Trauma-Informed Leadership and Workplace Culture Insights

The terms stress and trauma are similar and sometimes used interchangeably. However, stress responses are often beneficial while trauma responses obstruct our growth. Stressors build resilience Most stressful experiences in life make us stronger. In fact, we can only grow when meeting resistance or stress. New or challenging events in our lives, such as job loss, exams, deadlines, finances, or divorce, often make us stronger. Challenges arise and, while painful, we meet the d

Finance expert, CEO of Credit Builders Alliance (CBA), and Mindful Management podcast guest Dara Duguay talks with Shenandoah Chefalo...

The institutions that hope to repair the damage of structural violence are often the same ones that cause it. I began listening to the...

May is foster care awareness month, and this year, I'd like to increase awareness about the foster care system and how it ties into other social issues we hope to heal from. Foster Care Awareness Month is traditionally a time dedicated to highlighting the needs and challenges within the foster care system. This year at Chefalo Consulting, we're going to do something a little different. My goal is to broaden the conversation. In this article, we'll explore how the foster care

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,...

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

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

There is a strong connection between childhood trauma and addiction, which is why preventative trauma-informed interventions are crucial...

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.