Trauma-Informed Leadership and Workplace Culture Insights

When I introduce mindfulness to organizations, people usually think of deep breathing. While breathing and meditation are methods of...

When committing to self-care is too challenging, preparing for self-care is sometimes the best decision we can make to take care of ourselves. Whether you want to chalk it up to mental health struggles, depression, anxiety, or the symptoms of trauma, it's extremely common to struggle with self-care. While some of us might struggle with basic hygiene, other workaholics might struggle to break, and others still might struggle with striking a balance between caring for others an

Emotional intelligence is a superpower in today's workforce. And, leaders need to prioritize their social-emotional skills if they hope...

What does healing look like? We often think the answer will be sold to us in pretty packaging, but the truth is that healing requires...

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting women who have made—and are making—history. Foster care is associated with many negative outcomes. Yet, there are so many resilient girls who not only survived foster care but grew into empowered women. Here are 12 of them. We know that experiences in foster care are associated with negative outcomes. Since the 90s, we’ve understood that trauma has a lasting effect on peoples’ lives, especially when that trauma happens at

Trauma-informed change is a revolutionary approach that acknowledges the far-reaching impact of trauma on individuals, communities,...

Understanding attachment theory helps us make the important first step of the trauma-informed paradigm shift. Once we make the shift, we can set our sights on healing in our relationships. Whether you’re here because you have an insecure attachment style or you want to know how you can support someone with an insecure attachment style, you’ve come to the right place. These practical tips for building secure relationships can help you and those you care about—whether they’re y

Whether you’re considering your romantic, platonic, or professional relationships, knowing these 7 characteristics of a healthy...

Use these 9 ready-to-say phrases to build trust and psychological safety at work—plus when to use each one and what to avoid so it lands well.

People are always asking me: what do I do to heal my trauma? And people are always disappointed when I tell them the answer. Why? Because...

Sometimes, we know we need something, but we don’t know what that thing is. You might find it here. In the journey of self-discovery and...

We often discuss feelings, cultural practices, and relationships in trauma-informed systems change—but don’t let that fool you. Trauma is a science, and our emotional experiences can have lasting physiological and neurological impacts. In the realm of trauma-informed care and systems change, understanding the close connection between trauma and the brain is pivotal. Whether you work with populations who are at a high-risk of exposure to trauma or you yourself are healing from

If you’re someone who’s always looking for one more trauma-informed resource to add to your toolkit, you’re in luck. This list of 15 trauma-informed tools includes great coping strategies, mindfulness exercises, and grounding activities. Practical Trauma-Informed Tools for Resilience and Executive Functioning When we’re stuck in our trauma, we can’t access our executive functioning. It’s why we sometimes act in ways that don’t make sense (or in ways we’re not proud of). No ma

Of all the trauma-informed phrases I use, “yes, AND” might be the most common. “Yes, AND” represents a way of thinking that is essential...

This blog discusses self-harm and suicide, which can be sensitive topics to many readers. Please establish your safety before reading, including your mental, psychological, emotional, and safety. Self-harm is a topic that's often discussed in hushed tones, if at all. When we talk about this common warning sign for crisis (which often goes hand in hand with passive or active suicidal ideation), many people’s minds immediately jump to the more extreme forms of self-destructive

Safety is a crucial topic for trauma-informed systems, and understanding how your community defines safety is no small task. If I asked...

No matter what model you use, SAMHSA or Sanctuary, safety is a core value of trauma-informed care. Safety is arguably one of the most important pillars (if not THE most important pillar) of shifting towards a trauma informed approach. Here’s why. This isn’t the first time we’ve talked about the importance of safety at work , and it won’t be the last! Trauma-informed change is centered on the concept of trauma healing, and safety is crucial to healing. Actually, that might be

Trauma disconnects us, making it difficult for us to access the parts of our brain responsible for executive functioning skills. When we understand how trauma impacts us, it becomes easier to see trauma playing out in our day-to-day lives. What does executive functioning mean? Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that are responsible for goal-directed behavior, decision-making, and self-regulation. It involves the ability to plan, organize, initiate,

If we want to create real change, we have to zoom way out to look at the issues, solutions, and goals from a systems perspective. We also...

What is financial trauma? Learn common signs, real-life examples, and how money stress shapes beliefs and behavior. Practical reflection prompts and next steps to build safety, reduce shame, and create a healthier relationship with money.