As you may know, Lakeside is considered one of the leading trauma training organizations. We do everything to have a trauma-informed lens in our own practices. We also work diligently to help other professionals and organizations grow in their understanding and use of trauma-responsive practices.
One of the international experts in trauma-informed theory and practice is Dr. Sandra Bloom. She is the author of the Sanctuary series of books which have been read all over the world. She has been a researcher, thought leader, speaker, and writer of books and articles to support the notion of how we as a society can process the significant level of traumas that permeate our children, adults, and systems of care, and develop ways to heal these emotional wounds.
In the past few years, Dr. Bloom and I spoke about the possibility of developing a more advanced and holistic model that could be readily available to organizations to become certified in trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care. Her research has led to a more comprehensive conceptual model and skills that would change organizations to be more biocratic in their philosophy and their practices.
That is, we want organizations to recognize that their policies and practices must reflect the values that treat and honor staff like they are more than a cog in a wheel of a machine, and more like humans who need to get their needs met in emotionally and relationally healthy relationships. We believe leaders of organizations and their entire staff need to be educated in trauma-informed values and practice, and that this education should be shared and used throughout the organization.
Dr. Bloom established a new model for training organizations. It is entitled Creating P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E. The word PRESENCE represents an acronym for the values within this new conceptual model. The concepts are as follows:
- P – Partnership and Power
- R – Reverence and Restoration
- E – Emotional Wisdom and Empathy
- S – Safety and Social Responsibility
- E – Embodiment and Enactment
- N – Nature and Nurture
- C – Culture and Complexity
- E – Emergence and Evolution
We decided that Lakeside would manage the Creating P.R.E.S.E.N.C.E. model. I’m pleased to share we have already had approximately 30 organizations being trained in the model world-wide. The concepts, skills, and practices are already being utilized in healthcare, mental health, and children’s organizations.
We’re excited that her extensive research is reaching to thousands of professionals helping many thousands of children and adults who have been trauma-impacted. It’s been a great journey of a new and developing model of care that will have significant impact to organizations and those they serve.
For more information, you can go to www.creatingpresence.net to learn about Dr. Bloom’s latest model that will be changing organizational cultures all over the world. I feel very privileged to be involved in such an amazing mission.
