Trauma Informed Care for Social Workers: Shifting the Lens

Synopsis: This training equips licensed professionals with the foundational knowledge and practical strategies required to shift from a symptom-focused lens to a healing-centered approach. We will start by defining trauma broadly, including the critical impacts of historical and complex trauma, and exploring the neurobiological science behind the "fight, flight, or freeze" response. The core of the workshop focuses on applying the five essential pillars of TIC: Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment. Through structured activities and case examples, you will learn to audit your own practice and agency environment to identify and eliminate procedures that inadvertently re-traumatize clients, from intake forms to physical office setups. Lastly, this workshop will introduce the TheraMe APP, a new and innovative APP that aims to shift how we understand and talk about emotional and mental well-being from a medical model of diagnosis and labeling to a human-centered language of wholeness and growth.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to:
1. Define trauma using a broad, inclusive lens (including complex, intergenerational, and historical trauma) and explain its core impact on brain function and the nervous system.
2. Identify and articulate the five core principles/pillars of trauma-informed care (Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment) as mandated by ethical practice.
3. Analyze current agency or practice procedures (e.g., intake forms, waiting areas, termination processes) to recognize and eliminate sources of potential re-traumatization.
4. Develop at least two proactive strategies to manage and mitigate the risks of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and professional burnout.
5. Understand how TheraMe helps therapists stay connected with clients between sessions and gain valuable insights into their emotional world.
CE: 3 Category I 
Cost: $50 for members; $75 for non-members; $30 for retired members; $20 for student members

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Behind the Behavior: Trauma’s Role in Adolescent Development

Date: Wednesday March 4th 2026 

Time: 12:00-1:00 pm

Presenter: Lindsey Gray, LCSW-C, LICSW, C-SSWS

Description: Every day we see behaviors that feel disruptive, defiant, or disengaged. This session will unpack what is often underneath those behaviors, trauma, stress, and survival responses, and how we can respond in ways that de-escalate instead of escalate.

Learning Objectives:

• • Identify how trauma impacts adolescent brain development
  • Recognize common trauma-driven behaviors in school settings
  • Apply trauma-informed response strategies during student interactions
  • Shift from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

CEUs: 1 CAT 1 

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Mission Statement:  This committee is composed of one representative from each of the practice committees and other interested individuals. The purpose of the committee is to make decisions in advance of each Maryland General Assembly session regarding the legislative priorities of the chapter. If necessary, the committee will draft legislation and promote it.  Otherwise, the committee works with the Chapter’s Lobbyists to support or oppose legislation which is pertinent to social workers and/or our clients. 

Interested in joining the committee? Sign up today!