Trauma informed Circus: Circus with the Nervous System in Mind, ~ 6 hrs
This asynchronous self-paced training series covers all things Trauma-Informed Circus in ~6 hours of content divided into 26 video segments.
See below for more info!
*Info on group pricing availabile
Cutting to the Chase:
Even outside of the circus world, most people just aren’t given adequate information about the role of the nervous system, how trauma impacts those who experience it, or the essentials that everyone should keep in mind to create trauma informed and accessible spaces.
That is what this training is about: equipping you with the knowledge that you need to ensure that your coaching and studio are not only operating from a trauma-informed foundation - but that you also know fundamental nervous system basics that will help you understand and support both yourself and all of your students better - regardless of trauma history. You’ll walk away with tools and frameworks that you can apply to every aspect of your coaching practice and circus space.
Why did you create this training?
As a therapist, circus coach, student, and someone with a trauma history myself, I’ve personally experienced significant knowledge gaps around these topics in the circus world. I’ve heard the same from many coaches and students alike. Ultimately, I created this training to fill this gap. By linking my expertise in trauma, the nervous system, and neurodivergence with my knowledge of the circus world - I hope to provide coaches with the important information they’re missing.
Who this training is for:
Anyone who currently coaches, is thinking about coaching circus, or wants a deeper understanding of trauma informed practices, nervous system essentials, and what it means to apply these frameworks in a circus environment. (The vast majority of content would also be transferable for other movement coaches, such as gymnastics coaches, yoga teachers, dance instructors etc.)
If you’ve ever wondered questions like these, you’ll love this training:
What can I do to make my classes/studio more welcoming and accessible for folks who have experienced trauma?
What does it actually mean to be a trauma-informed coach (besides just being a thoughtful human who tries to be warm and kind)?
How can I approach spotting and pain in the circus studio in a trauma-informed way?
How should I handle mental health needs, emotional expression, or big feelings that show up in the studio?
My student disclosed something tough to me about their own life - How do I best offer support, while also making sure I’m not taking on more than is actually within my scope of practice as a coach?
I want my student to feel less frustrated, they want to feel less frustrated - but they can’t seem to feel less frustrated. How can we both know and want something to change - but can’t seem to make it happen? What is actually in the way? And what can I do to help?
How can I best support a student who seems to freeze / a student who moves a bit chaotically sometimes / a student who seems distant but says they’re fine / a student who suddenly isn’t talking much etc…?
How can I respect consent and students requests about spotting, while also ensuring their safety?
What is Included?
Great question! This training series goes significantly deeper than a standard “trauma-informed checklist” of things you should and shouldn’t do. You’ll learn:
Nervous system basics that apply to everyone - not just those who have trauma histories
What feeling safe even means - especially for folks with trauma histories
How our brain determines if an environment is safe (Hint: It isn’t just solid rigging, mats, or a teacher who is confident)
What we can (and should) do to actively create spaces that are trauma-informed and oriented towards nervous system regulation
What it actually means to be a trauma-informed coach (Hint: It isn’t just knowing some trauma basics and being nice)
Loads of concrete tools you can use to evaluate the degree to which your coaching practice and studio are trauma-informed and using tools that support felt safety and student regulation
Concrete tips, tools, and essentials for being a trauma-informed coach
How to approach spotting and pain with trauma and the nervous system in mind
Avoiding the (accidental) toxic positivity that is common in studio spaces
How to handle tough emotional moments with students in a way that is supportive, but also recognizes what is (and isn’t) within your scope of practice as a coach
And so much more!
Logistics:
-26 Different videos (totalling almost 6 hours of content!) covering a wide range of both theoretical and concrete trauma-informed essentials (see below for details)
-Unlimited access to watching and re-watching all videos
In detail:
· Video 1: Introduction: An overall Orientation to the Material
o What you can expect
o Who I am
o Content Notices
o Etc.
· Video 2: What does being Trauma Informed actually mean?
o What Trauma Informed does and doesn’t mean
o Five Guiding Principles of Trauma Informed Care
o Etc.
· Video 3: What “Trauma Informed” means in a circus context
o Understanding how the clinical/therapeutic ideas of “trauma informed” relate to circus studios
o What trauma informed means in a circus context
o Essential elements of Trauma Informed Circus
o The Five Guiding Principles of Trauma Informed Care – Circus Version
o Etc.
· Video 4: Brain Science Basics: Neuroception and Our Drive To Survive
o Important Brain Science Basics for understanding trauma, safety, and felt safety
o Nervous System 101
o How Neuroception Shapes our Experience of the World
o How we can (and should) use this knowledge to guide how we approach others/our practices
· Video 5: Felt Safety And Our Drive to Survive
o An Introduction to Felt Safety and how this relates to circus
o Principles - how we determine and Assess Felt Safety
o How felt safety connects to trauma and trauma informed circus
o Etc.
· Video 6: The Differences Between When We Feel Safe V. When We Don’t
o How feeling safe impacts our functioning, thinking, and actions
o How feeling unsafe impacts our functioning, thinking, and actions
o How this connects to trauma informed circus and why it matters to keep this in mind
· Video 7: Summary: Why we Need Brain Science Awareness in Circus
o A synthetization of why this matters and why we can’t just have a checklist of “trauma-informed behaviors” and expect everything to go perfectly
o The importance of applying these understandings in our work
· Video 8: The Window of Tolerance:
o Window of Tolerance 101
o Understanding hypo/hyper arousal, optimal functioning, and nervous system tracking
o Connecting Window of Tolerance frameworks to circus and managing our own nervous system when teaching/coaching
· Video 9: Creating Spaces with Felt Safety in Mind: Physical Safety
o Creating Physical Safety in the Circus studio (as connected to nervous system, trauma etc.)
o Physical safety extending beyond the expected mats and rigging
o Unexpected areas of physical safety that need attention in order to be trauma-informed
· Video 10: Creating Spaces with Felt Safety in Mind: Internal Safety Cues & Managing Pain in the Circus Studio
o Internal Safety Cues – and how this connects to trauma, the nervous system, and beyond
o Managing Pain in the Circus Studio (What we should and shouldn’t do when it comes to pain in the circus studio – especially when it comes to trauma-informed practices and supporting felt safety)
· Video 11: Creating Spaces with Felt Safety in Mind: Relational Safety
o Important basics and keys in creating safe and supportive spaces that are trauma and nervous system informed
o Common pitfalls: What goes wrong, and why it doesn’t happen
o Tips, tricks, and tools for creating spaces that champion felt safety
o And more!
· Video 12: 12. Avoiding Accidental Toxic positivity: Supporting Felt Safety
o Accidental toxic positivity in the circus studio (Why it happens, how to avoid it)
o Creating trauma-informed spaces by using relational safety and tools for holding space
· Video 13: mins Spotting with the nervous system in mind
o Spotting essentials for trauma-informed circus
o Approaching spotting, talking about spotting, and addressing spotting challenges in a trauma-informed way
o Spotting and adjustments with the nervous system in mind
· Video 14: Content and Adaptations,
o Important notes on reviewing content and adaptations with trauma-informed mindfulness
o Inclusive and intentional structures, asks, and modifications
o Wording, body positioning, normalizing adjustments, dress code, and more
· Video 15: Supporting Felt Safety: Opportunities to Belong
o Supporting felt safety through belonging
o Creating opportunities for students to belong
o How belonging links to felt-safety and trauma-informed spaces
· Video 16: Supporting Felt Safety: Self-Determination
o Supporting felt safety through championing student self-determination
o The link between self-determination, trauma, and the nervous system
· Video 17: Supporting Felt Safety: Opportunities for Meaningful Success
o Supporting felt safety through meaningful opportunities for success
o Meaningful Success and the Nervous System
· Video 18: Hard Stuff Introductions:
o Introduction to talking about hard situations you may encounter in the studio
· Video 19 Trauma Basics Review:
o A Review of basics to keep in mind as we cover the next content
· Video 20:Trauma Informed responses basics
o Foundational basics when creating trauma-informed responses to challenges in the space
· VIDEO 21: Trauma Informed Credos
o Trauma informed credos for you to hold onto
o Ways to use these guidelines as you encounter challenges in your own practice/studio
· Video 22: Addressing Specific Challenges- Breath Holding & Students Who Become unable to Speak
o Identifying specific challenges in the studio (Breath holding, students going low-verbal)
o Troubleshooting/tools/resources for these situations
· Video 23: Addressing Specific Challenges – Students Freezing, Students moving fast/Chaotically
o Explaining why students may freeze or go super fast/move chaotically from a nervous system perspective
o Troubleshooting/tools/resources for these situations
· Video 24: Addressing Specific Challenges – Students Crying/Expressing Clear Emotions & And a Model of Steps
o Explanation for specific challenges in the studio (Students crying/expressing clear emotions)
o Troubleshooting/tools/resources for these situations
o Identifying specific action steps that can be applied to all types of challenges
· Video 25: Practicing within your Scope
o What it means to practice within your scope
o How to support students/ while also setting boundaries around what you can – and can’t – do for students (all without creating shame)
Video 26: Summary & Next Steps
o A summary of all the videos and key take-aways
o A review of next steps
Who Are You?
Briefly, I’m a circus artist, circus coach, and psychotherapist who specializes in trauma, neurodivergence, the nervous system, and interpersonal neurobiology. This training series pulls tenets from each domain to provide a comprehensive wrap-around learning experience. In the circus realm, I’ve taught both youth and adults. I’ve been the director of a youth circus program, have run circus programming for autistic youth, have led circus therapy sessions, and more. Outside the circus realm, I see therapy clients and regularly provide trainings to non-profits, corporations, and arts organizations on all things communication, nervous system, trauma, neurodivergence, and more.
FAQs
What is included? All of the 26 videos detailed above are included in the training. You’ll have unlimited access to watching and re-watching the videos as many times as you’d like!
How do I get access to the videos? After purchasing through the link at the top of the page, you’ll receive a confirmation email. This will contain a link for a download, which includes all the info you need to access the videos (link, your unique password etc.)
I’d like to purchase the training for all of my coaching staff - are there group rates? Yes! Contact me using the information request form below.
I’m struggling financially, but really want to do this training, are there options for me? Yes - I am going to do my best to offer as many payment options as possible. Contact me through the contact form below.
I’m Canadian - what currency is the price listed in? The price is listed in USD. If you’re Canadian, contact me through the form below, and I’ll give you info on how you can pay $100 CAD rather than the USD exchange rate.