The September Lunch & Learn session hosted by the Center for Family Strengthening of San Luis Obispo County increased our knowledge of the impact of trauma on the body and brain, helped practitioners learn to apply a trauma lens in their work, and provided guidance for implementing sustainable self-care practices.

Ron Huxley, LMFT, founder of FamilyHealer.TV and the TraumaToolbox.com, guided guests in developing HOPEful strategies for regulation and co-regulation, taught us how we can all emerge stronger from challenging experiences and increased knowledge of how to apply the principles of trauma-informed care.

What is Trauma?

“Trauma results from an event, series of events, or set or circumstances that are experienced… this event can have lasting adverse effects on the individual.”

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Cultivating Trauma-informed Champions

Trauma-informed champions practice conscious work and compassion towards individuals, their experiences, and the effects of trauma in the life of the individual. Huxley shared strategies to develop a trauma-informed practice, including the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), which explores transformation that occurs after trauma. These materials can be found at https://www.bridgestoresilience.com/resources.

Trauma-informed care also involves internal dedication to a practitioner’s own wellbeing and their workplace. This could manifest in the form of monitoring compassion fatigue and burnout in employees under management supervision, or empowering staff to develop a self-care plan, identify supports, and create an environment that respects choice, trust, and culture.

Session recordings and handout materials now available.