Trauma Informed Care For Justice Involved Individuals
June 18th | 9AM – 12PM
Pillars of Empowerment
2019 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 15835

Join us on June 18th from 9am-12 pm for a free, comprehensive training!
Breakfast & Lunch Provided.

This training is designed to equip professionals working with justice-involved individuals with practical, trauma-informed skills that make daily interactions safer, more effective, and less stressful. Drawing from 14 years of firsthand experience in the addictions field, the trainer connects real-world situations to evidence-based strategies for recognizing trauma-driven behaviors, de-escalating challenging moments without power struggles, and regulating one’s own emotional responses to prevent burnout and escalation. Participants gain not only tools, but context—learning what works in real settings with real people—so they can build engagement, reduce conflict, and support better outcomes for both clients and staff.

You will learn:

• Identify common trauma responses and assessing their severity 
  Justice-involved individuals have disproportionately high rates of complex and chronic trauma, which often shows up as behavior rather than verbal disclosure. Common trauma responses include hyper vigilance, emotional numbing, irritability, impulsivity, shutdown, dissociation, avoidance, and mistrust of authority figures. Staff should be trained to recognize when behaviors that appear “non-compliant,” “manipulative,” or “defiant” may actually be trauma-driven survival responses. Assessing severity involves noticing frequency, intensity, duration, and functional impact of these responses, as well as identifying triggers such as perceived threats, loss of control, shame, or authority challenges. Accurate identification allows staff to respond with appropriate supports rather than punitive reactions, reducing re-traumatization and improving engagement.
• Tools for client/participant deescalation
  De-escalation is a core trauma-informed skill that prioritizes safety, regulation, and dignity over control or compliance. Effective tools include maintaining a calm and grounded presence, using slow and clear communication, offering choices to restore a sense of control, and validating emotional experience without reinforcing harmful behavior. Staff should be trained to recognize early signs of escalation—such as changes in tone, body posture, pacing, or withdrawal—and intervene early using grounding strategies (e.g., slowing the interaction, orienting to the present moment, reducing environmental stimuli). De-escalation is most effective when staff avoid power struggles, limit excessive questioning during high arousal, and focus on helping the individual return to a regulated state before addressing problem-solving or accountability.
  
  
• Tools and mindsets for staff self-regulation, including empathy, triggers, and depersonalization
  Trauma-informed care requires staff to actively manage their own emotional responses, particularly when working with individuals who may be reactive, distrustful, or verbally aggressive. Self-regulation tools include awareness of personal triggers, intentional breathing and grounding techniques, and the ability to pause before responding. A trauma-informed mindset emphasizes depersonalization—understanding that a client’s behavior is shaped by past experiences and current stressors, not a personal attack on the staff member. Empathy does not mean agreement or lack of boundaries; rather, it involves holding curiosity about the person’s internal experience while maintaining clear and consistent limits. When staff remain regulated, empathetic, and non-reactive, they model emotional safety and reduce the likelihood of escalation, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress.
  

Presenter:

Gregory McFarland LPC, CAADC
Regional Director of Business Development
Naaman Network & Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge

To register for this free event:

At Naaman Network, we provide a full continuum of care across locations in Pennsylvania and Delaware.  With both evidence and faith based services we are able to treat the entire person; mind, body and soul.

To learn more about our programs visit: www.NaamanNet.org