For many women, rising above trauma can feel unattainable in public life and utterly impossible when under the restraints of incarceration. But, women, being who they are, build mutual support systems behind bars that foster resilience, and community, and underpin transformations not often correlated with stories of life in prison.

To discover ways of transcending incarceration, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with an internationally recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, lecturer, and a pioneer in addiction, trauma, and recovery, Dr. Stephanie Covington.

Dr. Covington shares findings from her decades of experience working with institutions, and her latest book, Hidden Healers: The Unexpected Ways Women in Prison Help Each Other Survive. She talks about the healing journeys within our broken prison systems and describes the community that develops between incarcerated women.

Dr. Stephanie S. Covington PhD: Transcending Incarceration

• What inspired Stephanie to write Hidden Healers: The Unexpected Ways Women in Prison Help Each Other Survive? {2:35}
• Stories of women helping each other in a broken reformatory system. {5:31}
• Prisons are unjustly filled with those with mental health or substance abuse disorders. {11:20}
• Want to make a difference in a prisoner's life? Here’s your call to action. {14:30}
• Transformation and trauma: Both happen in the prison system. {17:57}
• What if prisons were structured as resourced communities? {23:39}

About Lisa’s guest:

Dr. Stephanie S. Covington is an internationally recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, and lecturer. A pioneer in the fields of addiction, trauma, and recovery, Dr. Covington has developed an innovative, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approach resulting in effective services in public, private, and institutional settings. Her presentations, seminars, and technical assistance focus on systems changes and developing caring, compassionate, and empowering therapeutic environments.

“There is an opportunity for a transformation to occur out of a very dark set of circumstances.” - Lisa Cypers Kamen

Searching for more inspiration? Visit www.harvestinghappiness.com today!