Challenges21:23 – Social Work's Role in Addressing Global Issues28:49 – Overcoming Fear in Advocacy31:45 – Living with Fear and Ancestral Trauma37:26 – Workplace Trauma and the Me Too Movement40:55 – Navigating Financial Abuse in the Workplace49:05 – Understanding Workplace Abuse Dynamics55:45 – The Intersection of Childhood Trauma and Workplace Abuse59:12 – Gathering for Change: The Waves of Consciousness Summit01:01:27 – Addressing the Suicide Crisis: A Call to Action01:07:59 – Crisis Intervention: Rethinking Our Approach01:13:24 – Cultural Healing: The Role of Community in Suicide Prevention01:19:33 – Boldness in Advocacy: The Future of Social Work#WorkplaceTrauma #ToxicWorkplace #InstitutionalBetrayal #PsychologicalSafety #SocialWork #RevolutionarySocialWork #TraumaRecovery #SomaticTherapy #SuicidePrevention #LGBTQAffirming #WorkplaceRacism #MentalHealth #WorkplaceAbuse #CrisisIntervention #CommunityHealing© Revolutionary Social Work
NOW PLAYING
Social Work, Workplace Trauma & Institutional Betrayal | Heliana Ramirez
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.