The mind after the storm
UC expert discusses trauma, coercive control and healing on podcast: “Is Anybody Out There?”
Amanda LaGuardia, a trauma-informed counselor in UC’s School of Human Services, was featured on podcast “Is Anybody Out There?” for a discussion examining the lasting psychological impact of domestic violence and coercive control.
La Guardia appeared on the Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, episode titled “The Mind After The Storm,” joining hosts Patti Collins and Andrea Langefeld to explore how domestic violence reshapes the brain, affects identity, and disrupts trust long after abuse ends. During the episode, La Guardia explained the emotional and psychological effects of trauma, including confusion, numbness, shame, self-blame, and loss of identity, while outlining how trauma-informed, compassion-centered care can support long-term healing.
Healing that becomes possible when survivors finally have compassion-centered, collaborative care.
Patti Collins Co-host of "Is Anbody Out There"
Survivor and co-host Patti Collins underscored the importance of La Guardia’s work, saying, “As a survivor I believe in Dr. La Guardia’s mission of breaking down the science of trauma, the emotional fallout of coercive control, and the healing that becomes possible when survivors finally have compassion-centered, collaborative care.”
The conversation also addressed how communities, counselors, churches, and loved ones can better support survivors’ emotional recovery through patience, understanding, and trauma-informed approaches, offering validation and hope to those carrying the invisible wounds of abuse.
The “Is Anybody Out There?” podcast is supported by Women Helping Women and Center for Survivor Agency & Justice and is produced by The Bootsy Collins Network.
Listen to the episode featuing Dr. LaGuardia.
Featured image at top: iStock Photo/RomoloTavani.
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next lives here.
Related Stories
Study of childhood trauma and tobacco use in the home
August 22, 2025
Tobacco expert Ashley Merianos, professor of human services, is a guest speaker on WVXU to discuss a new study linking childhood trauma to exposure to tobacco use in the home.
Student-athlete, now graduate, starts career in high school athletics
June 27, 2025
UC grad Thomas Matthew (BA, ‘24, CECH) is ready for his first real world career opportunity as the assistant athletic director at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. This profile of Matthew details the trajectory from student-athlete to sport administration professional.
UC research links childhood trauma, tobacco exposure
August 7, 2025
A new study led by UC’s Ashley Merianos finds that adverse childhood experiences increase children's risk of secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure — even when caregivers smoke outside. Merianos is a prolific tobacco-use researcher with an emphasis on the effects of using tobacco around children.