Trauma-Informed Practice vs. Performative 'Wokeness': Regulating the System, Not Just the Language
In the current landscape of organisational development, there is a palpable urgency to create safe, inclusive environments. However, in our rush to ‘do the right thing,’ many organisations - and specifically presenters and facilitators - confuse genuine trauma-informed practice with what is colloquially termed ‘wokeness.’
While the intention behind both may be to prevent harm, the impact on the human nervous system is vastly different. One fosters resilience and agency; the other can inadvertently heighten anxiety and entrench a sense of victimhood.
To create truly neuro-inclusive and psychologically safe spaces, we must distinguish between performative safety (wokeness) and biological safety (trauma-informed practice).
The Paradox of ‘Wokeness’ in Facilitation
‘Wokeness,’ in the context of workshops and presentations, often manifests as hyper-vigilance. It is characterised by the overuse of explicit trigger warnings and a heavy-handed emphasis on the ‘safety valve’ of leaving the room.
While this sounds supportive on paper, it often backfires in practice. When we slap a trigger warning on every piece of content, we are priming the brain to scan for danger. We are telling the nervous system, ‘Get ready, something bad is coming.’ This heightens the collective nervous system of the room before the content has even been delivered, strengthening the neural pathways associated with chronic and complex trauma. It adds to the ‘normality feeling’ of trauma - making the trauma central to the identity of the space, rather than a human experience we are navigating together.
Similarly, explicitly and repeatedly announcing, ‘You can leave if you get upset,’ creates a social paradox. It spotlights the act of leaving. An attendee who feels overwhelmed may now fear that standing up is an admission of fragility. They worry that leaving signals to the room, ‘I am upset,’ which triggers social anxiety and shame. Consequently, they stay, dysregulated and unable to learn, because the ‘woke’ protocol made the exit too conspicuous.
This approach risks cultivating a victim mentality, where the environment is constantly signalling that the attendees are fragile and the content is dangerous.
True Trauma-Informed Practice: Agency and Co-Regulation
Trauma-informed practice, by contrast, is subtle, systemic, and rooted in biology. It is not about protecting people from content; it is about enabling them to process it.
Instead of warnings that prime fear, we use framing. We consider our audience and the diversity of lived experience in the room. We acknowledge that what is safe for one nervous system may be activating for another, but we do not make this the focal point of the session.
1. Casual Permissions Over Explicit Rules
Rather than making a spectacle of safety, we weave permissions into the housekeeping. We set up casual statements: ‘Feel free to move, stand, or step out for whatever reason - to grab a water, stretch, or just reset. Do what you need to do to get the most out of this experience.’
By normalising movement for any reason, we remove the stigma of leaving for emotional reasons. We hand the agency back to the participant.
2. Prompting Conscious Bias
We prompt conscious bias casually. When introducing examples or case studies, we might suggest what to look for, guiding the pre-frontal cortex rather than startling the amygdala. We invite thoughts, comments, and questions, allowing people to integrate their own life experiences if they choose, without forcing disclosure.
3. Support Without the Label
We set up techniques for follow-up if something comes up for an attendee, but we avoid the loaded word 'trigger.' We might say, 'if this topic brings up any thoughts or if you want to unpack a specific aspect later, I'll be around during the break.' This normalises the need for processing without pathologising the reaction.
The Biology of the Presenter
Finally, being trauma-informed means recognising that you are the primary instrument of regulation in the room.
As the presenter, your pheromones and your physiological state are being read by every other nervous system in the room. If you are anxious about ‘triggering’ someone, your audience will smell that fear - literally and figuratively.
To co-regulate effectively:
Check your positioning: Never stand between the attendees and the exit. A blocked escape route is a primal sign of danger.
Mind your voice: When navigating complex or heavy topics, drop your pitch and slow your pace. 'Low and slow' signals safety to the primitive brain.
Explicitly acknowledge diversity: Briefly mention that everyone in the group is different and is carrying different experiences. This validates internal reactions without needing to dissect them publicly.
Trauma-informed practice isn't about walking on eggshells; it's about building a floor strong enough to hold everyone. It moves us from a culture of fragility to one of regulated resilience.
For more information on how to use trauma informed practice in your organisation, contact Brooke on [email protected]
