Renee Robson

Trauma results from intensely stressful experiences that overwhelm our capacity to respond effectively. Peter Levine defines trauma as what happens when too much happens too fast too soon: when overwhelming experiences cannot be processed and integrated, particularly in the absence of an empathic witness or support.

Mission-led work often creates a metabolic cost that impairs executive function. By applying stress-response literacy to organisational design, boards can move beyond martyrdom toward sustainable performance. Trauma-informed leadership is a strategic asset for creating a regulated, effective culture of care.

Trauma-informed practice is becoming more visible across yoga, psychology, education, healthcare and organisational leadership. The approach sits on a continuum and looks different depending on context and specialty. Its basis are principles that are designed to recognise how trauma affects people and systems, and to avoid replicating the conditions that cause harm. The most commonly reference ‘SAMHSA framework’ outlines six key principles: safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer...