Christopher M. Anderson

Born into a home of chaos, dysfunction, and filth, it was little surprise that Chris exhibited early behavior problems. In kindergarten bullies provoked him into regular volcanic tantrums, then taunted him with the nickname “Mount Saint Anderson.” The tantrums were so bad, Chris eventually was sent to the county psychiatric hospital for group therapy at 5 years old. While early interventions succeeded in controlling his violent outbursts, they had the unintended consequence of leaving him without any defense when a child molester moved into his neighborhood.

Chris survived multiple childhood traumas including child sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, stalking, bullying, and other victimizations to emerge as a global advocate and authority on the traumas and abuse boys and men endure. His synergy with the audience and positive attitude is inspiring and motivating as he offers practical, evidence based suggestions for individuals, families, businesses, and communities impacted by oftentimes hidden costs of trauma.

Participants attending this session will be able to:

1. Understand the widespread prevalence of childhood trauma and abuse.
2. Identify key elements in healing after childhood trauma.
3. Learn a simple, effective method for providing survivors of many forms of trauma and abuse with a compassionate and empowering initial response

Many survivors of sexual abuse and other traumas often report it is very difficult to find safe persons to whom they can feel comfortable disclosing their experiences of victimization. Men and boys who disclose are often scorned, or worse yet targeted for further victimization. Women and girls are often asked what they did to make themselves more vulnerable. And as many survivors of crime and abuse struggle to come to terms with their pain all too often they meet with professionals who ask, “What is wrong with you” as opposed to “What was done to you?”

This presentation will review some important concepts about trauma, and the potential impact of trauma on the brains, bodies, and behaviors of survivors of abuse and trauma. Armed with these concepts we will review a simple model that will give professionals from any field and lay persons the concepts required to provide a compassionate and empowering response to any disclosure of trauma.

Participants attending this session will be able to

1. Define trauma and how abuse can be understood to be a form of trauma with that can lead to significant emotional and physical effects in survivors.
2. Understand some of the ways in which experiences of trauma and abuse can give rise to significant and potentially disruptive neurological and behavioral sequelae.
3. Learn a simple, effective method for providing survivors of many forms of trauma and abuse with a compassionate and empowering initial response.

Men and boys experience many forms of victimization, trauma, and abuse in staggeringly high numbers. Research shows that men experience depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders at levels equal to females, however men commit suicide at far higher rates, while being less likely to access mental health services. Clearly something is wrong. It remains taboo for men and boys to openly discuss our vulnerability and our pain for many reasons.

This presentation gives an overview of the unique challenges male survivors of abuse and trauma face, debunks harmful myths that discourage both boys and men from coming forward to report victimization, and offers suggestions for how we can change this toxic and harmful narrative.

Participants attending this session will be able to

1. Define trauma and how abuse can be understood to be a form of trauma with that can lead to significant emotional and physical effects in survivors.
2. Enumerate cultural themes and pressures that often dis-incentivize male disclosures and punish boys and men who do disclose abuses and traumas they’ve endured.
3. Learn a simple, effective method for providing survivors of many forms of trauma and abuse with a compassionate and empowering initial response