Building Trauma Sensitive Schools with Jen Alexander, Episode #131

The Child Psych Podcast

Content provided by Institute of Child Psychology. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Institute of Child Psychology or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

4M ago 1:02:07

MP3•Episode home

In this powerful episode, we’re joined by educator, author, and trauma expert Jen Alexander to explore what it truly means to build a trauma-sensitive school. Drawing from her influential book, Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools, Jen walks us through how educators can create emotionally safe, connected, and predictable environments where every student can thrive.

We unpack the core principles of trauma-informed education, including the importance of regulation, relationships, and resilience in the classroom. Jen shares practical tools for school staff—whether you're a teacher, administrator, or school counselor—to respond to trauma with compassion rather than control.

Together, we discuss:

(1) How trauma shows up in student behavior

(2) What "felt safety" means and why it matters

(3) How to shift school culture from punitive to restorative

(4) Strategies to support both students and staff in healing and connection

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes schools should be sanctuaries of support and belonging. For more on Jen's incredible work, click here. Her book "Building Trauma Sensitive Schools" can be found here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

148 episodes

#Institute of Child Psychology #Parenting #Podcasting Education #Mental Health