Welcome to the 5th Episode of the Dr. J Show, where we bring the world's experts to talk about the issues that face families and the faithful.

Dr. Rodriguez is a general pediatrician in Tacoma, WA who sees patients from birth to college. She has a special focus on working with children, families and adults who have experienced trauma in their lives. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. She is a member of the Catholic Medical Society and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. 

She works in ministry to adult survivors of abuse including survivors of human trafficking. She uses a model of long-term healing and restoration. She has given presentations to community and medical groups on the science of trauma and toxic stress and on human trafficking awareness and prevention. 

She also facilitates peer support groups for survivors of abuse through the Maria Goretti Network in the Seattle area. She is married, mother to three children, and serves her church as lector, catechist and mentor. She contributed two chapters to the book Abuse of Trust by Allen Hebert. 

Resources:

www.hopefulheartsministry.org (any survivor of any abuse, how to contact me

www.mgoretti.org (peer support group with chapters in the US)

www.adornedingracetacoma.com (ministry to prevention and restoration of human trafficking survivors and any survivor of trauma/abuse)

www.mendingthesoul.org (books, support groups, lots of educational material from a Christian perspective)

www.jpiihealingcenter.org (resources, retreats, Catholic)

Reading Recommendations

Abuse of Trust by A. Hebert; 

The Body Keeps the Score by B. van der Kolk MD, 

Be Healed by B. Schuchts; and 

Mending the Soul book and ministry by S. Tracy

Action Item:

Buy the Book, Abuse of Trust: 

Read it! 

Give it to your pastor, school principal or anyone else involved in ministry. 

Give it a positive review on Amazon! 

Follow the guidelines I will give of Trauma-Informed Ministry 

Realize that trauma/abuse exist and is very common

Recognize the signs of trauma

Respond in a trauma-informed way (using the VEEL approach)

Avoid re -traumatization

consider setting up a trauma-informed church/school/family to create a safe place for survivors to begin to heal