When humans are traumatized, they often struggle to put their experience into words.

It is common to hear survivors say things like,

 

“I have no words for this”
or “this is unspeakable.”

 

Working with survivors often requires going beyond words into psychological spaces that are unclear, unsteady, sometimes dark, and even scary.

 

This space marks all who enter it - survivor and helper alike. Many helpers agonize over “finding the right words” to say to a survivor, only to realize they themselves
are in the space beyond words. 

 

Welcome to the first episode of the Beyond Words podcast,
where I talk with helpers from all walks of life
about being in this space beyond words.