top of page
Trauma-Informed Leadership and Workplace Culture Insights
Tools, language, and implementation guidance for leaders building safer, more accountable workplaces.
Categories
Start With These!
Start here if you are leading culture change, supporting staff well-being, or navigating conflict. These three posts teach the core tools we use in training and implementation.






All posts


7 Powerful Benefits of Theater for Trauma Recovery
Trauma can trap individuals in cycles of pain, disconnection, and emotional paralysis. Creative solutions, such as drama and theater, can...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Dec 17, 20244 min read


The Role of Training in Effective Trauma-Informed Change Management
Training plays a crucial role in nearly every change management strategy, especially when implementing trauma-informed practices. This...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Nov 19, 20245 min read


Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn (Appease): Trauma Responses Explained
A clear trauma-informed guide to fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—workplace signs, what helps, what makes it worse, and how leaders can respond skillfully.

Shenandoah Chefalo
Sep 24, 20246 min read


Discussing Microaggressions through a Trauma-Informed Lens
Understanding the foundational concepts of microaggressions and microresistance helps us promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Jun 18, 20243 min read


Structural Violence in Medicine: “Doctors Have a New Plan for Fat Kids”
The institutions that hope to repair the damage of structural violence are often the same ones that cause it. I began listening to the...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Jun 4, 20246 min read


10 Ways to Be Mindful That Aren't Deep Breathing
When I introduce mindfulness to organizations, people usually think of deep breathing. While breathing and meditation are methods of...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Apr 23, 20245 min read


Removing Obstacles to Self Care is Self Care
When committing to self-care is too challenging, preparing for self-care is sometimes the best decision we can make to take care of...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Apr 16, 20243 min read


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

Shenandoah Chefalo
Apr 9, 20243 min read


Healing Through Mindfulness: Slowing Down & Asking for Help
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...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Apr 2, 20245 min read


Re-Writing History: 10 Female Foster Care Survivors Who Thrived
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting women who have made—and are making—history. Foster care is associated with many...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Mar 12, 20245 min read


11 Practical Tips for Building Secure Attachments and Healing from Trauma in Relationships
Understanding attachment theory helps us make the important first step of the trauma-informed paradigm shift. Once we make the shift, we...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Feb 20, 20246 min read


Trauma-Informed Attachment Theory: How Childhood Experiences Impact Adult Relationships and Attachment Styles
Attachment styles can help us understand how our trauma impacts our relationships—and what we can do about it. I work with many...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Feb 13, 20244 min read


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

Shenandoah Chefalo
Feb 6, 20244 min read


9 Phrases That Build Trust at Work (What to Say, Not Just What to Do)
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.

Shenandoah Chefalo
Jan 30, 20244 min read


5 Secrets to Personal Growth No One Tells You
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...

Shenandoah Chefalo
Jan 23, 20244 min read


The Four Pillars of Emotional Intelligence
Understand the four pillars of emotional intelligence and how they show up in real workplace behavior. Includes practical examples for leaders, supervision conversations, and team communication under pressure.

Shenandoah Chefalo
Nov 22, 20224 min read
bottom of page