Trauma-Informed Leadership and Workplace Culture Insights

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

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.

We are proud to announce another successful project. Our work with ODRC has already begun to transform lives for Ohio state employees and...

Nine simple emotional regulation techniques that feel a little silly, but work. Practical options you can use in the moment, at work or at home, to reset and respond skillfully.

Most of the time when we talk about trauma, our minds go to individual trauma: the trauma that we or someone we know has personally experienced. Some people might share their trauma with someone else, like a sibling. But there are also many collective experiences of trauma, such as systemic racism, an environmental disaster, or a school shooting. In each of these instances, the communities affected experience collective trauma. Today, we’re going to explore a unique type of c

Download this newsletter as a printable PDF: Monthly Reflections For many, December is a month full of festive holiday activities and gratitude. It can also be a month that triggers us into our trauma responses. As we walk along our healing journey, we often see others who have not chosen healing. This experience can be deeply frustrating, especially when we care for those people. And, during the holidays, feelings of loneliness may increase. When we look back at this month,

Use these 11 trauma-informed boundary phrases to say no, pause conflict, set work-hour expectations, and protect wellbeing without escalating tension.

Learn the trauma triangle and how workplace reenactments show up in teams under chronic stress. Identify the common roles, spot early signs, and use practical interruption strategies that protect trust and accountability.

Download this newsletter as a printable PDF: Monthly Reflections November is over, and there is a lot to be grateful for. There were also many stressors. Let's take a moment to let both be true and acknowledge all of the feelings we experienced this November. Make space for your frustration, elation, anger, sadness, and joy. They all have a home within you, and your inner experience is valid, no matter what is happening or how tumultuous it may seem. Your feelings are valid.

Trauma-informed care is like an umbrella that encompasses the social determinants of health, social-emotional learning, and actionable solutions to create real change. I think a lot of people don’t understand this yet. Understandably, when people hear “trauma-informed,” they’re confused. If you’re not already informed about the impacts of and solutions to widespread trauma in our society, it’s hard to imagine what type of information relates to trauma. So, let me frame it wit

Download this newsletter as a printable PDF: Monthly Reflections As October ends and Halloween marks the transition into November, we may be quick to plan for the holidays. However, I urge you to set aside time to reflect on your wins this month. What did you learn? How did you grow? Did you rest or discover a new coping skill? Celebrating your wins, no matter how small they may seem, is a step on your trauma-informed journey toward wellness. Looking Ahead For many, the holid

Download this newsletter as a printable PDF: Monthly Reflections In August, many of us prepared for or began the 22-23 school year as we balanced personal, professional, and cultural stressors. Whether you worked through loss, reflected on your past, began a new journey, or processed the collective trauma of military conflict and restricted abortion access, now is the time to recognize the growth you accomplished. Be proud of yourself and celebrate your wins. Looking Ahead As

What's the difference between listening and hearing? We can’t control what we hear. Hearing is second nature. Listening requires focus....

If you’re familiar with the trauma-informed space, you know that we often talk about the experience of feeling seen, heard, and valued. We talk about creating space at the table for everyone, practicing vulnerability to strengthen relationships, and holding ourselves accountable when we make mistakes. These are all great topics to discuss, but it can prove challenging to distill these larger ideas into practice. But, when we talk about apologizing, we wrap all of these comple

Establishing safety at work is one of the most important aspects of creating a trauma-informed workplace, but creating safety is easier said than done. When we discuss trauma-informed beliefs, practices, and values, we often explore big-picture concepts and systems. While this is an essential piece of the work, sharing specific, actionable steps can often improve our understanding better than big-picture ideas can. Here are some concrete and relatively simple ways to create s

When we discuss implementing trauma-informed change, the conversation largely surrounds how we live trauma-informed values. How does our behavior reflect our values? What about our lifestyle choices, how we engage in relationships, or our attitude toward life’s challenges? When we reflect, we recognize that there are many ways we live trauma-informed values, but there are also many areas where we can improve. So, once we’ve identified the areas we’d like to change, the questi

An organizational safety plan is a simple, shared playbook for preventing escalation, responding consistently, and supporting staff and clients during high-stress moments. Safety plans serve as a great resource for individuals to practice healthy coping skills and develop a sense of safety and security that can carry them through a crisis. Last week, we discussed the basics of creating your first personalized safety plan . Now, it’s time to discuss how an organizational safet

If you need access to a crisis helpline right now, call 800-273-8255, the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trigger Warning:...

Resilience is built in three core ways: positive and stable adult relationships, a strong connection to faith and cultural traditions, and the mastery of a life skill. When you incorporate these three components into your life, you will experience resilience. And as you build your own resilience, you enable yourself to be a trauma-informed leader who can build organizational resilience. Today, we’re discussing the first aspect of building resilience: positive and stable adult