Research Wednesday | October 1, 2025

Reconsidering Trauma

I have written in the past about my concern that when I heard that “everybody is traumatized,” a generalization that risks trivializing the genuine need for trauma care. On August 25, 2025, Columbia University Professor George Bonano reported in his Hidden Brain podcast that when schools overgeneralize about trauma, they risk protecting children from the reliance students need to survive in the outside world. He argues that not every conflict is traumatic and not every emotional insult requires therapy. Children, he argues, will only learn to be resilient when they encounter difficulties and deal with them. The broader issue is that emotional support resources are limited. The National Association of School Psychologists reports that fewer than 50% of schools have the number of social workers and psychologists necessary to support students.  Therefore, every over-diagnosis of trauma takes time from over-burdened staff members who need to attend to genuinely traumatized students and staff members.  

 Here’s the link:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?i=1000723489285

News from Creative Leadership Solutions

  • Fearless Schools Podcast – In the latest episode of the Fearless Schools podcast, we welcome back educational leader and author, Allyson Apsey. We discuss Allyson’s journey from a reluctant student to a passionate educator, the importance of building relationships in the classroom, and the concept of serendipity in education. The conversation also touches on collective efficacy, the challenges educators face, and practical strategies for fostering engagement and inclusion in schools.You can find all the episodes and follow the Fearless Schools Podcast wherever you listen. Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Podcasts

  • CLS Newsletter The October edition of the monthly newsletter was shared today. October offers us the opportunity to share powerful strategies to support attendance, classroom management, and family empowerment, and to introduce our new company logo. CLICK HERE

  • CLS Services CLICK HERE to learn more about what makes us different and how we can help your team.

  • Fearless Instruction Our latest book, Fearless Instruction, has been released! It features a dynamic collection of voices united by a common purpose: to carry forward and evolve the foundational work of the 90/90/90 schools. Grounded in research and rich with practical strategies, this book is for educators ready to lead with clarity, collaborate with purpose, and teach with courage. Fearless Instruction can be purchased from Amazon by CLICKING HERE.

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