Tokyo Trauma Talks - Episode 2: The Spectrum of Trauma

Trauma isn't binary—it exists on a spectrum from healthy effort to complete overwhelm. This episode explores how to recognize your capacity limits, understand when you're pushing too hard, and develop compassionate awareness of your nervous system's signals.

Your Hosts:

• Sarah Furuya - Coach & Facilitator
• Mary Stanley Stanley- Human Services student & former hairstylist
• María Paula Farfán - Prison Compassion Project facilitator
• Paula Esguerra - Meditation & yoga teacher

What You'll LearnThe Capacity Spectrum

• Healthy effort
• Extended effort
• Overwhelming/burnout

What are each of these?

Unexpected Trauma-Informed Spaces

• How hairstylists practice trauma-informed care through maternal touch and active listening
• Cross-cultural soothing practices (Latin American hair-braiding traditions)

The Power of Silence

• Creating spaciousness for trauma integration
• Patience as wisdom in recovery work
• Choosing conversation over debate

Key Concepts

Active Listening - A trainable skill essential for holding space and witnessing trauma

"This Is Not Mine" - Recognizing inherited trauma patterns versus personal reactions

Resources Mentioned

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk - Explores how trauma reshapes brain and body (Note: Scientifically controversial but widely influential)

Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing approach to trauma healing (Note: Limited empirical support for "energy release" theory)

Closing Practice

Paula teaches a body awareness meditation: scanning for tension, acknowledging it with compassion, and affirming "I am here."

Links

•⁠ ⁠⁠Compassion Prison Project

•⁠ Lighthouse Circle Grief Support with Gretchen Miura

•⁠ ⁠⁠Film 🎥 All your faces

•⁠ ⁠⁠Book 📖 What happened to you

Episode Length: 43 minutes

Next Episode: Working with Trauma - The Body, Mind, and System

Connect with Sarah

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-everitt-furuya-3727a74/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahfuruyacoaching

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahfuruyacoaching

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXsuS_yVT9fMHjhAylVy8-w