What is a Trauma-Focused School?

In today's demanding environment, stress levels are soaring, impacting educators and students. Many of you have expressed feelings of fatigue and heightened exhaustion. Particularly challenging are the cases where students have undergone traumatic stress, presenting an additional layer of complexity in the classroom. Now, more than ever, educators require effective tools to support their students.

Traditional interventions like rewards and incentives often fall short for children and youth who have experienced trauma. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by delayed neurological and developmental systems in these individuals, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Chuck Geddes has pioneered trauma-focused interventions. These approaches provide much-needed support and facilitate healing and engagement in the learning process.

With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Geddes and his team at Complex Trauma Resources (CTR) have successfully worked with hundreds of children, specializing in complex trauma for the past 12 years. Their expertise has led to the development of an online course called "Calm Classrooms." This course equips educators with the tools necessary to support even the most challenging students, fostering a framework that enhances the learning experience for every student in the classroom.

CTR's Director of School Programs, Angela Murphy, highlights the widespread adoption of the CTR model in schools across the province and country. She emphasizes the positive impact on students' social, emotional, and academic growth, witnessing life-changing outcomes from kindergarten to grade 12 since implementing CTR’s Trauma-Focused Schools approach.

To learn more about the online course, Calm Classroom, visit learninghub.complextrauma.ca/p/calm-classrooms.