schools + youth-serving organizations

Now more than ever, the social and emotional health of students and educators is a priority for youth-serving organizations. Using the lens of neurobiology, human needs, and natural systems, I provide holistic professional development trainings, youth programming, and organizational support that aims to humanize our systems and create more compassionate cultures, in the classroom and beyond.

  • I provide professional development trainings for educators, school leaders, and youth workers that centers nervous system resiliency and co-regulation as important foundations for trauma-informed organizational and classroom cultures. While I do offer one-time trainings, I prefer to work with organizations over a series of trainings in combination with other types of support.

  • Relationships and social belonging are the foundation of individual and collective resiliency. Without a sense of safety and connection, adults and youth alike cannot access their full creative and reflective potential. I facilitate trauma-informed community building experiences for adults and youth, and bring a relationship-centered approach to everything that I do. I also offer trainings to support others in facilitating relationship-building activities and programs.

  • I support leaders to build trauma-informed cultures in their schools, classrooms, and organizations. In the past, I have consulted on community building experiences, program design, and SEL curriculum development.

  • When educators and leaders take the time and have the support to build awareness of their own social and emotional needs and well-being, they are able to show up as a healthy presence with the people they serve. I work with individuals in a one-on-one capacity to support them in practices of regulation, relationship-building, and reflection in order to meet their personal and professional goals.

Services

Interested in working with me or learning more about what I offer? Let’s have a conversation to talk about your needs and see if we’re a good fit!

Professional Development Trainings

All of my trainings take an “inside-out” and experiential approach to trauma-informed practice and social-emotional learning, centering the resilience and well-being of educators and leaders as the foundation for healthy school and organizational communities.

I offer customized support to meet the specific needs and unique cultures of each organization and recommend that organizations commit to a minimum of three integrated trainings over the course of a school year.

Example training topics include:

Understanding Trauma, Stress, and the Nervous System

Self-Regulation as Trauma-Informed Practice 

Building Authentic Relationships with Youth

Compassionate Responses to Difficult Behaviors

Emotional Coaching: Supporting Youth in Struggle

Sustaining the Work: Navigating Burnout + Compassion Fatigue

  • “These training sessions have helped me and my staff work with youth using more trauma-informed practices that include a better understanding of how trauma impacts their brains. Jo helped us learn specific techniques to help youth learn to recognize and manage their trauma responses and methods that help them regulate their nervous systems when a trauma response has been activated. Jo does an excellent job creating a safe space to learn while passing along truly valuable information and methods that help us with our work, as well as when managing our own mental health as we do this work.”

    Katrin D., Director: YouthSource Program

    Participant, “Supporting Youth through a Trauma-Informed Lens” PD Training

  • “Jo is a gifted facilitator, having much experience in guiding the play, discussion, and heart-space of groups of humans. I have unbounded trust and confidence in her to work with folks in a responsive, caring, supportive, and real way even (and especially) when working with sensitive topics.

    At the level of human connection is where Jo truly shines. She makes students, peers, and families feel valued, seen, and heard. She creates relational healing and community strength through the simple act of being centered in herself while being with others.”

    Russ R., Principal: Creekside Community High School

  • "I came to this class struggling with my inner critic and worried about how that might be affecting my work with students, particularly those with traumas and ACEs. I have gained useful tools and greater insight into how to generate compassion for myself, how to lend compassion to other people I struggle with, and how to take care of myself. I'm grateful I took this class."

    Sarah R., Educator

    Participant, “Building Resilience through Mindful Compassion [for Educators]” Online Class

  • “This training respected our humanity and that of our students, and was an empathetic yet practical discussion about trauma and trauma responses in both ourselves and youth. It is super obvious that Jo deeply cares about others and about students!”

    Rhonda S., Educator

    Partipant, “Supporting Youth through a Trauma-Informed Lens” PD Training

  • “This training was an excellent mix of information sharing and somatic practices, which helped me embody the work while also deepening my understanding. I really appreciated the connection between brain science and practices that we can put to use in our daily lives—often these types of practices are presented in a really ‘woo woo’ way that makes them easy to dismiss.”

    Shea D., Sustainable Agriculture Teacher and Youth Farm Coordinator, SupaFresh Youth Farm

    Participant, “Supporting Youth through a Trauma-Informed Lens” PD Training

  • “I've been involved with various ‘mindfulness’ practices since I was a child. This was the first time the practice was linked to my teaching, which was powerful and eye-opening. I really enjoyed sharing the experience with other teachers. Your having classroom teaching experience made all the difference in the world. Not to sound too precious, but you ‘get it’ in ways someone not in the profession couldn't possibly understand.”

    Eileen M., Educator

    Participant, “Building Resilience through Mindful Compassion [for Educators]” Online Class

  • “Jo is an amazing facilitator with a wide breadth of knowledge and experience. Her Trauma Informed Experiential Group Facilitation workshop helped me to improve my facilitation skills and integrate a trauma-informed lens into experiential activities. I walked away with many new ideas, tools, and a refreshing new perspective. Integrating Jo's teachings into my work with youth and adults has been transformative!

    Lilah T., Non-Profit Program Coordinator

    Participant: “Trauma-Informed Experiential Group Facilitation” Training

past partners