Trauma Informed Leadership
frequently asked questions
These FAQs attempt to address common questions about trauma-informed leadership, practice and yoga along with how to collaborate with me in bigger initiatives. Whether you're seeking to learn more about trauma-informed yoga, professional development, organisational change or you'll find relevant information below.
If you think something else should be included or if you have specific inquiries, reach out via the contact form below.
understanding trauma
what is trauma?
Trauma is the way our body and mind respond to overwhelming and distressing experiences that are hard to cope with. Instead of focusing on specific events, trauma-informed approaches explore how these experiences shape our thoughts, behaviours and relationships.
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While trauma can have lasting effects, the brain and body have a remarkable ability to change and heal. Many people find new ways to feel safe and well through practices like therapy, movement, and community support. This is known as post-traumatic growth, where people experience positive change after facing challenges.
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I think in any conversation about trauma and trauma-informed practice, it’s important to remember that:
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Our nervous system can find new ways to feel calm and regulated.
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Relationship patterns and attachments can shift and improve.
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The brain can form new pathways that help us feel safer and more connected.
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Sometimes it takes a combination of different things to find equilibrium or healing, and it can take time.
what is trauma-informed practice?
Trauma-informed practice means we have an understanding of trauma's widespread impact into the things we can do to help people with traumatic reactions engage in whatever it is we are doing in a safe(r) way. Trauma-informed thinking helps creates environments that promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment while reducing retraumatisation risks.
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Different sectors adapt trauma-informed principles to their specific contexts, including:
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yoga and other movement practices
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mental health and healthcare services
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social work and community support
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educational institutions
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government agencies
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nonprofit organisations
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corporate environments
Note: working with traumatised individuals doesn't automatically make a service trauma-informed. When seeking support services (psychology, EMDR, yoga, bodywork), you're encouraged to ask about their trauma-informed approach.
what is trauma-informed leadership?
Trauma-informed leadership combines trauma-informed principles with authentic and evidence-based leadership practices to create psychologically safe environments & successful teams that people want to be a part of. This approach:
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acknowledges how past experiences influence workplace dynamics
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creates conditions for psychological safety without requiring disclosure
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integrates systems thinking with person-centred practice
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balances organisational short-term and long-term goals with values and people priorities
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supports innovation through trust-based relationships
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implements reflective practice in decision-making
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For a more detailed explainer, check out this article on trauma-informed leadership.
is your approach clinical or therapeutic?
No, my workshops are not clinical or therapeutic.
They focus on building practical skills for leaders and teams to support psychological safety, empathy, and resilience in the workplace.
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I present from my experience and learning as a trauma-informed yoga facilitator, trauma and mental health studies, lived experience of complex trauma and my professional career within leadership, learning and organisational design.
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If you'd like to read more about my professional qualifications and experience you can find more here.
trauma-informed yoga + movement
what is trauma-informed yoga?
Trauma-informed yoga is a supportive approach to yoga that prioritises emotional safety, choice, and autonomy. It recognises the impact of trauma on the body and nervous system, offering participants empowering practices to reconnect with their bodies through invitational language, non-coercive movements, and self-paced exploration.
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It integrates functional language, person-centred practice and inclusive, accessible, non-spiritual/religious movement.
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'Trauma-informed yoga' is a bit of an umbrella term, which could be referring to a broad practice, or a more specific trauma-sensitive yoga, TCTSY yoga or another specific framework.
what is trauma-sensitive yoga?
Trauma-sensitive yoga is a therapeutic adaptation of yoga designed to support trauma survivors. It focuses on creating a safe, predictable space, using gentle, choice-based movements to promote interoception (body awareness) and self-regulation. This approach aims to empower participants while reducing the risk of retraumatisation.
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People sometimes use 'trauma-sensitive yoga' interchangeably with 'trauma-informed yoga' - you can always ask a teacher/provider they are following a specific framework.
what is TCTSY (trauma center trauma-sensitive yoga)?
TCTSY is an evidence-based, therapeutic yoga model for complex trauma and PTSD, developed by the Trauma Center in Boston. It focuses on interoception, choice, and mindful body awareness to support healing. TCTSY is used in clinical settings and recognised as an effective adjunct trauma treatment globally.
is trauma-informed or trauma sensitive or TCTSY yoga better?
None - they can all be used in different ways and with different groups.
They are all person-centred practices, which means they can be adapted to suit the needs of the community being supported within their frameworks.
I also believe that ‘general’ yoga classes should all be taught with a good degree of trauma-awareness and that all movement facilitators should explore what trauma-aware practice looks like in their context.
what are the benefits of trauma-informed yoga?
Trauma-informed yoga supports bodily integration and healing through:
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interoceptive awareness: strengthening the connection between mind and body, enhancing awareness of internal sensations. This improved interoception can help people recognise and respond to their body's signals, supporting emotional regulation and decision-making capacity.
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choice-making and agency: developing confidence in decision-making through moment-to-moment choices about movement and rest. This reinforces personal agency and autonomy - crucial experiences often diminished by trauma experiences.
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window of tolerance: movement practices help regulate the nervous system, expanding capacity to remain present with challenging experiences. This increased tolerance supports better stress management and emotional flexibility in daily life. (If you've not come across, it, Polyvagal Theory is a fabulous way to understand how this happens.)
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community connection: shared movement experiences in a trauma-informed environment foster healthy social engagement. Practising in community builds relational safety while respecting individual boundaries, supporting healthy communities and sustainable individual practices.
what are your virtual, face to face and corporate yoga options?
I offer:
- individual virtual trauma-informed yoga by appointment
- corporate wellness programs
- local studio/community yoga facilitation
- 8- to 10-week trauma-informed yoga series - virtually or face to face (no current intakes).
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The trauma-sensitive/TCTSY style classes I lead are gentle and explore similar shapes. If you're interested in more active, or vinyasa-style classes I'm happy to accommodate that too.
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If you're curious you can enquire by submitting this form or you can see more resources/examples over at Trauma Informed Leadership on instagram too.
free learning for nonprofits + volunteers
how do you fund the 'free' workshops and learning that you provide? what is the catch?
When I founded Trauma Informed Leadership I did so with a simple mission - to find a way to use my skills and experience to deliver purposeful, helpful trauma-informed yoga, practice and leadership learning where it has the best chance of making the world a better place.
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My paid work (eg yoga teacher training, corporate speaking, consulting work) fills half of my time, with the remaining time being spent:
- designing and sharing trauma-informed resources online, via written work, video & virtual workshops
- consulting with small nonprofits and volunteers to find ways to integrate trauma-informed practice in their organisations and communities in sustainable ways
- designing and delivering virtual and face to face live learning.
what is the Trauma-Informed Leadership Learning Hub?
Coming soon: a comprehensive online resource centre featuring:
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evidence-based articles and guides
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recorded webinars and training modules
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practical tools for implementation
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community forums and discussion spaces
does Trauma Informed Leadership offer free virtual or face to face workshops?
Yes - subject to availability face to face workshops and learning are available to be organised in Geelong/Melbourne Australia subject to availability.
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Virtual workshops and speaking is a little easier to facilitate, with virtual technology supporting online events.
does Renée deliver keynote sessions free of charge for nonprofit events?
Keynote sessions are a part of Trauma Informed Leadership's paid offerings. Paid services help fund our nonprofit and community learning mission.
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If you have a nonprofit event or would like to explore a reduced-fee for service please reach out to discuss.
how do I see if we're eligible or if you have availability to help our nonprofit?
More details on free offerings can be found here along with a form to enquire about availability or set up a virtual catch up.
workplace learning specifics
do you travel for in-person events?
Yes. I am based across Geelong/Melbourne, VIC Australia but do travel for events within Australia, New Zealand and internationally.
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Travel costs are itemised separately in quotes - please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
what audiences are your workshops designed for?
Having designed and delivered learning for students, yoga teachers, frontline disability support workers, volunteers, senior leadership teams, Boards of Directors and everything inbetween.
I'm comfortable adapting content to be suitable for your audience and would be delighted to speak about your audience's unqiue needs.
can we invite external participants to learning sessions?
Yes - subject to group maximums and venue capacity absolutely!
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I like to encourage organisations to consider if there are particular groups that might add another perspective to the conversation - for example this could be through inviting young leaders sit alongside executives in leadership conversations, or inviting diverse groups to HR and organisational design workshops.
how do you measure the success of your learning programs?
In designing any program my preference is collaborating with the organisation/partners in ensuring measurement is appropriate to their current people learning and transformational change measurement systems and objectives.
I also:
- engage with students pre-learning to ensure alignment of learning objectives
- gather participant feedback - post event and at 3 or 6 months
- engage in follow-up discussions + provide support for the internal team. This is where support in identifying and measuring observable changes in team dynamics, leadership practices and service quality over time.
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how do you ensure psychological safety and manage triggering topics in workshops?
Creating a psychologically safe environment is central to my trauma-informed facilitation approach. I prioritise offering participants choice in how they engage, ensuring no one is pressured to share personal experiences or participate beyond their comfort level.
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During workshops, I provide grounding tools and reflective exercises that can be used during the session or afterward to process their experience in a supported way. People are also encouraged to modulate their own experience, choosing to move, rest, or step away as needed.
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While it’s not possible to completely predict or prevent all emotional responses, my focus is on equipping learners with tools to navigate their reactions in a way that feels supportive and respectful to their unique needs.
do you offer 1:1 or small group support after workshops
Yes, I offer follow-up sessions, additional 1:1s, and resources to help individuals and teams implement what they’ve learned.
If booked as a part of a workshop/learning package, ongoing development sessions can be booked at a discounted rate.
do you offer 1:1 or small group support without a workshop being booked?
Yes, I work with people individually to accommodate a range of different needs and learning preferences.
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A person or group up to 4 may look to explore:
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trauma-informed practice thinking
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authentic and trauma-informed leadership & change
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thinking differently about your career and professional development.
bookings + payments
how much do you charge for workshops, keynotes & consulting?
Pricing varies depending on the length, format and amount of customisation requested. I offer packages for ongoing partnerships. Please get in touch for pricing specifics or a detailed quote.
do you offer discounts to nonprofits + educational institutions for paid services?
My free offerings are limited and I am happy to discuss discounts for medium nonprofit organisations and educational settings to enable access.
how can organisations book Trauma Informed Leadership services?
To book, you could:
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Submit an enquiry via the contact form
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Schedule a conversation - let’s make sure we’re a great fit
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Receive a customised proposal
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Confirm booking with a deposit