Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness
in the classroom

What is Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness

Trauma-sensitive, or trauma-informed, practice means that we have a basic understanding of trauma in the context of our work. A trauma-informed physician can ask a patient’s permission before touching them, for example. Or a trauma-informed school counselor might ask a student whether they want the door open or closed during a session and inquire about a comfortable sitting distance. With trauma-sensitive mindfulness, we apply this concept to mindfulness instruction. As teachers we commit to recognizing trauma, responding to it skillfully, and taking preemptive steps to ensure that people aren’t re-traumatizing themselves under our watch.