Trauma-Informed Care encourages practitioners to understand the roots of trauma—the impact of a traumatic event or events on the body, brain, mental health, and our wellbeing. The word trauma means “wound,” which captures the impact of a traumatic experience or experiences. As practitioners, when we’re empathetic, engaged, and compassionate toward those we serve, we […]
Brain on Trauma: Unpacking the Neurobiology of Pain Read More »
Some folks may have a knee-jerk reaction to the words “intergenerational trauma.” How can the traumatic experiences of one generation be passed down or experienced by those who haven’t shared the same experiences? However, social research has shown that generational and intergenerational trauma very much exists. Ancestral pain and family history can continue to
The Echoes of Pain: Understanding Generational and Intergenerational Trauma Read More »
Quiet Quitting, Loud Quitting, The Great Resignation, Coasting Culture and so on—these are symptoms of a nonplussed workforce. Being an “employer of choice” is widely desired. We support the programs, agencies, and systems we serve to achieve that goal, in part, through onboarding their leadership team to Reflective Supervision. As someone once said, “Employees don’t
How Reflective Supervision Can Increase Retention Read More »
Recently Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared loneliness to be a health epidemic. The effects of loneliness and isolation are very real and devastating for many. But there is hope. By building human connections through social interactions, we can reverse the trend. Here’s what we can do as professionals to help clients and colleagues combat the
What We Can Do to Combat the Effects of Loneliness Read More »
We see people with a wide range of experiences. It’s common that some people we encounter in our work are recovering from gaslighting—a term that has grown in awareness in recent years. Trauma Informed Care (TIC), can help guide us to be supportive of those we serve who are recovering and healing through gaslighting experiences.
Recovering from Gaslighting with Effective Trauma-Informed Care Read More »
What is empathy in communication? How do we better understand the feelings of another person? Moreover, why do some people lack empathy, and can it be taught? When working with folks who have been deeply traumatized and neglected, it’s not uncommon to encounter some people who struggle to experience and express empathy. As service
Building Empathy in Communication Skills Read More »
Wellbeingness is vital for those working in many different fields, but for those in human services, and especially recovery, minding your own mental health is critical. If you work in recovery support services, you likely know that burnout and exhaustion are very real concerns. So, how can we be aware of our own mental
4 Tips for Minding Your Own Wellbeing as a Recovery Coach Read More »
In Motivational Interviewing, you may hear the term “affirmation” frequently. In Motivational Interviewing, we use affirmations vs. validation or confirmation. What’s the difference between affirmation and validation? Is it just a matter of semantics? As we explore the techniques of Motivational Interviewing, we can learn how to affirm and hold space for those we
Validation vs. Affirmation: What is the Crucial Difference? Read More »
Many of us feel overwhelmed by the prevalence of hate crimes and identity-based terrorism that surrounds us. How do we even start to unpack feelings when we see a shooting at an LGBTQ+ club that was supposed to be a safe space? When people are shot at the grocery store in a terrible hate crime?
Guided Sharing Circles: Creating a Safe Space to Process Emotions + Connect Read More »
As caregivers, we often work in positions where we’re surrounded by people experiencing trauma. Our intention is to help them, of course, and we may even see it as the mission of our job. But it’s critical we also nurture and do our wellness work to avoid vicarious trauma. When we hold space for
Focus on Wellness to Avoid Vicarious Trauma Read More »