Fall is a season of colors. Here in Colorado, the greens of summer give way to yellow aspens and cottonwoods. Grasses turn to auburn as trees across the front range offer majestic red and orange accents. By October, the fall color palette broadens to include many shades of purple — on pins and clothes asContinue reading “Put on Your Favorite Purple Clothes and Get to Know our Team!”
Tag Archives: trauma
Sharing New Research Findings, Just in Time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Just in time for October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month (#DVAM), we’re excited to share new research findings with you on: Brain injury and intimate partner violence; Survivor-centered care; and Policy impacts on victim services. As you’ll see below, TSS Group team members developed posters that give background on the projects as well as describe resultsContinue reading “Sharing New Research Findings, Just in Time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month”
Welcoming fall and a new team member!
Happy fall from DU’s bustling campus where classes have started and a new academic year is in full swing! All that activity means that our first Traumatic Stress Studies (TSS) Group team meeting is now in the books. The vibe? Inspired, joyful, thrilled, motivated, and grateful. The first team meeting also gave us a chanceContinue reading “Welcoming fall and a new team member!”
The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
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”
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”
Surviving Across Borders: Immigration and Sexual Violence
by Betsy Serrano, TSS Group Member Note: Throughout this post, the terms “migrant”, “immigrant”, and “undocumented” are used. They are not universal labels, as each term represents a different experience. They are used intentionally to specific contexts and cited research. During Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), it’s important to examine the intersection of migration andContinue reading “Surviving Across Borders: Immigration and Sexual Violence”
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: Sexual violence contributes to preventable healthcare costs, lost income, legal expenses, and housing instability (Wessells & Kostelny, 2022). The economic consequences of sexual violence can persist for years, often compounding trauma and stress (Peterson et al.,Continue 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”
