Trauma Archives - Healthy Minds Philly®

Stuck on Repeat: Understanding Trauma Bonds

When people talk about feeling “stuck” in a relationship they know is hurting them, they are often describing what many now call a trauma bond. What is a trauma bond? A trauma bond is an intense attachment in a relationship where there are cycles of harm and then repair. Instead of getting better over time, the relationship becomes a loop of conflict, apologies, and promises that rarely last. It can feel like being stuck on repeat: fighting, crying, saying sorry, promising it will change, and then ending up right back [...]

Janine Monico2026-02-18T15:00:08-05:00February 18th, 2026|Dating & Relationships, Domestic Violence, Trauma|

New Mural Brings Hope and Healing to North Philadelphia

Photo Credit: Steve Weinick A powerful new mural is bringing color, hope, and awareness to the walls of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in North Philadelphia. Unveiled during Suicide Prevention Month, Embracing the Light is the latest addition to the city’s public art landscape. But it’s more than just a piece of art. It’s a call to conversation, a symbol of resilience, and a reminder that no one has to struggle alone. Created by artist James Burns in collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia, First Person Arts, and the Department of [...]

Janine Monico2025-10-29T12:23:14-04:00September 25th, 2025|Awareness, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, Trauma|

People Can Pull Us Through It: Secondary Traumatic Stress

Overheard at a party: What do you do for a living? Oh, social work? That’s so hard.” Conversation ends. The stories social workers (and other caregivers) have can be buzzkills at parties. Our work is tough, and most folks don’t want to hear about it. This isn’t to paint us all as saints. We knew it was tough when we chose our line of work. But it can be very lonely to sit with our experiences, especially when you get secondary traumatic stress (STS). STS is the Post Traumatic Stress [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-18T12:05:59-04:00May 1st, 2023|Mental Health, Stress, Trauma|

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Compiled from DHS.gov What Is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear [...]

Janine Monico2021-01-28T22:19:13-05:00January 28th, 2021|Community, Trauma|