Aware NL, Torbay, NL (2025)

11/06/2025

Safety isn’t something you can demand……it’s something you create.

You can’t force safety into existence.
It’s built slowly—layer by layer—through trust, compassion, and understanding.

In trauma-aware spaces, safety isn’t a checklist, it’s a practice.

It grows every time we listen without judgment, hold space without fixing, and choose empathy over assumption.

💬 How are you building safety—in yourself, your relationships, or your workplace?

11/03/2025

𝘐 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 ‘𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣’…….

For years, I believed my people-pleasing meant I was weak.

My perfectionism meant I was controlling.

My overthinking meant I was broken.

What I didn’t know then — is that they were trauma responses.

Parts of me that developed to stay safe when safety wasn’t guaranteed.

Healing taught me that what I once saw as flaws… were actually signs of resilience.

Now, when those old patterns show up, I don’t shame them — I listen to them.

Instead of shaming myself for feeling ‘too much’ or being ‘too empathetic, I remind myself that my heart is not the same as those who haven’t lived through my experiences.

I see people, their behaviours and reactions beyond their pain.

Feeling deeply allows me to see people through a lens of love instead of judgement.

Instead of thinking that’s a flaw, I reframe it to acknowledge it’s actually a superpower that gives me the ability to really ‘see’ people and hold a safe space to allow them to feel.

To understand reactions are often responses to not feeling safe.

Can you relate? What’s something you once saw as a “flaw” that you now recognize as a trauma response?

Share in the comments — your story might help someone else feel seen.

(𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 3 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴. 𝘋𝘔 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭.)

10/30/2025

𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘨𝘰
~ 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹.
 When you’ve lived through trauma, heartbreak, or being made to feel “less than,” recognizing your worth becomes an act of 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

You’ve earned it - not through validation, but through every moment you chose:

✨ Healing over breaking
✨ Love over hate
✨ Kindness over cruelty
✨ Acceptance over shame
✨ Solitude over comfort or dysfunction
✨ Empathy over judgement

Your worth is sacred. You don’t need to prove it. You already paid the price through every piece of your story that led you here.

If this speaks to your journey, remind yourself today:

💜 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 💜
  Share this post to remind someone else who’s still finding their worth — it’s never lost, only forgotten.

10/29/2025

We often talk about trauma as something that happened to us —

but the truth is, it continues to shape how we show up with others.

From people-pleasing and over-giving…
to walls built so high no one can reach us…
trauma changes the way we connect.

Healing begins when we understand that our reactions make sense.

They’re not “too much.” They’re protective.

Self-awareness and self-reflection are key to repairing relationships.

For trauma survivors, relationships haunted by abandonment issues, fear, concerns about trust, insecurities, and all the layers that come with the aftermath of traumatic events, can make it a difficult road at times.

However, all is not lost. Healthy relationships are possible.

Love is not enough. Patience, gentleness, understanding and empathy can go a long way.

Both partners have to be willing to invest in the healing process if they really want to repair the relationship.

Let go of anger, ego, or resentment, put in the hard work, offer forgiveness and compassion, communicate effectively (and feel safe to do so), hold spaces for each other, and listen to understand instead of responding or the need to ‘win’ the conflict.

Healing means gently unlearning survival strategies that once kept us safe — and allowing space for love, trust, and authenticity to grow again.

Learn more about in-depth information on this topic in our latest blog post.

www.awarenl.com

Or subscribe to our newsletter for trauma-informed education and insight.

10/28/2025

🎉 It’s our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!! 🎉

Reflections from the heart of a Trauma Awareness Educator & Trauma Recovery Coach……

One year ago today, I took a leap and created Aware NL: a space dedicated to helping people understand trauma, build safer environments, and nurture true resilience.

This journey has been humbling, healing, and deeply human.

I am so grateful to every organization, leader, staff member, and individual I have had the honour of working with.

You are creating a ripple effect for yourself, every environment you step into, and everyone around you.

Here are 10 lessons I’ve learned along the way that continue to shape the way I teach, lead, and live:

1. Trauma is everywhere - whether we talk about it or not.

2. “Professionalism” often masks pain.

3. Awareness ≠ Trauma-Informed.

4. Safety isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, psychological, and cultural.

5. Burnout isn’t a badge of honour, it’s a symptom.

6. Policies mean nothing without empathy.

7. Healing ripples outward.

8. There’s no growth without discomfort.

9. Awareness is Action.
10. The Journey Continues - awareness is only the beginning.

Healing happens through awareness — and awareness begins with you.

Save this post, share it with someone who needs it, and let’s keep the ripple of healing going.

10/21/2025

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱?

Unhealed trauma doesn’t just vanish — it shape-shifts.

It hides behind 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘺 that never feels enough.

It wears the mask of people-pleasing and 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘮.

It whispers through 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 when words feel unsafe.

But here’s the truth:

What’s unhealed isn’t broken — it’s 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 to feel 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 to be seen, felt, and finally released.

If this speaks to you, it’s time to stop carrying it alone.

💬 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙙𝙚 — my 8-week trauma recovery group program — helps you reconnect with safety, self-compassion, and sustainable healing.

✨ Registration is open now. Your healing starts here.

10/18/2025

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but read that again — slowly.

⚠️Your worth isn’t up for debate.

⚠️Your truth doesn’t need translation.

⚠️Your boundaries are valid, even when they’re misunderstood.

You don’t need their comprehension to stand in your value.

➡️ Save this as a reminder for the days you start doubting yourself.

10/17/2025

The Resilience Code: 8 Weeks of Healing, Growth & Connection

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐’𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 — 𝘢 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯. 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮, 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨.” — Previous Participant

Healing isn’t about “fixing” yourself. It’s about remembering who you are beneath the layers of survival.

Inside The Resilience Code, we walk this path together — at your pace, with compassion and community.

🔔Here’s how this 8-week virtual program supports trauma survivors:

✅ Builds awareness of how trauma affects the body, brain, and behaviour.

✅ Teaches nervous system regulation tools for safety and calm.

✅ Strengthens self-trust and emotional resilience.

✅ Creates connection with others who get it.

✅ Offers a roadmap to sustainable post traumatic growth and healing — not just coping.

More details to follow — doors open Monday, October 20th, and our next cohort begins October 27th.

🫶 Payment plans and scholarship opportunities available.

If something in you whispers “it’s time,” — listen. Healing begins with one brave yes.

Want to get on the waitlist?

10/13/2025

Today, as many gather in gratitude for Canadian Thanksgiving, I want to acknowledge those who are quietly struggling this Thanksgiving. ❤️

If this day feels heavy, please know that your feelings are valid. Gratitude isn’t about forcing positivity — it’s about noticing even the smallest glimmers of hope, safety, or comfort, no matter how fleeting they feel.

Take a moment to breathe, to rest, to honour where you are today. Healing counts as something to be thankful for, too.

🕯️ What’s one gentle thing you can thank yourself for today? Share it below — you never know who needs your reminder.

10/11/2025

💬 FOSTER FAMILIES NL SPEAKS OUT: OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER 💬

Right now, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has care or custody of 915 children and youth across our province. For each of these young people, the Government is the legal guardian — responsible for their well-being, safety, and stability until they return home or a permanency plan is in place.

Foster parents step up every day to provide the care, love, and stability these children deserve. But they cannot continue to do so without fair and adequate support.

➡️ Foster parents have not seen an increase in financial rates since 2012.
➡️ Over the past 13 years, the cost of food, fuel, clothing, housing, and utilities has soared — yet the rates meant to help foster parents meet those needs have remained stagnant.
➡️ Despite these realities, government recently rejected proposed increases to foster parent rates.

Of equal importance, delays in reimbursement payments have become a widespread concern. Foster parents frequently pay out-of-pocket for the children in their care - covering items and services that can total hundreds or even thousands of dollars - and then wait months to be reimbursed. These delays have caused real hardship, with some foster parents losing childcare and respite providers who simply can’t afford to wait for payment.

This is not good enough. Foster parents are providing an essential public service — caring for the very children who are the fiscal and moral responsibility of government.

On October 2, 2025, Foster Families NL wrote to the leaders of all three political parties requesting their positions on this urgent matter. To date, we have received a response only from Tony Wakeham, Leader of the Official Opposition. His letter is attached below.

We continue to await responses from the other party leaders and call on all of them to take a clear stand in support of foster families and the children they care for.

It’s time for action — not silence.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s foster families, and the 915 children in care, deserve nothing less.

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
John Hogan
Tony Wakeham
Jim Dinn
VOCM
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
NTV News

10/08/2025

October is 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 — and while not all abuse leaves visible bruises, emotional, verbal, and narcissistic abuse can cut just as deep.

When you start recognizing the manipulation, the gaslighting, the blame-shifting — you’re no longer under their control.

What hurts them most isn’t your pain; it’s your clarity. Because once you see someone’s patterns for what they are, you can’t “unsee” it.

ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇɴᴇꜱꜱ ɪꜱ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ.

If this post resonates with you, know that you’re not alone. There are safe people, places, and communities ready to support your healing. 💜

Save this post as a reminder of your growth — and share it to raise awareness this month.

Let’s keep talking about what emotional abuse really looks like.

Aware NL

11/06/2025

11/03/2025

10/30/2025

10/29/2025

10/28/2025

10/21/2025

10/18/2025

10/17/2025

10/13/2025

10/11/2025

10/08/2025

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