Trauma and the Pathway to Resiliency | Clara Reynolds | TEDxCarrollwood

Clara Reynolds begins by honoring her mother, a trailblazing Tampa police officer who became the first woman to graduate from the police academy in 1974. Despite being Reynolds' rock, her mother struggled with behavioral health challenges from the demanding nature of police work. On February 16th, 1986, when Reynolds was 15, her mother took her own life during a crisis while Reynolds watched through a bedroom window reflection. Reynolds entered the child welfare system but was supported by her mother's police squad, particularly AJ Matthews. Forty years later, Reynolds has become a licensed clinical social worker with two graduate degrees, runs an organization ensuring no one faces crisis alone, and is a proud mother. She defines trauma and argues that everyone has experienced some form of trauma in recent years, whether from the pandemic, environmental crises, or other events. Reynolds shares stories of Donna, who lost her home in a hurricane but reclaimed power by turning it into a rage room fundraiser, and Michelle, who was raped outside her home but took back control by running in her neighborhood. She emphasizes that untreated trauma manifests throughout life, citing examples of people in their 80s seeking therapy for traumas from their 20s. Reynolds shares Ariana's story, a 5-year-old who found her mother dead by suicide and overcame her fear of first responders through 14 weeks of trauma therapy. She concludes by asking the audience to identify unshared traumas and make a commitment to eventually share them with trusted people in safe places, emphasizing that traumas grow in silence while sharing stories creates pathways to healing and reclaimed power.