Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

Intergenerational Trauma and the 1947 Partition with Dr. Ammara Khalid

Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

Show Notes

Today on Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Dr. Ammara Khalid for a powerful conversation on the intergenerational impact of the 1947 Partition of South Asia. Together, they explore one of the largest mass migrations in human history and the trauma, displacement, silence, and resilience that continue to shape generations across the South Asian diaspora. Drawing from her clinical work, research, and her own family’s migration story, Dr. Khalid discusses how trauma is passed through families not only through stories, but also through silence, survival patterns, cultural expectations, and the body itself. Ben and Dr. Khalid discuss:

The historical and psychological impact of the Partition of India and Pakistan Intergenerational trauma and inherited survival responses Silence, stigma, and emotional suppression in South Asian families Decolonizing mental health practices The role of curiosity, compassion, storytelling, and community in healing Cultural approaches to therapy, music, movement, spirituality, and collective care Racism, migration, identity, and belonging in the diaspora Dr. Khalid’s upcoming book: The South Asian Guide to Healing: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma

This episode is an important conversation about memory, migration, resilience, and healing — and about learning how to honour our histories without being trapped by them. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-Hp9ZPVZY9Q Continuing Education Credits (https://www.cbiconsultants.com/shop) BACB: 1.0 EthicsIBAO: 1.0 CulturalQABA: 1.0 EthicsCBA/CPD: 1.0 Cultural Diversity Follow us! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behaviourspeak/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behaviourspeak TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@behaviorspeak

Resources The Partition Museum - https://www.partitionmuseum.org/1947 Archive Project - https://www.1947archive.org/Jessica Kingsley Publishers - https://www.jkp.com/Dr. Ammara Khalid's Website - https://riapsychologicalservices.com/Follow Dr. Ammara Khalid on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drammarakhalid/

More from Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

Oct 16, 2026

In this inspiring episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben welcomes Dr. Pooja Panesar, behaviour analyst, Doctor of Behavioural Health, entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Kaizora Centre for Neurodevelopmental Therapies. Born and raised in Kenya, educated in Canada, and driven by a passion for helping children and families, Dr. Panesar shares her remarkable journey from working with a single child in a small room furnished with only a table and two chairs to building leading autism and neurodevelopmental services across Kenya and Tanzania. The conversation explores the evolution of autism services in East Africa, overcoming stigma, building professional capacity, integrating cultural humility with evidence-based practice, and creating interdisciplinary systems of care. Dr. Panesar also reflects on leadership, resilience, parenting, and her vision for the future of autism services across the continent. This episode offers powerful lessons for behaviour analysts, educators, healthcare professionals, parents, and anyone interested in creating meaningful systems change. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ycA180S1EgE

Oct 9, 2026

What happens when psychology is viewed through the lens of Indigenous knowledge, community, language, and lived experience? In this episode, Ben welcomes Dr. Vicky Lomay, a Navajo (Diné) clinical psychologist, assessment specialist, educator, and leader in Indigenous psychology. Dr. Lomay shares her journey from engineering student to psychologist and reflects on how growing up in a bilingual Navajo household shaped her understanding of healing, wellness, and human behaviour. The conversation explores the intersections between Indigenous knowledge systems and Western psychology, including cultural impacts on assessment, diagnosis, trauma treatment, and mental health care. Dr. Lomay discusses why many traditional Indigenous healing approaches represent generations of what she calls "practice-based evidence," long before Western psychology developed similar concepts and terminology. Ben and Dr. Lomay also discuss the challenges of psychological assessment in Indigenous communities, the risks of cultural misinterpretation during evaluation, and the importance of understanding language, history, ceremony, and context when working with Indigenous clients. The episode concludes with a discussion about leadership, mentorship, and the future of Indigenous psychology through organizations such as the Society of Indian Psychologists and the American Psychological Association's American Indian and Alaska Native Section. Watch the video! https://youtu.be/3K-L9uVa6gs Connect with Dr. Vicky Lomay Tsinajini Psychology Services https://tsinajinipsych.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-t-lomay-phd-5320626/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tsinajini_psychology

Oct 6, 2026

What can studying perspective taking tell us about relationships, dating violence, and the experiences of neurodivergent people?

Oct 2, 2026

Dr. Don Togade came to behaviour analysis through a deeply personal journey, one that began with trying to better understand himself.

Sep 25, 2026

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ben Reiman sits down with Indigenous educator, consultant, speaker, and entrepreneur Len Pierre. Grounding the discussion in his Coast Salish identity and his roots in Katzie First Nation, Len shares his journey of cultural reclamation, receiving his ancestral name, and learning to navigate both Indigenous and colonial worlds.

See all episodes →