Building Resilience Through Trauma-Informed Practices

We envision a world where every child grows up resilient and healthy, regardless of personal circumstances. We raise awareness about child trauma and early adversity while promoting the resilience and recovery of children and adults. As a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Sonoma County and Northern California, Hanna Institute’s mission is to support parents and child-serving systems with resources that build resilience and hope.

Keep Me Informed

Hanna Institute awarded $650K Grant from SF-based Tipping Point Community

Hanna Institute, in partnership with the International Trauma Center (ITC), a Boston-based nonprofit and early proponent of trauma-informed care, will serve as both a think-tank on trauma-informed community support and leaders of a strategic collaborative of Sonoma Valley organizations who serve residents still struggling with the impact of the wildfires–from school sites and mental health providers to children’s homes and emergency shelters.

(pictured at right: Consultant Dr. Robert Macy of ITC, Hanna Institute Assistant Director Nick Dalton, and Hanna Institute Acting Director / HBC CEO Brian Farragher)

See the News Release

Brian Farragher, Nick Dalton & Robert Macy (photo credit: Sonoma Index Tribune)

Become Trauma-Informed

Teachers, therapists, social workers, healthcare providers, childcare providers, early intervention staff, first responders and others who work with people who have experienced trauma can be more effective by understanding and utilizing trauma-informed practices. (See Research.)

Training and Certification

Each of our courses is a transformational in-depth didactic and hands-on learning experience that explores developing and implementing trauma-informed school and community environments.

Trauma Informed Care 101
Trauma Informed Care 102
Intro to Psychological First Aid
Mind-Body Based Practices
Skills For Psychological Recovery

Courses are available individually; those who complete this 5-course Series earn a Certificate in Trauma-informed Care. Special pricing is available for groups and agencies.

Download course catalog >

Watch a Video Tour of our TIC Certificate Program

We also train facilitators to lead Rainbowdance©, a playful and restorative group movement & music practice which encourages self-esteem, self-regulation and social empathy. (Rainbowdance flyer)

Hanna Institute courses are approved for continuing education credit for a variety of professionals. See details here.

We design and deliver customized TIC training tailored for your staff, site and client population, based on your staff’s needs and current expertise. Programs range from single on-site workshops to facilitating an institutional transformation over months or years.

See Custom Programs Info

Community Events

Our series of community events highlights issues facing Sonoma County youth, families, and communities today, and provides a forum to discuss and collaborate on practical solutions. Meet other professionals—from health systems, schools, churches, courts, legal practices, community organizations and more—who are interested in:

Increasing their fluency with trauma and adversity
Learning about research and ‘state of the art’ trauma-informed approaches
Gaining skills for mitigating the secondary stress experience by professionals who work with traumatized youth
Improving life outcomes for youth who have faced early adversity

Upcoming Community Events include:

See All Events & Training

What are Trauma and Resilience?

What is Trauma?

What is TIC?

What is Resilience?

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives. Psychologists can help these individuals find constructive ways of managing their emotions.
– Adapted from the APA Help Center article, “Recovering emotionally from disaster.”

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and Trauma-Informed Practices are tools varied professionals use in their work helping survivors of trauma. By placing an emphasis on a holistic culture of health through collective physical, emotional, mental and spiritual safety, survivors can empower themselves to rebuild their life with a sense of control and purpose.

Resilience is a quality that allows us to adapt in the face of change, cope well with adverse conditions, and remain in present time with emotional equilibrium. Psychologists have identified some of the factors behind resilience, including optimism and the ability to regulate our emotions. Research has shown that many of these factors can be built through restorative practices.

Learn More

How can we help our communities build the resilience that will help everyone, and especially youth, survive and thrive through adversity?

Learn more about Sonoma's Self Healing Community initiatives

Partnership with International Trauma Center

ITC is dedicated to advancing nonviolent communication, social justice and trauma recovery. They do this by building the heart of trauma-informed care into social networks most impacted by trauma and exposure to violence. They are dedicated to excellence in the design and development of psychosocial and clinical trauma focused interventions.

Hanna Institute partners with organizations like International Trauma Center and other leaders in the field of trauma-informed care to provide a range of training, events and outreach.