Our Mission

We inspire caring professionals in behavioral health, criminal justice, and adjacent fields to foster healing, resilience, and transformation to help people thrive in the face of trauma and other suffering.

Our Vision

We envision a world where behavioral health and criminal justice professionals understand the psychological effects of trauma and other distress, view experiences of adversity and hardship as potential sources of strength and growth, and feel equipped to respond well to their own suffering and that of the people they work with and serve.

Who We Are

We are a small team with decades of experience in the addiction and criminal justice fields and expertise in workforce wellbeing, positive psychology, and posttraumatic growth. We balance creativity with attention to detail to craft inspiring and informative learning experiences, design programs that catalyze positive change, and advocate for policies that enable people to thrive after trauma or systems involvement. Our work is guided by social science, shaped by practical experience, and informed by lived experiences of trauma, addiction, and criminal justice involvement.

We are passionate about making a positive difference and focus much of our attention on one question: How do people grow and flourish in behavioral health, criminal justice, and other systems, despite, or even because of, painful experiences, traumatic histories, or work that exposes them to dangerous or heartbreaking circumstances?

In the world we aim to help build with our partners, there is more balance, between avoiding pain and trauma and cultivating renewal and personal growth, and between caring deeply for others and attending to one's own needs too. People are free to share painful stories authentically and make meaning from their experiences on their own terms, don't fear that their futures are limited by their pasts, and are equipped with scientific information and research-backed tools to support their personal and professional journeys.

10 Core Values

Research and Evidence

We promote proven interventions and approaches based in social science and test novel strategies that build on our expertise.

Sometimes we make our best guess based on what we know, and we're honest when that's the case.

Joy and Gratitude

While working in contexts and exploring experiences that can be difficult and even painful, we embrace a spirit of joy, warmth, and gratitude for the opportunity to work together in service of others, and we engage with each other and the world with authenticity and kindness.

But on some days, we are tired and don't get it right.

Safety and Trust

We foster interpersonal interactions that create a sense of psychological and emotional safety and a work environment that supports open communication without fear. We make decisions transparently and share our reasoning. When we make commitments to funders, partners, colleagues, and stakeholders, we keep them.

Like everyone, we mess up sometimes. When we do, we acknowledge it and make it right.

Compassion and Connection

We care about each other and the people we serve. We approach our work with compassion and empathy for trauma survivors and the suffering of others, including ourselves and our colleagues. We treat each interaction as an opportunity to build high-quality connections.

Sometimes we forget ourselves or get grumpy, but we try rein it in, apologize if appropriate, and try again next time.

Perspective and Humility

We listen to our colleagues, the people we serve, and others with an open mind and a desire to understand their perspectives. We give people the benefit of the doubt, assume they mean well until they say or prove otherwise, and consider the possibility we might be wrong.

But on some days, we feel stubborn and righteous, and we just need to take a breather.

Strengths and Agency

We work together, share ideas, and leverage our collective strengths, while empowering each other and the people we serve to grow, learn, and explore new areas of interest. We recognize and affirm thecontributions of others to our lives and learning and promote their self-determination and efficacy.

Hope and Optimism

We approach our work in a spirit of optimism and hope for a better future for all and a deep desire to support the healing and growth of people and communities from trauma and hardship.

Some days, life or work are frustrating or difficult, and it's harder to remember that things can get better even when they feel off track.

Renewal and Growth

Trauma and suffering are painful experiences that can also lead to profoundly positive individual and group changes, and people can find renewal and growth after even the most painful experiences and personal failings. We see all people as capable of renewal and growth, and we aim to act with mercy and forgiveness toward ourselves and others.

Sometimes, we forget to see the potential in others, and we use it as a growth opportunity.

Lived Experience

Lived experience leads many of the people to work that is meaningful and connected to their pasts. Personal history can motivate people, give them practical wisdom that can benefit others, and offer a model that inspires confidence in others on their journeys. Work that is motivated by lived experience also comes with risks like burnout and organizational practices that inadvertently harm or exploit people's commitment.

We know we won't always be perfect, but we aim to enable participation by professionals with lived experience while avoiding harmful practices.

Identity and Culture

Programs and services should be attuned to the historical, cultural, and community experiences of the people they serve while enabling the appropriate expression of the cultural, historical, and community experiences of workers. We honor the role of group differences while moving past stereotypes regarding race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion with humility, aiming to honor the full individuality of each person.

Sometimes we get it wrong, because people are really complex, and we try to acknowledge, apologize, and learn from the error.

Board of Directors

Chris Pratt

Board Chair

"I am inspired by the stories of those that have suffered trauma and have been able to channel it into positive impact. I am excited for the opportunity to work with a leadership team that is compassionate, driven to implement change, and has a proven record of accomplishment of producing high impact programs. I think we have an opportunity to improve lives of those that have suffered trauma in the local DMV area and nationally, and I am honored to work in support of this mission."

Simone Greene

Board Member

"I recognize the enormous impact trauma has on our society. Many people are dealing with traumas on their own. Additionally, many don't recognize the trauma of others and unintentionally re-traumatize them. I am excited to play a role in an organization that wants to create change and raise awareness for a subject that too often goes unrecognized."

Chris Lindsey

Board Member

"There's a massive opportunity to support and educate those who have experienced or been exposed to various forms of trauma in their lives. There's often a stigma associated with seeking help in our society which can prevent people from receiving the care they desperately need. I believe in the Trauma Informed mission and am honored to serve as a Board Member to help create change and raise awareness on a topic that's often forgotten in our community."

Executive Director

Mark O'Brien is the Executive Director of Trauma Informed. His passion for healing and growth comes from his experience with trauma, grief, and criminal justice involvement.

Mark is a graduate of the UPenn Positive Psychology Center, where he focused his research on posttraumatic growth and where he serves as an Assistant Instructor in the master of applied positive psychology program.