We think of abundance and joy when we think of Jodie Tingle-Willis, LCSW, owner of Supreme Peace Yoga and Wellness, and her journey says everything about the power of the Risking Connection® (RC) Change Model. She first encountered the Traumatic Stress Institute and RC as an employee at an RC client agency. Here is Jodie's story, in her own words:
"Nearly 20 years ago, I found myself overwhelmed in a leadership role at a human services agency that was exploring trauma-informed care. Like many helping professionals, I was doing my best to keep it together — holding in my distress for fear it would be seen as weakness. When I was invited to attend a Risking Connection® (RC) Basic Training at a sister agency, I had no idea how profoundly it would change the course of my work — and my life.
During [that] Risking Connection training I first heard the term vicarious trauma. I remember the wave of recognition that swept over me. What I was experiencing wasn’t a personal failing – it had a name. It was real. And, most importantly, it was meant to be acknowledged, shared, and healed in connection with others.
At the time, RC included a checklist of vicarious trauma (VT) symptoms. I remember feeling both mortified and unsurprised by how many boxes I checked. But something shifted in that moment. I set a quiet intention: this has to change. If I was going to keep doing this work, it needed to be sustainable.
Our whole team fell in love with the RC model. Just a few months later, we invited Steve Brown and Pat Wilcox to bring the training to our full agency. As I sat through the RC Basic a second time — this time with my co-workers — I completed the same VT checklist. To my surprise, the number of symptoms had already decreased; simply naming and normalizing the impact of trauma had created space for healing.
The transformation didn’t stop there. Our agency committed to implementing RC at every level — from the Board of Directors to direct care staff. We examined everything: policies, benefits, team dynamics, and the way we interacted with the people we served. It wasn’t easy. But it was absolutely worth it.
Like many Risking Connection agencies, we saw measurable outcomes: for instance, reduced use of restraints and decreased staff turnover. But the deepest impact was felt in the quality of human connection — with our clients, our colleagues, and ourselves. I became a more attuned therapist, a more compassionate supervisor, and — I hope — a better friend, partner, and person. My own wellness practices, like yoga and community work, took on a new urgency and became foundational to my ability to stay grounded and effective.
In 2011, I was honored to be invited by Steve and Pat to become an RC Faculty Trainer. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of facilitating trainings across the U.S. and Canada. It’s a joy to witness the transformation that happens during those three training days — and even more meaningful to hear about its long-term impact during RC Associate Trainers' biannual Recertifications.
As I look toward the future, I’m excited to see how Risking Connection continues to evolve in response to what our communities need. The heart of this model — honoring relationship, authenticity, and the healing power of connection — remains as vital now as it was when I first encountered it."
This year is Jodie's 15th year as a Risking Connection (RC) Faculty Trainer – and she was an RC Associate Trainer a few years before that! Today, the transformation is so complete that it’s hard for us to remember that earlier chapter in her career. Jodie brings both a powerful, healing presence and an unflappable calm into every training she leads.
Her journey demonstrates the power of the RC Change Model, and her impact continues to ripple outward – equipping others to lead, to teach, and to sustain this work in their own communities.
Review our posts from this past year on LinkedIn to see more reflections from our RC community members.