Workshops, Trainings, and Support Services
Trauma-Informed We-A.R.E. Training
(Aware, Resilient, and Engaged)
We-A.R.E. Training Mission:
Designed for those working on the front lines of human services and suffering, and those who support them. We-A.R.E. Training Workshops synthesize research-based approaches with contemplative and embodied practices to offer the practical tools and resources that work teams need to sustain health, compassion and effectiveness while helping others heal and thrive.
We-A.R.E. Training Topics include:
Training Approach:
We-A.R.E. Training Workshops are specifically tailored to each organization or work team, and take place in-person. Workshops can be offered in 2.5-hour Modules singly or in a series; or as a Half-day Retreat (4 hours); or a full day Retreat (8 hours). Scheduling and pricing depends on choice of workshop topics, depth of training, and preferences of the Organization.
My training workshops integrate trauma-informed, neuroscience-based, social-justice focused, and contemplative-informed approaches. My facilitation style is interactive and supportive, combining information and experiential techniques for optimal learning and skill-building. The training offers opportunities for enhancing both individual learning and whole group connection and support.
As part of my trauma-informed approach, I give special attention to the lived, embodied experience of participants. Talking and learning about stress, trauma, and resilience can itself be stressful. Throughout the Six Modules are practices and skill-building that regulate our stress and threat responses, calming the body and enhancing connection within the Team.
Follow-Up, Support and Other Services:
Team Resilience Sessions (TRS)
These TRS meetings are a follow-up to We-A.R.E Training Workshops and Retreats. TRS can be provided in-person or virtually, for a whole work team or a sub-group. TRS are one hour and can occur at whatever frequency makes sense (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly). TRS include teaching, review and practice of group and individual resilience and recovery techniques. TRS also holds time and space to address emergent trauma/critical stress issues affecting specific staff or team as a whole.
Leadership Consultation
For Team and Organizational leaders, I bring a trauma-informed lens to situational and personnel issues, and provide consultation and support for responding to critical stress and ongoing resilience-building for their Team.
Trauma-informed Support for Trainings and Conversations
Sometimes organizations and teams bring in Educational Programs that can be emotional and challenging, such as Hostile Work Environment Awareness Trainings (HEAT); or hold conversations to address conflict and issues between management and personnel or within teams. Such conversations often involve stress and reactivity. As a Consultant, I can be present in such situations, with a focus on reading peoples' level of stress and helping the participants stay regulated and within their window of tolerance, so the information and strategies can be effectively addressed. By witnessing and helping hold space in sensitive trainings and interactions, I can also help Leaders follow up effectively to continue to build a sense of collective trust and safety.
Recent Trauma-Informed Resilience Trainings (2019-2024)
"Neurobiology of Threat and Safety: Tapping into Resilience in Hostile Environments," Mercy Corps, May 2024. As a consultant with the KonTerra Group, provided training psychological support to Mercy Corps’ Safety and Security Staff and 25 other international staff as part of a three-day Survival in Hostile Environment Training, onsite in Warrenton, VA.
"Contemplative-Based Resilience" Training Workshop, Urban Justice Center, NY, NY, March 2024. Co-designed and facilitated a virtual half-day Workshop for 25 staff members of the Domestic Violence Team of UJC, focusing on the Neurobiology of Threat and Safety and the prevention of Vicarious Trauma.
"Trauma-Informed Mindfulness," Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville, VA, April 2024. Designed and facilitated an in-person training for Mindfulness teachers focusing on the neurobiology of self-regulation and group-regulation; and handling traumatic reactions in a Mindfulness setting.
"We-A.R.E. (Aware, Resilient and Engaged) Workshop" and Team Resilience Support Consultant, University of Virginia (UVA) Office of Student Affairs Care and Support Services, August – December 2023. Provided group trauma-informed education, skill-building, facilitation and supportfor the University’s team of staff on the front lines of student crises,including a campus mass shooting, student suicides, and other critically stressful events.
Faculty, Garrison Institute Contemplative-Based Resilience (CBR) Program (March 2024-present). As a trained Garrison Institute CBR Faculty, design and provide trauma-informed, contemplative-based, and embodied trainings for human service organizations nationwide.
Fellow, Mind-Life Institute Summer Research Institute (SRI) on Trauma and Resilience, May 2023. Selected as one of 150 Fellow worldwide for Mind and Life’s SRI 2023, a gathering of experts in Trauma-related Social Science, Neurobiology, Clinical Research, Contemplative Science, and other related fields, to study trauma and resilience, and the use of multi-modalities to address trauma and promote resilience on individual and collective levels.
"We A.R.E. (Aware, Resilient and Engaged) Workshop," Central Virginia Community Justice (CVCJ), March 2023. Provided half-day CVCJ We-A.R.E. workshop for volunteer mediators.
"Trauma Informed Approaches to Interviews" for World Food Program, March 2021, Virtual Day-Long. As a Consultant with the KonTerra Group, Co-designed and facilitated a trauma-informed training for WFP Evaluators.
"Trauma Informed Approaches to Investigations" for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), July 2019, Dubai: As a Consultant with the KonTerra Group, Co-designed and co-facilitated 3-day Trauma Informed training for International Rescue Committee’s Investigative Team, fifteen staff from seven countries.
(Aware, Resilient, and Engaged)
We-A.R.E. Training Mission:
Designed for those working on the front lines of human services and suffering, and those who support them. We-A.R.E. Training Workshops synthesize research-based approaches with contemplative and embodied practices to offer the practical tools and resources that work teams need to sustain health, compassion and effectiveness while helping others heal and thrive.
We-A.R.E. Training Topics include:
- Awareness as Foundation for Resilience
- Trauma 101: Good Stress, Harmful Stress, Trauma and Vicarious Trauma
- Trauma and Resilience 2.0: Know Your Body's Threat and Safety System
- Resilience Factors: What You Already Know, What to Try
- Empathy Fatigue vs. Compassion Flow
- Sustainable Service = Staying Strong for the Long Run
- Lessons Learned in the Flow of Social Change
Training Approach:
We-A.R.E. Training Workshops are specifically tailored to each organization or work team, and take place in-person. Workshops can be offered in 2.5-hour Modules singly or in a series; or as a Half-day Retreat (4 hours); or a full day Retreat (8 hours). Scheduling and pricing depends on choice of workshop topics, depth of training, and preferences of the Organization.
My training workshops integrate trauma-informed, neuroscience-based, social-justice focused, and contemplative-informed approaches. My facilitation style is interactive and supportive, combining information and experiential techniques for optimal learning and skill-building. The training offers opportunities for enhancing both individual learning and whole group connection and support.
As part of my trauma-informed approach, I give special attention to the lived, embodied experience of participants. Talking and learning about stress, trauma, and resilience can itself be stressful. Throughout the Six Modules are practices and skill-building that regulate our stress and threat responses, calming the body and enhancing connection within the Team.
Follow-Up, Support and Other Services:
Team Resilience Sessions (TRS)
These TRS meetings are a follow-up to We-A.R.E Training Workshops and Retreats. TRS can be provided in-person or virtually, for a whole work team or a sub-group. TRS are one hour and can occur at whatever frequency makes sense (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly). TRS include teaching, review and practice of group and individual resilience and recovery techniques. TRS also holds time and space to address emergent trauma/critical stress issues affecting specific staff or team as a whole.
Leadership Consultation
For Team and Organizational leaders, I bring a trauma-informed lens to situational and personnel issues, and provide consultation and support for responding to critical stress and ongoing resilience-building for their Team.
Trauma-informed Support for Trainings and Conversations
Sometimes organizations and teams bring in Educational Programs that can be emotional and challenging, such as Hostile Work Environment Awareness Trainings (HEAT); or hold conversations to address conflict and issues between management and personnel or within teams. Such conversations often involve stress and reactivity. As a Consultant, I can be present in such situations, with a focus on reading peoples' level of stress and helping the participants stay regulated and within their window of tolerance, so the information and strategies can be effectively addressed. By witnessing and helping hold space in sensitive trainings and interactions, I can also help Leaders follow up effectively to continue to build a sense of collective trust and safety.
Recent Trauma-Informed Resilience Trainings (2019-2024)
"Neurobiology of Threat and Safety: Tapping into Resilience in Hostile Environments," Mercy Corps, May 2024. As a consultant with the KonTerra Group, provided training psychological support to Mercy Corps’ Safety and Security Staff and 25 other international staff as part of a three-day Survival in Hostile Environment Training, onsite in Warrenton, VA.
"Contemplative-Based Resilience" Training Workshop, Urban Justice Center, NY, NY, March 2024. Co-designed and facilitated a virtual half-day Workshop for 25 staff members of the Domestic Violence Team of UJC, focusing on the Neurobiology of Threat and Safety and the prevention of Vicarious Trauma.
"Trauma-Informed Mindfulness," Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville, VA, April 2024. Designed and facilitated an in-person training for Mindfulness teachers focusing on the neurobiology of self-regulation and group-regulation; and handling traumatic reactions in a Mindfulness setting.
"We-A.R.E. (Aware, Resilient and Engaged) Workshop" and Team Resilience Support Consultant, University of Virginia (UVA) Office of Student Affairs Care and Support Services, August – December 2023. Provided group trauma-informed education, skill-building, facilitation and supportfor the University’s team of staff on the front lines of student crises,including a campus mass shooting, student suicides, and other critically stressful events.
Faculty, Garrison Institute Contemplative-Based Resilience (CBR) Program (March 2024-present). As a trained Garrison Institute CBR Faculty, design and provide trauma-informed, contemplative-based, and embodied trainings for human service organizations nationwide.
Fellow, Mind-Life Institute Summer Research Institute (SRI) on Trauma and Resilience, May 2023. Selected as one of 150 Fellow worldwide for Mind and Life’s SRI 2023, a gathering of experts in Trauma-related Social Science, Neurobiology, Clinical Research, Contemplative Science, and other related fields, to study trauma and resilience, and the use of multi-modalities to address trauma and promote resilience on individual and collective levels.
"We A.R.E. (Aware, Resilient and Engaged) Workshop," Central Virginia Community Justice (CVCJ), March 2023. Provided half-day CVCJ We-A.R.E. workshop for volunteer mediators.
"Trauma Informed Approaches to Interviews" for World Food Program, March 2021, Virtual Day-Long. As a Consultant with the KonTerra Group, Co-designed and facilitated a trauma-informed training for WFP Evaluators.
"Trauma Informed Approaches to Investigations" for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), July 2019, Dubai: As a Consultant with the KonTerra Group, Co-designed and co-facilitated 3-day Trauma Informed training for International Rescue Committee’s Investigative Team, fifteen staff from seven countries.
