Unseen Wounds - Dr. Kathy Coffman

Unseen Wounds: The Emotional Toll of Child Abuse Work

 

This episode of 'Harmless' features a deep dive into the emotional and psychological toll experienced by professionals who work in child abuse prevention and treatment. The host, Eric Oldenburg, interviews Dr. Kathy Coffman, a forensic pediatrician with over 30 years of experience in examining and supporting child abuse victims. Dr. Coffman shares insights into the challenges of determining the age of children in abusive imagery, the stress of potentially misjudging cases, and the importance of finding coping mechanisms to handle the anger and trauma encountered in this line of work. The conversation also highlights the necessity of a support system for those in the field, the human side of abusers, and the resilience of parents dealing with the aftermath of their child being abused. Dr. Coffman emphasizes the neurodevelopmental impacts of trauma on children and advises those entering this field to find beauty amidst the darkness to sustain their work long-term.