The New Normal

“When we consider violence against women, there are so many systemic factors and personal consequences to consider. Slovinsky approaches this reality with a trauma-informed lens, a deep understanding of structural causes, and an intersectional approach. While she connects her writing to academic research, she also lets us into her personal connections, offering insights and hope.”

-Christine Gibson, MD, MMedEd, DProf, author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit: Nurture Your Post-Traumatic Growth with Personalized Solutions, co-founder of Safer Spaces Training and the Belong Foundation

“The New Normal: Life After Trauma is a powerful book that reminds us of both the deep impacts of trauma and further re-traumatization, as well as of the human capacity for healing and growth. Dr. Slovinsky builds on her own story, trauma theory, and the research to highlight how experiences of personal, historical, and vicarious trauma shape how individuals navigate through the world, particularly highlighting the impact on relationships and behavior. Her book weaves together personal stories and knowledge from the research and practice field to create a call for readers to embrace the need for a trauma-informed approach: Acknowledging that trauma is more common than not and that we all have the ability to reduce the likelihood of unintentionally causing more harm by changing the way we respond to ourselves and others.”

-Samantha Koury, Ed.D, LMSW, co-director of the University at Buffalo School of Social Work Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, lead author of Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual

“Tammi Slovinsky’s memoir is a profound testament to her incredible courage, as she bravely shares her personal journey through trauma, inviting readers to engage in an intimate exploration of their own experiences. Her vulnerability not only sheds light on the complexities of healing but also provides a powerful mirror for other women who may see themselves in her story, inspiring them to seek the support and services they need. This important work is bound to expand the conversation around rape culture, fostering greater understanding and empathy in a society that often remains silent on such critical issues.”

-Renee E. Williams, Esq., CEO at National Center for Victims of Crime

“In The New Normal: Life After Trauma, Tammi Slovinsky masterfully weaves the science of trauma and research with the lived experiences of survivors of gender-based violence. Drawing on decades of expertise in victim services and her scholarship on systemic trauma, Slovinsky illuminates the many ways survivors navigate institutions that too often retraumatize, while simultaneously shaping the paths to healing and justice. Her work reveals not only the profound personal impact of trauma but also the threads that bind it to communities, systems, and those who labor within them.

“Rather than treating trauma as an exception, Slovinsky offers a roadmap for understanding it as part of the lived reality many carry. By grounding research in narrative, she challenges us to normalize those realities-not by minimizing them, but by reshaping the systems and supports around them to be responsive, just, and humane. This book invites us to see trauma not as an outlier but as a common experience that must shape a reimagining of how we serve, advocate, and build communities of care.”

-Bridgette Stumpf, CEO and co-founder at Volare (formerly Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC))