Webinar recap: communication grounded in your values - maintaining a Trauma-Informed Lens when communicating in high stress situations

This Clear Language Lab webinar took place on April 29, 2025 as part three of the three part Communicating During Stressful Times series. We developed this webinar series in response to client concerns about events at the start of 2025. Check out the recording and notes below.

Watch the full webinar!

This webinar looked at the value of applying trauma-informed principles to organization communications and practices. It also gave examples of how you can apply trauma-informed principles to your work. You can access the slides from this presentation here.

Trauma-informed programs, organizations and systems:

• support potential paths for recovery​

• recognize signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system​

• respond by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices​

• seek to actively resist re-traumatization

Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

From the CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR) and SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC)​

• Trust and transparency

• Safety

• Peer Support

• Collaboration

• Empowerment, voices, and choice

• Cultural, historical, and gender issues

You can learn more about Trust and Transparency from Part 2 of this webinar series.

What might safety look like in communication, processes, and environments?

People know what to expect before, during, and after an appointment: ​

• How long it will take​

• What you’ll talk about​

• Any next steps and timelines​

Forms only ask for required personal information and explain:​

• Why you’re asking for it​

• How this information will be used​

• What happens if I don’t respond ​

What might peer support look like in communication, processes, and environments?​

Staff have opportunities:​

• For professional development and learning ​

• To share their knowledge and gain understanding from others​

• Process feelings and commiserate

Staff explore ways for community members to connect with others dealing with similar experiences.​

What might collaboration look like in communication, processes, and environments?​

• Community members are involved in programming decisions and giving feedback in meaningful ways.

• Organizations make meaningful connections with community partners to be able to provide warm referrals.

What might empowerment, voice, and choice look like in communication, processes, and environments?

• Community members have meaningful choices for when and how to engage.

• Community members have time and space to share their thoughts and ask questions.

What might cultural, historical, and gender issues​ look like in communication, processes, and environments?​

Organizations stand by diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives and codify practices that lead to concrete outcomes in these areas, such as:​

• Explicitly prioritizing the safety of high-risk communities under the current administration​

• Systematically reflecting on your work identifying and ways to adjust and improve processes

You know your work best Do what you need to keep doing your work Make choices thoughtfully and explore possible unintended outcomes

Resources

• Communication grounded in your values: Maintaining a Trauma-Informed Lens when communicating in high stress situations webinar slides

• Lab Library resources on Trauma-Informed Communication Practices ​

• Community Centric Fundraising essay: Making DEI Unshakable​

• Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice Trauma-Informed Workplace Toolkit​

• Scottish Government Trauma-Informed Practice Toolkit

Interested in learning more about professional development at Clear Language Lab? Check out other past webinars, find upcoming events on our training page, or contact Sarah Glazer, Sr. Program Manager, at sarah@litworks.org to learn more about our offerings.

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