Trauma Informed Leadership Program (TIL)
Leaders across all sectors are navigating extraordinary pressures in today's rapidly shifting landscape. Beyond the practical and logistical demands of
their roles, they play a defining part in shaping organizational culture. As society continues to face complex and evolving challenges, leaders are increasingly called upon to remain steady, resilient, and grounded amid uncertainty, heightened stress, and adversity.
Psychology Matters, in collaboration with Wayfound delivers a specialized program created specifically for organizational leaders. To lead effectively, individuals must be equipped with the skills to cultivate a healthy, supportive, and psychologically safe workplace culture. The Trauma‑Informed Leadership Program was designed with this purpose at its core.
Each session provides participants with practical, applicable skills they can use immediately. Between-session activities are intentionally structured to strengthen leaders' capacity to view their sphere of influence through a renewed lens and to take proactive, empowered steps in managing the elements within their control.
Early findings of a recent RCT, waitlist control study indicate that the TIL training program not only enhances leaders' trauma-informed competencies but also improves followers' perceptions of being supported and cared for, while reducing their experiences of sanctuary trauma. Data collection ongoing, with early findings not yet peer reviewed or published, so may be subject to change.
1️. Leaders who completed TIL are changing how they lead
- Stronger TIL skills. Leaders who took the training last fall show a large jump in day-to-day trauma-informed behaviours (think listening deeply, checking in, and tailoring support).
- More mindful leadership. These leaders also report being more attentive, less judgmental, kinder toward themselves and others.
- Closer connections. Their teams say their supervisors have become more caring, supportive, and in tune with their needs.
2️. Employees feel the difference
- Less "sanctuary trauma." Team members under trained leaders report feeling less let-down by the organization when they share difficult experiences.
- Higher job satisfaction. They also now feel more satisfied with their jobs than they did before their leader completed the training, and more satisfied than employees whose supervisors have not yet taken it.
3️. Head-to-head comparisons confirm the impact
When compared, the trained group to the group still waiting for their session, trained leaders were rated:
- Higher on TIL behaviours as well as caring, person-centered leadership (both by leader themselves and their teams).