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Holding Space with Dr. Barker
Welcome to Holding Space with Dr. Barker—a podcast dedicated to fostering personal growth, emotional healing, and professional development. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Barker, a seasoned psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience, this podcast offers a thoughtful, compassionate space for meaningful conversations about mental health and psychotherapy.
Whether you're on your own path toward greater self-awareness and well-being, or you're a fellow therapist committed to deepening your clinical skills, you’ll find insightful discussions, evidence-based strategies, and expert guidance to support your journey.
Each week, Dr. Barker draws on his extensive training—including a Ph.D. from Seton Hall University, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Radford University, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The New School for Social Research—to explore topics like trauma recovery, emotional regulation, therapeutic techniques, and the art of holding space for others.
Join us for educational series, interviews with leading voices in the field, and practical tools designed to inspire personal discovery and professional transformation.
This is your space for reflection, learning, and connection.
Welcome to Holding Space.
Holding Space with Dr. Barker
School Shootings, Trauma, and the Ripple Effect on Mental Health
In this special edition of Holding Space with Dr. Christopher Barker, we explore the devastating reality of the Minnesota school shooting and its far-reaching psychological consequences. Dr. Barker introduces the concept of the ricochet effect of trauma — the ripple impact of a traumatic event that extends beyond those directly affected, spreading through families, communities, and even across generations.
From acute trauma (such as violent events and abandonment) to chronic trauma (neglect, abuse, systemic oppression), Dr. Barker explains how these experiences reshape identity, attachment, and community trust. He discusses how today’s children grow up with shooter drills, lockdown practices, and even bulletproof backpacks — a modern-day horror story that leaves lasting psychological scars.
This episode examines how trauma manifests as hypervigilance, emotional withdrawal, disrupted attachment, reenactment in relationships, and even intergenerational transmission through both behavior and biology. Dr. Barker also emphasizes the importance of resilience, therapy, community support, and advocacy as pathways to healing.
Listeners will gain insight into:
- The ricochet effect of trauma and how it spreads outward like ripples.
- The impact of school shootings and shooter drills on children’s mental health.
- How trauma shapes behavior, attachment, and worldview across generations.
- Ways individuals and communities can build healing, resilience, and advocacy.
This is a difficult but essential conversation about how collective trauma affects us all — and how holding space for one another can lead to understanding, growth, and hope for change.
Holding Space For You