Why trauma extends far beyond the headlines. By Dak Kopec Trauma brings about many unseen storms within a person mind. In my first two books, Broken Boys Beyond Friendships and Logan’s Legacy Beyond Blood , I included scenes depicting mass public shootings and other forms of group-inflicted violence. While writing these moments, I realized just how normalized these scenarios have become in our modern world. What once shocked now feels disturbingly routine. Hate-related viole

I tried to "just write." All I got were cul-de-sacs. By: Dak Kopec I don’t know how many times I’ve been tired, burnt out, or simply didn’t want to write, only to be told that I should just write anyway. This advice shows up everywhere. It’s said at least once during most writing workshops, it dominates the comment sections of social media, pops up in productivity threads, and arrives neatly packaged in well-meaning pep talks from my loving neighbors. The message is almost al

Creating Courthouses that Safeguard Emotional Health for Families and Staff By: Dak Kopec Mothers, fathers, children, judges, court reporters, and many others are affected by primary and secondary trauma in courthouses. Trauma-informed design should therefore be considered during the initial design phases. When most people think of trauma, their minds often turn to domestic violence, child abuse, or catastrophic events. Likewise, when they imagine places where trauma survivor