If you want to help people, change the system that hurt them | Dr Christy Gibson | #010 Mastering Change

"Trauma is in our bones. We inherit it through our lineage. And science supports that,” says Dr. Christy Gibson. 

This week on Mastering Change, we speak with Dr. Gibson – a physician and global trauma advocate – about trauma as a systemic issue, not just a personal one. It’s a powerful, inspiring conversation that reimagines the role of doctors, communities and systems in the face of trauma. 

Dr. Gibson isn’t your traditional physician, she’s creative and passionate about democratising trauma research, leaning into TikTok to educate (@tiktoktraumadoc). Her book, The Modern Trauma Toolkit, aims to improve health literacy and is written specifically for patients – to provide clarity and help people feel compassion for themselves.   

“I see really traumatised people causing more trauma at a political and industry level.” 

In this episode, she unpacks how trauma spreads and causes chaos on a global scale, explaining that most people don’t mean to cause harm, but do inadvertently. Medical professionals, she says, can unknowingly traumatise patients simply by failing to explain what they're doing. 

We explore

• Why the future of healthcare must be community-driven and holistic 
• The importance of removing bias from diagnoses 
• How trauma can hide in plain sight in clinical settings 
• The power of storytelling and creative reframing in healing 
• Why being a doctor today means stepping outside the ‘expert’ role 

She invites us to shift our entire perception of trauma – to look beyond individuals and recognise the hidden architecture of trauma within our systems. 

We tend to think of ourselves as powerless, but Dr. Gibson reminds us that while systems may feel immovable, change begins with community. Her mission isn’t just about her own power as a physician, but about activating collective agency. After all, as she puts it: If you want to help people, you need to change the system that hurt them. 

Moment of Care: This episode discusses sensitive episodes related to trauma, mental health and potential distressing experiences. If you feel triggered at any point, please take a moment to check in with yourself and seek support. 

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://tinyurl.com/masteringchangepodcast

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