| Promoting Prevention. Committed to Wellness.
|
|
2025 | Fall Issue
Welcome to Trauma Informed Oregon Talk, our e-newsletter! Learn the latest news from Trauma Informed Oregon (TIO), read essays from the TIO community, discover trauma informed activities across the state, and start using trauma informed tools and resources we have learned about or added to our website.
Note from Mandy, Director of TIO
How are you? How do you know?
At one of TIO’s Micro-Lesson trainings a few weeks back, I shared thoughts and ideas about co-regulation. We talked about how co-regulation is powerful and necessary, but not always so easy right now. We explored self-regulation through co-regulation, with interoception* as the connecting pathway. We identified how trauma, adversity, and toxic stress impact our interoception and make co-regulation harder—for example, when we are told not to trust what we feel, when we check out of feelings to protect ourselves, when feelings are mislabeled, and more. We need to know what regulation feels like before we can regulate or co-regulate. And this may be challenging if we are in constant states of survival and fear, or if our feelings have been invalidated and misunderstood.
How do you know you are dysregulated?
How do you know you are regulated?
Give yourself and others grace, because you may not know. We start with awareness—giving time and permission to check in and make up words to describe feelings - like fizzy, spiky, wide eyed, grumbly, snoozy, and more. Dysregulation often makes sense, has a purpose, and invites us to check in with each other and ourselves. And remember—while we sometimes need to down-regulate, we also often need to up-regulate.
Co-regulation is a powerful process that occurs when sharing space with another human, an animal or nature. When it happens, you feel your rhythms sync—breathing together in a way that feels connected, calming and restorative. Each time I meet up with a dear friend of mine, it takes us about 3 deep breaths while hugging before co-regulation sets in.
I share this rambling about regulation, interoception, and co-regulation because it has felt really important to pay attention right now in our families, communities, and organizations. I asked the Micro-Lesson participants a few weeks back to identify their co-regulation superpowers: Do you bring laughter, breath, quieting, reading the room, stretching, dancing, music? Consider taking an assessment of superpowers in your teams.
I appreciate all the ways you show up and co-regulate with families, youth, community, each other and us.
*A shout out to the occupational therapist world for teaching me about interoception (and so much more related to healing and trauma).
|
|
 |
TIO News
|
|
A Focus on Training and Education in Trauma Informed Care
by Mandy Davis, LCSW, PhD, Director of Trauma Informed Oregon
What makes training truly trauma-informed? This blog shares practical ways to “model the model”—tailoring learning to who’s in the room and creating supportive spaces with clear agendas, time to reflect, sensory supports, and feedback loops—through the lens of TIO's Train-the-Trainer cohorts.
Read Mandy's blog »
|
|
 |
Thoughts on the Theme: Training and Education
|
|
The Practice Is the Work: Reflecting on Trauma-Informed Training and Embodiment
by Ingrid Anderson, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Practice, Trauma Informed Oregon
This blog explores simple, trauma-informed practices, such as pausing to notice the group, building in breaks, using soft lighting, and adjusting in the moment, that foster safety, regulation, choice, and connection so that real learning can take root.
Read Ingrid's blog »
Leading Breathwork in TIC Trainings
by Alexandra Cordle, Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Continuing Education Provider, Yoga Alliance
Regulation and embodiment in any training space can be supported with nonjudgmental and empowering cues and simple practices like breath awareness and box breathing. This blog shares guidance and scripts for leading trauma-informed trainings with regulation and embodiment.
Read Alexandra's blog »
It Doesn’t Have to Be a Formal Training to Make an Impact!
by Ashley Davenport (Beatty), Safety and Prevention Specialist, High Desert Education Service District
This blog shares how everyday conversations can become meaningful change by investing in people, honoring their experiences, and supporting workforce wellness in community settings such as law enforcement and schools.
Read Ashley's blog »
SOC Pride Youth Leaders Train in Trauma Informed Care with TIO in Portland, Oregon
by Laura Erceg, Southern Oregon Coast Pride
This blog recounts the journey of youth leaders from Coos County who came to Portland for a week-long experience that included attending a Foundations of Trauma Informed Care training by TIO, city exploration, attending the Portland Pride parade, and trying new foods.
Read Laura's blog »
|
|
 |
Tools and Resources
|
|
Introducing Transformational Resilience Coordinating Networks: A Public Health Approach to Disaster Preparedness
by Christian Thompson, Trauma Informed Oregon
In the context of the author's personal experience with Oregon's Almeda fire, this blog introduces TIO's Resilient Oregon Toolkit, a document that guides community resilience in natural disasters through social connection and community-led planning.
Read Christian's blog »
Ritual in Disaster Preparedness
by Christy da Rosa, PhD, LICSW, Research Assistant, Trauma Informed Oregon
For many people, thinking about natural disasters or preparing for emergencies can provoke anxiety and avoidance. Creating ritual out of disaster preparedness with annual conversations, go-bag updates, and "pocket plan" updates can help ameliorate panic from stressful situations.
Read Christy's blog »
|
|
 |
TIO Updates
|
|
TIO Staff Updates
The TIO Family is Growing!
Our team added two wonderful babies to their families over the summer!
Congratulations, Christy!
TIO celebrates Dr. Christy da Rosa earning her PhD in Social Work from PSU in June 2025.
Read Dr. da Rosa's dissertation abstract
TIO Highlights from 2025
-
Some Places We Have Been in Person: Bend, Ontario, Newport, Hillsboro, Grants Pass, Eugene, Salem, Redmond, Genenden Beach, The Dalles, Portland, Spokane WA, Austin TX, San Diego CA, Mariselle France
- Sectors/Audiences: Early childhood learning, legal advocates, juvenile departments, district attorney offices, community corrections, city police departments, administrators, policy makers, medical staff, and more
-
A Few Stats... In the last 6 months, TIO has conducted:
- 1 Anti-Racist Practitioners Guide training
- 1 Art at Your Desk training
- 2 Divining Liberation trainings
- 8 Foundations of Trauma Informed Care (including 1 in Japan and 1 with young people) trainings
- 6 Training of Trainers (including 1 with young people) trainings
- 6 Somatic Moment trainings
- 2 Trauma Informed Supervision Series trainings
- 2 Workforce Wellness Wednesdays trainings
- 3 TIC Microlessons trainings
-
A Few Products and Projects:
Department of Early Learning and Care Translation project worked to translate the Foundation modules into 5 languages, including:
- Spanish
- Russian
- Chinese
- Vietnamese
- Somali
-
Fun Moments:
- We have a new baby space!
- We moved offices just to the other side of the building...
- ...and our kids helped with our office move (check out the box label)!
|
|
 |
Events
|
|
Register for TIO's Upcoming Trainings and Events
- Somatic Moment – Seasonal Aliveness Development, with Babatunde “Zubbi” Azubuike
October 13, 2025 (Monday) @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm PT
January 12, 2026 (Monday) @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm PT
March 9, 2026 (Monday) @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm PT
- Micro-Lesson – Training and Education: How to Prepare for a TI Training, with Ingrid Anderson, Ed.D.
October 15, 2025 (Wednesday) @ 1:00pm – 3:30pm PT
- Training of Trainers (Pay-by-Seat), with TIO Staff
October 20-23, 2025 (Monday – Thursday)
- TIO Open House, with TIO Staff
October 29, 2025 (Wednesday) @ 1:00pm – 3:30pm PT
- Workforce Wellness – TI Communication: The Four Functions of the Brain, with Ingrid Anderson, Ed.D.
November 5, 2025 (Wednesday) @ 1:00pm – 3:30pm PT
- Somatic Moment – Exploration of Movement, Breath and Integration, with Marisol Rascon
November 10, 2026 (Monday) @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm PT
February 9, 2026 (Monday) @ 4:00pm – 5:00pm PT
Registration Coming Soon for More Upcoming Events
Registration for this upcoming offering and others will open soon! We'll have many more events coming up in 2026. Check back on our Training and Events Calendar, or sign up for TIO's "Save the Date" events email list.
- Foundations of TIC, with TIO Staff
January 13, 15, 20, 22, 2026 (Tuesday and Thursday)
- Micro-Lesson: Policy, Procedure, and Practice, with Christy da Rosa, PhD, LICSW
January 21, 2026 (Wednesday)
- Workforce Wellness: Facilitator/Supervision Skill Sets, with Steffannie Roché, MS, LPC
February 4, 2026 (Wednesday)
- TIO Open House, with TIO Staff
February 25, 2026 (Wednesday) @ 1:00pm - 3:30pm PT
|
|
 |
Is This Trauma Informed?
|
|
Is it Trauma Informed to ask staff to leave cameras on during virtual meetings?
At TIO we ask we sometimes invite participants to turn on cameras for a quick wave and hello so we have a better sense of each other. Then keep the option always to have the camera on or off, to speak or mute and to write in the chat. We also encourage using emojis as a way to connect.
If you have a question or wonder if something is trauma informed please email your inquiry to TIOinfo@pdx.edu. |
|
 |
Reminders and Action Items
|
|
Provide Feedback to Help Improve TIO
TIO values feedback to improve our work! Please take a moment and share your thoughts on your experience with Trauma Informed Oregon and trauma informed care projects in your community. This voluntary, anonymous survey will take 3-5 minutes and will help us improve the quality and impact of our trainings and offerings. This survey is being conducted by Trauma Informed Oregon (TIO). Your response will be included in a report that can be used to improve our work. Research findings about best TIC training practices may also be published or shared publicly. We value your input and appreciate your time.
Take the survey »
Read Issue Brief on Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023
The “Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act of 2023” (CMWRA) will direct CDC to fund and support community initiatives that use a public health approach to build population mental wellness and resilience.
Read the brief »
You're Invited to Take TIO's Foundations of TIC Course
Are you interested in training in the Foundation of Trauma Informed Care? You are welcome to our free, online, asynchronous offering of the Foundations of Trauma Informed Care materials and downloadable workbook. Follow along independently or engage a larger group and use the workbook questions to facilitate dialogue. You may take the course without registering, or you may register to receive a certficate upon course completion.
Take the course without registration »
Register for the course to get a certificate upon completion »
Check Out TIO's TIC Implementation Tool
Would your workplace like to continue implementing Trauma Informed practices? TIO encourages organizations and agencies to use our TIC Implementation Tool.
View the tool »
Stay Connected!
We love feedback and staying connected, so be in touch if you have a request, need, or want to collaborate.
Contact TIO »
|
|
2025, Trauma Informed Oregon
Regional Research Institute for Human Services
Portland State University
1600 SW 4th Ave. Suite 900
Portland, OR 97201
|
  |
|
|
|
