The Traumatic Stress Institute offers a Risking Connection Basic three-day virtual trauma training three times per year, and the next opportunity is coming up on October 6-8, 2026. This training is designed to help professionals better understand trauma, recognize its impact, and strengthen the way they support clients and each other in their programs. While the training is the centerpiece of our Risking Connection Change Model, it can also stand on its own as a three-day learning experience, making it a practical option for a wide range of organizations that serve trauma survivors.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) created guidelines to encourage organizations to recognize the widespread impact of trauma, and respond by integrating that knowledge into everyday practice in order to make treatment more effective and actively avoid re-traumatization of clients. Trauma-informed work starts with gaining an awareness that trauma shapes how people experience safety, trust, relationships, services, and support. Risking Connection Basic bridges the gap between general awareness and a deeper, more actionable understanding.
For staff who work directly with individuals, families, and communities affected by trauma, knowledge alone is not enough. The three-day format gives participants time to reflect, ask questions, connect theory to real situations, and consider how trauma-informed principles can be used in day-to-day service delivery.
Throughout the training, the presenters help participants explore how trauma may influence behavior, engagement, communication, and trust with their clients and each other. The sessions also emphasize the importance of creating environments where clients and staff feel physically and emotionally safe, supported, and respected.
Wondering if it's worth your time? Here are some voices from the training, describing what it is actually like to take Risking Connection Basic:
“I now have a better understanding of why trauma-informed care is not just a concept,
but a daily practice.”“This training has helped me understand more about trauma and its relationship to
supporting the clients in my program.”“The presenters made the information practical and meaningful for the work we do every day.”
“The platform was easy to access, and the technology supported my ability to participate and engage with the training material. There were opportunities to interact,
ask questions, and follow along with the presentation.”
Ready to go further? The Risking Connection Change Model helps organizations embed trauma-informed care for the long haul through a 24-month whole-systems change process. Contact our team today to learn more.