The Miracle Of Helping Others, Without Losing Yourself! - Interview

 Trauma, Foster Care, Social Work Burnout & Healing: Karen Dwyer Tesoriero on the Miracle of Helping Others

What does working in the foster care system do to a social worker? How does childhood trauma affect families? And how can therapists and caregivers learn to help others without burning themselves out?

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Karen Dwyer Tesoriero, a New York City psychotherapist and trauma therapist who spent nearly 15 years working in the NYC child welfare and foster care system.

Karen's story is about much more than social work.
People can change. Families can heal. And sometimes, against enormous odds, a child can go home.

That is the miracle at the heart of Karen's story.

How Does Foster Care Affect Children?

One of the most important themes in Karen's experience is the trauma associated with removing children from their homes.
Children entering foster care may already have experienced abuse, neglect, poverty, parental addiction, domestic instability, or other forms of trauma.
Then they may experience another profound disruption: separation from their parents and familiar surroundings.

Intergenerational Trauma and the Foster Care System

Karen also talks about something she came to understand more deeply through her work as a trauma therapist: intergenerational trauma.
Many of the parents she encountered were struggling with their own histories of trauma and limited access to resources.
Then another trauma occurred: having their children removed.

Why Social Work Can Cause Burnout

Karen's experience also raises an important Google question:
Why do social workers experience burnout?
Because social workers aren't simply performing tasks.
They are absorbing stories.
They are witnessing suffering.
They are managing crises.
They are advocating for people who may have very little power.

The Transformation That Changed Karen's Life

One of the most compelling parts of Karen's story is that her transformation didn't happen all at once.
She spent years putting other people first.
Eventually, she had to learn how to include herself in the circle of people worth caring for.

The Miracle Karen Created Through Her Work

When we talk about miracles, we often imagine something dramatic.
A supernatural event.
An impossible coincidence.
A sudden transformation.
But there is another kind of miracle.
It's the miracle created through years of showing up for other human beings.

To listen to other heart-healing episodes where guests tell stories about showing up for others, click on the links below!

Judith Jenya talks about being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in the Balkan States. BUT, it's her story of supporting kids who were victims of war that will change your life! Listen to "Peacebuilding, Healing & The Miracle of A Croatian Summer Camp" on Spotify HERE and Apple HERE.

John Paul Crimi shares a beautiful story of connection and healing, and it happened when he least expected it! "The Miracle of Breath, The Healing of Hearts" can be found on Spotify HERE and Apple HERE.

And finally "Living With Disability, On His Own Terms!" Hollis shares a story of being in a park and being approached by a homeless man. His fear, his nervousness overwhelmed him. But what happened next changed his views of the Stranger. Listen on Spotify HERE and Apple HERE.

And finally,  my illustrious guest! Check out these nuggets of gold to discover a bit more about Karen and her work:
website
Insta
Facebook

Check out the website for this podcast! Byte Sized Blessings! As well as my boring but funny Insta!  And then my way behind YouTube, but I'm trying to keep up!
Don't forget to link up to my Insta to keep up on all the latest stories and goodness!

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Your bit of beauty this week is: this super-deluxe cool article titled "10 astonishing brainless animals that are remarkably clever – proving you don't always need a brain to be smart... " I think it would behoove us to understand that being in the world in a way that is healthy and vibrant doesn't mean we need a brain, necessarily. There are all sorts of ways of being, and understanding that is the first step in comprehending that creation, and miracle and magic and sacredness show up in myriad and magical ways! (hooray!)

trauma therapist, trauma therapy, foster care, New York City foster care, NYC child welfare system, social worker, social work burnout, therapist burnout, compassion fatigue, childhood trauma, intergenerational trauma, trauma-informed care, family reunification, foster care trauma, family preservation, nervous system regulation, therapist self-care, social worker self-care, caregiver burnout, boundaries for therapists, healing from trauma, mental health, psychotherapy, emotional healing, resilience, helping professions.