In this episode Judith Germain speaks to Gerald Vassar about how individuals impacted by trauma discover their own journey towards recovery, healing and hope. Gerald provides a comprehensive definition of trauma as distressing events that overwhelm one's ability to cope. He explains how trauma impacts the brain and triggers stress responses. Key Takeaways Trauma can result from a distressing event or chronic experiences like racism that overwhelm one's ability to cope. Understanding how trauma impacts brain function and neurological responses is key to recovery. The process of recovery involves learning to regulate emotions, relate to others, and reason cognitively. Therapeutic education, not therapy, can help people become aware of trauma responses and develop coping skills. Organisations should aim to create psychologically safe environments for employees. Healing requires self-awareness and the plasticity of the brain allows change at any age. Gerald Vassar, President & CEO of Lakeside. Lakeside is a trauma-informed, brain-based training organisation, that helps individuals impacted by trauma discover their own journey towards recovery, healing, and hope. You can find out more about our guest and today's episode in this Maverick Paradox Magazine article here. --- Maverick leadership is all about thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. It's about having the courage to take risks and the confidence to lead in a way that is authentic and genuine. But amplifying your influence as a leader isn't just about having a strong vision or a big personality. It's also about having the right leadership capability and being able to execute on your ideas and plans. The consequences of not having the right level of influence as a leader can be significant. Without the ability to inspire and motivate others, you may struggle to achieve your goals and make a real impact. How Influential Are you? Take the scorecard at amplifyyourinfluence.scoreapp.com and see.  Judith's book: The Maverick Paradox: The Secret Power Behind Successful Leaders.  Judith's websites:  The Maverick Paradox Magazine - themaverickparadox.com The Maverick Paradox Website - maverickparadox.co.uk Judith's LinkedIn profile is here, her Twitter profile (MaverickMastery) is here, Facebook here and Instagram here.