When someone hands you a microphone, it’s best to use it. Thanks to the University of Denver’s Center for Abuse, Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE) for inviting me to share a few remarks at their Gala on May 1, 2026, which benefitted the Survivor Fund. Here’s some of what I shared. Tonight is the CAPE Gala.Continue reading “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life”
Tag Archives: mental health
Sexual Violence Doesn’t End with Aging
by Leah Waltrip, TSS Group Member Sexual violence against older adults is under-reported, under-researched, and widely misunderstood. Here is what the evidence tells us. Research consistently shows that reports of rape and sexual assault decline with age — but this does not mean victimization stops. Many major surveys have excluded adults over 60 entirely. The resultContinue reading “Sexual Violence Doesn’t End with Aging”
Sexual Violence in the Lives of Black Women: #SAAM2026
by Courtney McCrimmon, TSS Group Member During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it’s important to recognize the impact of sexual violence in Black women’s lives. Consider that: After intimate violence, barriers to disclosing can disproportionately impact Black women, hindering access to support. These barriers are often shaped by intersecting factors. For instance: For Black women who have been sex trafficked, challenges accessing services continue long after the sexual violence. Unfortunately,Continue reading “Sexual Violence in the Lives of Black Women: #SAAM2026”
Economic Costs of Sexual Violence: #SAAM2026
by Amber Fredrick, TSS Group Member Among the many burdens of sexual assault are the economic costs. For example: The economic impacts of sexual violence are shaped by intersectionality. For instance: Discrimination or fear of stigma can delay essential care, which means: Sexual assault also costs communities. Consider, for example: The economic impact of sexualContinue reading “Economic Costs of Sexual Violence: #SAAM2026”
Making Sense of Silence after Abuse: Understanding Research on Betrayal Trauma
Survivors don’t owe anyone their stories. Yet, when women do decide to share their stories years later, the delay can be used to sow doubt — to wonder why it took so long to for them to disclose what happened. Research on betrayal trauma can help people understand silence. And research on institutional courage canContinue reading “Making Sense of Silence after Abuse: Understanding Research on Betrayal Trauma”
Voices That Matter: A New Study for Black Women Survivors of Sex Trafficking
by Courtney McCrimmon (5th Year Graduate Student) January’s National Human Trafficking Prevention Month reminded us of survivors’ resilience and the preventative efforts made to raise awareness and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. To continue the fight against human trafficking, we must take collective action to stay well-informed, raise awareness, strengthen protective factors, and take more initiative to support survivorsContinue reading “Voices That Matter: A New Study for Black Women Survivors of Sex Trafficking”
Two Languages, One Trauma: Exploring an Untapped Research Space
by Leah Waltrip (3rd Year Graduate Student) Code-switching, or switching between two languages, is a common pattern of communication among bilingual and multilingual individuals. For a long time, researchers viewed code-switching as a sign of language challenges. However, recent research has shown that code-switching indicates stronger mastery of grammatical and vocabulary knowledge in multiple languages.Continue reading “Two Languages, One Trauma: Exploring an Untapped Research Space”
Survivor-Center Care Matters: New Preliminary Findings
by Amber Fredrick New research from our Traumatic Stress Studies Group aimed to answer questions about the real-world impact of survivor-centered care, championed by victim-service providers. For instance, is survivor-centered care was linked to important survivor outcomes – from empowerment and PTSD symptoms to people’s intention to seek help in the future? To answer suchContinue reading “Survivor-Center Care Matters: New Preliminary Findings”
From Downtown Denver to You: Returning Our Research to the Community
The first week of August brought thousands of psychologists to downtown Denver for the American Psychology Association (APA) annual convention. Across poster sessions, three current TSS Group Team Members Amber Fredrick, Courtney McCrimmon, and Leah Waltrip shared some of our work with colleagues. And now we’re excited to share those posters and that work withContinue reading “From Downtown Denver to You: Returning Our Research to the Community”
Alienation and Trauma in Older Adults
Whether traumas happen earlier or later in life, feeling disconnected means more mental health symptoms. Humans need relationships and connections to survive and thrive. After all, we are social creatures. When one human victimizes another, that betrayal can leave survivors feeling alienated – disconnected and unmoored from themselves and other people. In turn, alienation hasContinue reading “Alienation and Trauma in Older Adults”
Trauma Research Notes 