Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI)

Stress often builds quietly, at this time of year it ramps up. Lack of sleep, poor appetite, indecision, and exhaustion are just some of the telltale signs that you or your clients may be feeling the pressure of the season. This free downloadable resource, Stress: Assessing My Experience, is a simple way to pause and check in. When you understand your stress patterns, you can make better decisions, and respond instead of react. You can continue showing up for the people you support. Take a few minutes to look at how stress is showing up in your body, your mood, and your daily routines. It is a small step that can prevent bigger challenges later. P.S This worksheet is ideal to be used with the people who come to you for support. Use it to guide conversations and make the holiday season more manageable. #TraumaInformedCare #HelperWellbeing #StressAwareness #CounsellorLife #FrontlineWorkers

Have you noticed ADHD showing up differently across your clients? Many helping professionals see the classic presentation in boys but miss the quieter, internalized patterns common in girls and women. “Girls with ADHD tend to exhibit internalizing symptoms such as daydreaming, disorganization, and inattention, which are often overlooked, dismissed, or attributed to personality traits.” – Krystel Salandanan, Psy.D. Here are a few insights to support accurate assessment and care. 1️⃣ ADHD presents differently across genders. Girls often mask symptoms through perfectionism, social withdrawal, or quiet disengagement. 2️⃣ Internalizing symptoms are frequently overlooked. Daydreaming, inattention, and disorganization can be misread as personality traits. 3️⃣ Support looks different for everyone. Hormonal influences, coping strategies, stigma, and later diagnosis all shape the clinical picture. A trauma-informed, gender-aware lens helps clients receive the validation and support they deserve. 👉 Read the full blog for assessment guidance and practice-ready insights. #TraumaInformedCare #ADHDAwareness #Neurodiversity #MentalHealthProfessionals #CounsellingSkills

We’ve seen the headlines. We understand the weight that health care workers are carrying. Every shift brings new pressures: patients in crisis, families in distress, teams stretched thin. If you’ve ever wished for tools to stay grounded when tension rises, this workshop was created for you. De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations (DPVS) for Health Care Workers teaches trauma-informed strategies that help keep everyone safer, including you. You’ll learn how to recognize early signs of escalation, respond calmly, and make clear, ethical choices under pressure. 🗓️ First Public Delivery: March 5, 2025 (Live-Virtual) It’s a space to learn, reflect, and connect with others who understand what this work asks of you. 💬 Want details? Comment below or send us a quick message. #HealthcareWorkers #TraumaInformedCare #Deescalation #ProfessionalDevelopment #HealthcareSafety

How can movement and community help people feel safer and more connected? In Episode 43 of Counselling Insights, host Vicki Enns speaks with Hayley Landry, a social circus facilitator who uses creativity and physical expression to support mental health. Hayley explains: “Sometimes it is the shock value. Taking difficult emotions I was feeling and expressing them through movement.” They explore how "circusing" offers: • a sense of belonging • space to talk about feelings without pressure • movement that supports emotional release • gentle check-ins that help people feel seen • a creative outlet that builds confidence Episode 43 gives a grounded look at how creative approaches can support emotional health in clinics, classrooms, and community programs. Listen to the episode here: https://vist.ly/4egi8 #TraumaInformed #HelpingProfessionals #MentalHealthSupport #CounsellingInsights #CommunityCare #CreativeTherapies #SocialCircus

Are you a helping professional who’s ever felt like growth slows down after licensure? Becoming a licensed mental health professional is a significant milestone. It is also the beginning of a career that keeps evolving. The strongest providers share one practice. They keep learning. Ongoing learning strengthens your skills, brings new energy to your work, and builds deeper trust with clients. “One way to protect against burnout is to remain curious.” • Stay current with new research and your clients’ changing needs. • Build community and support by connecting with peers. • Choose learning that reflects your passions, not only your requirements. If you want guidance as you plan your next steps, Krystel Salandanan, Psy.D. offers grounded, practical insights to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. #TraumaInformed #ProfessionalDevelopment #MentalHealth #LifelongLearning #HelpingProfessionals

If your brain feels like it’s running on low battery, you’re not alone. With seven weeks left in the year, burnout is real, especially for those in helping roles. If you’ve been doubting yourself, pulling away from people, or wishing you could just hibernate until spring, your system might already be asking for rest. Here are three small ways to make these last few weeks more manageable: 1️⃣ Prioritize self-care. Even five minutes matters. Try The Wellness Wheel to reflect on which areas of your life might need more care, without judgment, just awareness. 2️⃣ Set boundaries. You don’t have to be “on” all the time. Protect your downtime. 3️⃣ Reflect on your wins. The goal isn’t balance. It’s awareness that helps guide small, meaningful changes. What’s one small thing helping you recharge right now? Your idea might help someone else. 💬 #SelfCareForHelpers #WorkplaceWellness #EndOfYearReflection #HelpingProfessionals #PreventBurnout

Today's free community event, Transformative Reconciliation – Turning Intention Into Action, begins soon, at 1:00 PM CT! 👉 Grab your free spot here: https://vist.ly/4e34a You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the importance of Reconciliation, and strategies you can start using to move towards meaningful change that lasts. Grab a notebook, your questions, and maybe even a snack. See you soon!

Happening This Wednesday: Join Our Free Transformative Reconciliation Community Event Reconciliation is not a single moment. It’s a continuous practice of learning, listening, and rebuilding relationships. Colonial history still influences our workplaces through systems, policies, and communication patterns. Real reconciliation begins when we: ✅ Learn and name those impacts. ✅ Centre Indigenous knowledge and experience in daily practice. Join helping professionals, leaders, and community members to explore how reconciliation can take shape in everyday work and community life. Heather Woodward and Mel Bazin are live this Wednesday, November 12, at 1 PM CT for Transformative Reconciliation: Turning Intention Into Action. Join us live to receive an exclusive resource for ongoing learning and a chance to ask our hosts questions. If you’ve ever thought, “How can I start making meaningful steps toward reconciliation?”, this event is for you. 👉 Reserve your free spot: https://vist.ly/4dqrk #Reconciliation #WorkplaceCulture #DecolonizingWorkplaces #IndigenousKnowledge #FreeCommunityEvent

ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership and Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute will be closed on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for Remembrance Day. We will reopen on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Ever had a counselling session take an unexpected turn? Sometimes, those detours are where the real healing begins. As Wilma Schroeder writes, “When we cling too tightly to our plan, we may fail to truly listen to what is happening for those we are supporting.” Letting go of the agenda can uncover what matters most for the person in front of you. Trusting the moment may reveal a path that the plan never could. How do you stay open when a session takes a different path? Learn more about embracing detours in your counselling practice and find Wilma’s full reflection on what it means to truly trust the moment. #TraumaInformedCare #CounsellingSkills #HelpingProfessionals #ReflectivePractice #ProfessionalDevelopment