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There are several ways to build rapport with youth, including the INCRA, deep listening, and skillful self-disclosure. It’s also imperative to work on those personal qualities that will contribute to our clients feeling interpersonally safe. These are less of what we “do” (interventions) and more of what we “are” (our presence, authenticity, compassion, etc.) 1) …

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A while back I posted 9 Guidelines for Teaching Trauma-Informed Mindfulness to Teens. As I mentioned in that post, formal meditation practice isn’t always appropriate, as it can sometimes trigger youth into trauma responses. That said, many young people can benefit from mindfulness meditation. These guidelines will help you safely and effectively teach meditation to …

10 Essential Guidelines to Teaching Meditation for Trauma-Impacted Youth Read More »

One of my most sobering moments as an English as a Foreign Language teacher came during a discussion about Martin Luther King’s ‘crusade for justice.’ Some of the students didn’t know what ‘crusade’ meant, so I asked for a volunteer who could define the word. A young man from Saudi Arabia raised his hand. “I …

Recommended Resources on ADDRESSING Diversity Read More »

3 Ways Movement Can Help Trauma-Impacted Youth I was lucky enough on a number of occasions to attend a yoga teacher’s daylong retreat for the youth in the maximum-security unit at the juvenile hall where I used to work. I sat with them all day and participated, offering mindfulness tips when asked from the instructor. …

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4 Tips for Culturally-Sensitive Teaching Guest post by Catharine Hannay In his book on Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness, David Treleaven tells the story of Nari, a young woman born and raised in the United States. Nari was on her first meditation retreat, looking forward to her first private appointment with the teacher. Unfortunately, he started the session …

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