Trauma-Informed Leadership and Workplace Culture Insights

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

Use JADE (Justify, Argue, Defend, Explain) to spot trauma-driven defensiveness at work and respond skillfully with scripts that reduce escalation and build safety.

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...

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

Start here: Want the full set of trauma-informed tools for leaders? Visit our Trauma-Informed Leadership Toolkit for scripts, boundary phrases, regulation tools, and practical next steps. There are tons of trauma-informed tools out there to help you integrate trauma-informed practices into your everyday life, and today we’re going to focus on powerful questions. Trauma-Informed Tools: Powerful Questions & TIC Coaching Powerful questions are a core component of trauma-inform

As a trauma-informed consultant, I work with trauma-informed phrases and ideas every day—and here are some of the most common phrases you'll hear me say. Start here: Want the full set of trauma-informed tools for leaders? Visit our Trauma-Informed Leadership Toolkit for scripts, boundary phrases, regulation tools, and practical next steps. These seven phrases distill some complex trauma-informed topics into understandable and actionable phrases that can help you embed the T

Universal precautions at work means leading as if anyone may be carrying trauma or chronic stress. Learn why it matters for communication, psychological safety, and follow-through plus 11 trauma-informed leadership habits you can use immediately.

Also referred to as compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma is a major contributor to chronic stress, especially for those who work with populations at a higher risk of trauma, such as social workers, healthcare workers, therapists, educators, and emergency workers. Vicarious trauma, aka compassion fatigue, is one of the most visible signs of trauma in our workforce. Compassion fatigue, aptly named, is a sort of tiredness and apathy that comes from expending our compassion on ot

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

This Monday, people across the US will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day to mark the achievements of the Civil Rights Movement, which...

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.