Resilience-based training isn't just another professional development buzzword—it's a necessity. This training equips you with the tools to manage the weight of your work without pushing your humanity aside. From Nicole Lewis-Keeber’s work on trauma-informed leadership to the supportive community within the BRAVE Trauma Therapist Collective, there’s a wealth of resources designed to help you tap into this inner resilience. Read the blog to learn more.

Every day, you witness the sparks of healing in others, yet sometimes the weight of it all can dim your light. Those quiet moments of triumph in a session, where a client’s courage shines through—it’s easy to overlook them when you're lost in the depths of the struggle.

Consider Positive Outcome Mapping, a tool to not only navigate these challenges but to see the beautiful intricacies of your work. This practice lets you pause and see the mosaic of resilience you piece together every day.

As trauma therapists, we often take care of everyone else and forget that we need support too. I’ve been there—burned out and isolated—but finding community has been a game-changer in my career. It’s not about solving every problem, but simply connecting and feeling seen. Learn more about how building community can support your well-being as a trauma therapist.

Ever find yourself inspired by a client's breakthrough, even when the weight of their stories feels overwhelming? For trauma therapists, this dual experience—where the emotional toll of engaging empathically with clients also pays back in unexpected resilience—is known as vicarious resilience.

What if some therapy frameworks we’ve been taught actually reinforce harm, especially for clients from marginalized communities? Many traditional models reflect colonial, Eurocentric values, often leaving clients feeling unseen and isolated. Let’s explore how these frameworks prioritize neutrality, distance, and individualism—creating barriers for marginalized clients—and why embracing humanity and cultural identity is essential for fostering real, transformative change in trauma therapy.

Ever feel like your cup is completely empty as a trauma therapist? You’re not alone. It’s not a sign you care too much—it’s a sign you might not have the support you need to process the emotional weight of this work.

This feeling is called compassion fatigue. It’s an early stage of the Trauma Therapist Trauma Response, falling between vicarious trauma and full burnout. Recognizing it is the first step toward staying grounded, supported, and effective in the work you do.

Ethical boundaries in therapy often feel like tightropes, don’t they? Early in my career, I was second-guessing every move like I was about to step over the edge of a cliff! But what if we shift our perspective? Our ethical codes aren’t prisons; they’re the scaffolding of confidence and freedom in our work.

Trying to fit into the mold of the "blank slate" therapist model can feel like you're on a tightrope, balancing your authenticity against a fear of overstepping. Remember those moments during your practicum, striving for that perfect neutrality and feeling more like an imposter with every step? Those experiences are more common than we'd like to admit.

Being a trauma therapist is a complicated business -  we love the work we do and know that it can be heavy. We know we're "supposed to" take care of things like vicarious trauma—after all, we're the experts. But knowing isn't the same as doing, which is often at the heart of this challenge.

As the new year begins, many of us, especially trauma therapists, are already thinking about how to juggle all the things. Instead of diving into a long list of resolutions (which often fizzle out by February), let me introduce you to a practice that has transformed the way I approach the year: finding your Word of the Year.

Trauma treatment is complicated. Just like there are lots of different therapeutic angles to come from there are also a zillion ways that prescribers attack Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with medications. But how do you know if your client’s regimen is a solid one? Could it be causing more harm than good?

Ever felt like that age-old advice to “leave work at work” is nothing more than a guilt trip, setting you up to feel like a failure the moment you think about a client outside your office? Read more for a shame-free way to support all your roles as a trauma therapist and human. 

As trauma therapists, we know that vicarious trauma is a normal part of the job; You can’t walk through water and expect not to get wet. But when you add the layer of racial trauma—whether personally experienced or witnessed—the weight on our shoulders can feel even heavier.

Vicarious trauma is a normal part of being a trauma therapist. But what happens when we get hit by the double whammy of vicarious trauma AND global crises? You don’t have to be sucked under my the overwhelm - check out this week’s blog for practical support!

Trauma therapists often face the dual impact of racial and vicarious trauma. When we don’t get to manage them, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Learn how to navigate these challenges and how the Racial Trauma and Vicarious Trauma Quarterly Spaceholder Meetings can help!