Caring for Others By Caring For Yourself:
How Trauma Informed Leaders Can be the Healing Presence We All Need Right Now
SPEAKER: Emily Nascimento
The last two years have been incredibly hard on all of us, in different ways. We have all endured some collective wounding and many of us felt the wounds of our past open up again as we dealt with the uncertainty, lack of control, helplessness and the threat to our health and well-being.
Longitudinal research in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) tells us that childhood trauma is a major factor in our well-being as adults. In the United States, 61% of adults experienced at least one ACE and 16% had four or more types of ACEs. Females and several racial/ethnic minority groups were at greater risk for experiencing 4 or more ACEs.
What this tells us is that experiences of trauma are very common among adults, and the higher your ACE score – the more events you experienced as a child – the more likely you are to develop chronic health conditions like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease, as well as struggle with finances, thoughts of suicide, substance abuse disorders, clinical depression and anxiety and intimate partner violence.
(You can learn more about ACEs and determine your ACE score here: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean)
In any position that deals with people, especially leadership, we will inevitably find ourselves in some of these deep waters, when the symptoms of trauma affect us while at work. What do we do in the moment when we realize our people, or ourselves, are experiencing such symptoms? How do we acknowledge and support them, or ourselves, in a dignified way? The most important gift you can give your people is your regulated nervous system. In this session we will explore the basics of trauma, how to work with this energy ourselves so we can integrate this into our leadership and organizational practices.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the definitions of trauma, stress and trauma informed care.
- Learn about the window of tolerance and signs of nervous system dysregulation in yourself and others.
- Learn practices to self-regulate.
- Discuss the integration of this knowledge in your leadership practice.
A little about our Presenter, Emily Nascimento:
I am a wildly passionate leader, facilitator, coach and ceremonialist. I am motivated by my vision to see an awakened humanity that is engaged and actively participating with life's unfolding.
I believe we are all a necessary part of the solutions we seek in this world, and the greatest acts of service we can do in this life are to discover our purpose, find the pearl of wisdom buried in our traumas, come home to our bodies, and create with authentic self-expression. And I believe leaders play a crucial role in this new paradigm. In the western world, where we lack the wisdom of tribal elders, leaders are the way-showers and culture creators. They are the permission-givers and healers of this modern era, and they must be committed to doing this work for themselves if they are to guide others in service-oriented work.
Most of my experience is in the government sector as a facilitator, trainer and leadership coach. In 2021 I left government work to start my own business and create my joy through small group facilitation and one-to-one coaching. I also facilitate women's embodiment circles on the New and Full moons, and work part-time as a barista in my new home city of Sacramento, California. I live and love with my partner Christopher and our chubby red-point siamese cat, Bentley.
