Contemplative-Based Resilience:Trauma-Informed ABCs. Monday, September 16, 2024

Contemplative practices have been shared across cultures and spiritual traditions for centuries. These practices encompass methods such as meditation, prayer, and mindfulness, which focus on deep reflection and awareness. Their purpose is to foster inner peace, self-awareness, and personal growth. Additionally, they help individuals cultivate resilience, manage stress, and develop emotional balance. Christa Tinari, Director of the Contemplative-Based Resilience (CBR) Project at the Garrison Institute, explains that these practices not only contribute to personal well-being but are also essential for professionals exposed to secondary or vicarious trauma, such as healthcare workers, educators, and humanitarian aid providers. Christa has been a Buddhist contemplative practitioner for nearly 30 years and has observed how contemplative and mindfulness teachers now integrate trauma awareness and resilience strategies into their teachings. This dialogue highlights the intersection between contemplative practices and the body-awareness skills taught through the Community Resiliency Model (CRM). In 2019, Christa encountered CRM while working with Emory University’s Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning) program, where CRM techniques were integrated into the curriculum for both children and adults. One key realization she gained was the importance of trauma-informed approaches when introducing mindfulness practices, especially to those who have experienced trauma. CRM skills help create a safe and supportive environment, enabling individuals to benefit more fully from contemplative practices. These practices and skills work in tandem to foster not only personal but also social and systemic resilience by addressing the mental and emotional well-being of those who help others, making them more capable of sustaining their work in high-stress environments.