Transforming Trauma: Episode 181

As a teenager growing up in Philadelphia, Lawrence Chrystopher Harris moved through days colored by anxiety, exclusion, and what he describes as “a shower made of molten lead, but you have no skin.” Instead of letting these struggles define him, Lawrence built his own recovery toolkit, grounded not in lofty or expensive interventions but in small, practical steps within everyone’s reach. Now, as a youth empowerment speaker at just 19, he’s on a mission to share what he’s learned––and what, for years, he desperately needed to hear: possibility and hope are always available, no matter where you start.

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth sits down with Lawrence to explore how youth facing trauma, disability, or neglect can reclaim agency and imagine a better future. Their conversation uncovers a refreshingly pragmatic approach to mental health, centering on “journaling, exercise, and going outside in combination,” and the transformative power of curiosity and self-inquiry. Lawrence details the journey from masking his autism and enduring abuse to developing a self-love rooted in honesty, shadow integration, and countless small victories. Through his locally rooted speaking, writing, and digital presence, Lawrence offers both encouragement and actionable tools that listeners of all ages can implement.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lawrence Chrystopher Harris has spent the past four years helping teens and young adults nurture self-love, resilience, and a positive outlook. Inspired by his own early struggles with belonging, trauma, and being neurodivergent, Lawrence began by making “YouTube videos and TikToks” to reach peers who felt unseen or unheard. From school talks to pop-up book events, he blends creativity and scrappiness with a deep sense of purpose, recently channeling lessons learned into his upcoming book. Lawrence’s work is shaped by the desire, as he puts it, to “just for free, give that to people” and ensure no one feels as isolated as he once did.

Curiosity threads through Lawrence’s approach to healing: “I spend the majority of my time asking, how did I pull all of that off?” He encourages relentless self-questioning not as self-judgment, but self-discovery. Journaling, for instance, isn’t about chasing the meaning of life, but about uncovering “why do you do what you do? Why do you say what you say? Why do you think what you think?” He describes integrating one’s flaws, anger, or “shadow” as essential, explaining, “you have to become aware that maybe you are impulsive, maybe you get mad easily.” Small daily habits like making your bed and brushing your teeth become “little wins” you can build on, reminding yourself you can move mountains one pebble at a time.

Throughout their conversation, Lawrence names the critical distinction between “feeling bad” and “being bad,” a lesson that underpins his practice of emotional self-compassion: “how you feel does not define who and what you are.” He acknowledges the deep challenges posed by trauma, systems that fail to protect, and the difficulty of breaking away from “comfort in victim hood.” And yet the episode radiates hope, with Lawrence emphasizing the importance of nurturing imagination and vision, even when the “how” and “when” remain unclear. “Just picture in your head, your life being better, whatever that means to you.” This focus on possibility, along with accessibly rooting mental health in movement, nature, and introspection, makes Lawrence’s message both credible and empowering.

Transforming Trauma is grateful to Lawrence for his vulnerability, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to helping young people discover their own power. His simple yet profound invitation––to move a muscle, ask a question, or imagine something different––reminds us that transformation is possible for all.