Survival, Not Weakness: Understanding Trauma After Trafficking

In this episode, Rita speaks with Amanda Gopal, Executive Director of The Hundred Movement, for a trauma-informed conversation centered on the lived realities of human trafficking survivors. Together, they explore why survivors often respond the way they do after exploitation, examining trauma responses and survival behaviors through a compassionate, non-judgmental lens. The discussion challenges harmful myths by reframing these responses as adaptive strategies shaped by prolonged coercion and harm, while also unpacking how trauma impacts the brain and body, disrupts safety and trust, and makes healing non-linear. Rita and Amanda reflect on what survivor-centered healing can look like, emphasizing patience, autonomy, and support systems that honor survivors’ experiences.