The Bridge Lab aims to provide psychological support to children and their core ecosystems, including guardians and teachers, to address systemic oppression in education and prevent childhood adversity from becoming a life sentence.
The Kaiser ACE Study found that individuals who experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were at higher risk for health issues such as COPD, heart disease, cancer, substance abuse, and suicidal tendencies. Untreated ACEs are strong predictors of negative health outcomes.
Kristin transitioned to therapy after witnessing three child suicides during her time as a yoga teacher. These incidents were linked to high expectations and lack of support, which motivated her to return to school and become a therapist to address these issues.
Third-culture kids often struggle with identity and belonging, as they grow up in multiple cultures but may not feel fully integrated into any. Kristin experienced this firsthand, feeling out of place in both her father's and mother's cultures due to her mixed racial identity.
Systemic racism in the U.S. creates barriers for children of color, leading to higher rates of mental health issues, academic struggles, and involvement in the juvenile justice system. Many of these children face generational trauma and lack access to culturally sensitive mental health care.
Culturally sensitive therapy is crucial because it acknowledges the unique experiences and challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds. It helps build trust and understanding, which is often missing in predominantly white mental health care systems.
Play therapy allows children to express their emotions and experiences through imaginative play. By taking on roles and scenarios, children can explore their feelings in a safe and non-threatening environment, which helps therapists understand and address their underlying issues.
Kristin believes children are inherently resilient and capable of overcoming adversity when they have supportive adults around them. She emphasizes that children are not inherently weak but are shaped by the stories and expectations placed on them by society.
Kristin argues that ignoring differences does not eliminate bias; instead, it perpetuates it. She believes acknowledging and celebrating differences is essential for creating a more inclusive and understanding society, especially for children navigating their identities.
Kristin sees her diverse career path—from actor to yoga teacher to therapist—as a series of tools that have shaped her identity. She believes each experience has contributed to her ability to connect with others and succeed in her current role as a therapist.
🔴 本期播客语言:英文(含中文引导)
🧩 本期 Guest Speaker:Kristin Calabria
十年前,Kristin从波士顿大学表演系毕业后,开始在纽约做演员,而后转行成为一名带着几千人上课的职业瑜伽教练。19年,她又重返校园,开始读临床心理学的硕士,毕业后正式成为心理工作者。目前,她是一位执照的婚姻家庭治疗师(LMFT),全美瑜伽联盟资深注册导师(E-RYT),同时她也运营着一家非营利组织The Bridge Lab),为儿童及他们周围的核心生态圈(监护人、教师等)提供心理支持。
去年,我在一个社会创新的项目中结识了Kristin,她在为自己的项目做路演时,我被她的个人故事频频打动,尤其是她经常提到的一句话:Childhood adversity should not be a life sentence,一听就有很多故事可以挖掘,于是就约她来播客中讲述更多。
在这期播客中,Kristin会聊聊为何自己在看见也亲历童年创伤后,最终想成为那个治愈者。她也从咨询师的视角聊聊她眼中的儿童。特别的,在这些经历中,有很大一部分与种族歧视有关,这也是为什么她想通过自己非营利组织所做的事来“终止教育系统中的系统性压迫”(end systemic oppression in education)。
🧩 收听导引
Intro
00:06 简单介绍本期伙伴 Kristin和英文播客的收听小贴士
Section 01 | Kristin的NGO和Slogan背后的故事 Slogan:childhood adversity should not be a life sentence. 02:28 The Bridge Lab在做什么?
03:28 童年不良经历社会研究(Kaiser ACE Study):时间不是治愈一切的良药
07:33 做瑜伽老师时亲历了3起儿童自杀事件,原因都是:高期待,无支持
Section 02 | 种族歧视与身份建构的困境
08:53 第三文化小孩(third-culture kid):世界公民?却在任何一种文化中都找不到归属感
15:32 历史依然在重演:美国梦?或许只是幸存者偏差
20:53 来访的儿童,大部分都是children of color
Section 03 | 心理治疗会如何帮助这些儿童
25:10 文化敏感度(culturally-sensitive):真正意义上的感同身受,是predominantly white的心理咨询行业所缺失的
30:09建构支持系统:在一个高压的环境中,需要被照顾的不仅仅是孩子本身,大人们都超负荷了
31:55 干预要在相信的情况下才有效,那如果来访者不愿意承认自己有心理问题怎么办?
Section 04 | 咨询师视角下的儿童
37:30 They are inherently resilient!
Section 05 | 你认同“不强调差异,就不存在偏见” 吗?我不
42:56 过去的人生中,我大部分时间都想极力掩盖自己的多种族身份,但现在我想为此庆祝
46:20 觉察是改变的开始:反偏见的最小行动 —— 提问!
Section 06 | 尾声
51:07 跨界故事:比起用不同的职业标签来定义自己,我想把它们视作为成为自己的工具
57:41 送给听众:困难时,别总想着靠自己,找到你可以依赖的人,彼此扶持着走下去
🧩播客图文/逐字稿
英文转录逐字稿:点击此处查看)
中文精华图文稿:@公众号【CoChildren】)
🧩 英文小黑板 / 名词解释
*时间线顺序出现
🧩 更多或许有用的分享
1. 关于ACEs(童年不幸经历)的更多内容:
Credit: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
2. Intersectionality 身份多元交叉性
Source:Identiversity | Digging into intersectionality)
👉这个视频解释很好懂:What is intersectionality?)
**3. **BBC - Third Culture Kids:Citizens of Everywhere and Nowhere (Kate Mayberry))
4. 关于儿童Play Therapy(游戏治疗)的更多内容
🧩 节目制作
全流程制作 / Fiona
视觉设计/ Malcolm
主题曲 / Monkey
音效 / Free Music @Apple Garage Band
🔍了解更多关于Kristin和她在做的项目
The Bridge Lab:www.thebridgelab.org)
📩来CoChildren:串台/ 做客 /推荐嘉宾 @Why Working with Children?
微信:cochildren
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