Trauma-responsive Communication: Bottom-Up Brain Strategies for Stressful Encounters

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), chronic stress, and secondary stress can affect how individuals regulate emotions, process information, and engage in conversations—particularly during challenging or high-stress interactions. Drawing on the Neurosequential Model developed by Dr. Bruce Perry, this training introduces bottom-up brain strategies that support regulation before attempting problem solving or difficult conversations. Participants will explore the Regulate–Relate–Reason sequence and learn why regulation and connection often need to come before reasoning or problem-solving. Through guided reflection and break-out discussions, participants will assess their own stress triggers and responses, consider how dysregulation can influence interactions with clients and colleagues, and identify practical strategies to manage stressful encounters.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• describe how stress can affect nervous system regulation and communication; 
• explain the Regulate–Relate–Reason sequence; and
• identify bottom-up brain strategies that providers can use in practice.