Show notes
Priscilla Ward joins Dr. Sandie Morgan as they explore how true healing happens not through fixing or rescuing, but by learning to sit in discomfort, lead with curiosity, and create consistent communities where survivors can feel safe enough to begin their journey at their own pace.
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Priscilla Ward
Priscilla Ward, LCSW, is the Founder and Clinical Director of Compass Rose Psychotherapy in Fullerton, California. With over 18 years in the helping profession and 15 years of clinical experience, she has dedicated her career to supporting youth, young adults, and families through trauma, anxiety, substance use, and grief. A graduate of the University of Southern California with a Master's in Social Work, Priscilla brings extensive experience from nonprofit agencies, community mental health clinics, correctional facilities, and school-based programs. She has led mental health teams for the Orange County Department of Education, developing trauma-responsive programs and training professionals in high-stress environments. Her bilingual Spanish fluency and cultural responsiveness make her a trusted ally across diverse communities. Beyond direct practice, Priscilla serves as a consultant and trainer, equipping educators, faith leaders, law enforcement personnel, and mental health professionals with trauma-informed, harm reduction, and motivational interviewing frameworks.
Key Points
People heal in community and relationship, not in isolation, and this healing process is rarely linear—it's complex and messy, especially for those who have experienced trauma.
The shift from "what's wrong with this person" to "what happened to this person" is foundational to trauma-informed care and creates space for dignity and compassion over judgment.
Harm reduction is a philosophy grounded in meeting people where they are, honoring their dignity even when they aren't ready to stop certain behaviors, and recognizing that small steps matter because keeping people alive and safe creates opportunities for future healing.
Faith communities can love people well by learning to sit in discomfort and resist the urge to fix or rescue, instead focusing on building belonging without requiring behavioral compliance as a prerequisite.
Understanding the stages of change (pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and sometimes relapse) helps helpers meet survivors appropriately at each stage rather than imposing expectations they're not ready for.
Secondary trauma and burnout are real costs of caring, and taking care of our own wellness is critically important because we need to be healthy people in the room to truly serve others without reinforcing harm.
Trust is the bridge for change, and consistency creates safety that literally rewires the brain—centering connection over correction leads to systemic change in how we support survivors.
Listening to voices of lived experience is essential; helpers should ask "what do you need" rather than assuming they know what survivors need.
Resources
Compass Rose Psychotherapy
Transcript
[00:00:00] Priscilla Ward: what harm reduction looks like in my community might be very different than yours, but the spirit of harm reduction can be applied. Anywhere and everywhere.
[00:00:11] Delaney: You know that uncomfortable space where things aren't neat or solved, what if that's where the real healing starts? Today's conversation leans into that gray area. The space where our instinct to fix meets the deeper need to simply be present.
[00:00:25] When we let go of control and step into curiosity, we make room for safety, dignity, and real connection. That kind of community can change everything. Hi, I'm Delaney Menninger. I'm a student here at Vanguard University and I help produce this show. Today, Sandy talks with Priscilla Ward, a licensed clinical social worker who trains faith leaders and community team...