The Heart of EngagedMinds: Why Trauma and Grief-Informed Care Matters
EngagedMinds was born out of a simple but powerful belief: education for mental health professionals should be more than a checkbox—it should empower us to create meaningful change.
- Erena DiGonis
I remember the moment so clearly: sitting in a packed conference room, notebook in hand, eager to absorb new insights that I could use in my work with clients. But as the hours passed, I felt a familiar frustration growing. The material wasn’t designed for someone like me—or the clients I served.
This wasn’t the first time. Again and again, I found myself in training that felt disconnected from the reality of working with trauma and grief, particularly in high-intensity settings like residential treatment facilities. I’d leave these sessions wondering, How is this supposed to help the people I see every day?
I wasn’t alone. Conversations with colleagues confirmed that many of us were hungry for something different: practical, evidence-based education that spoke to the heart of the work we do. That realization became the seed for EngagedMinds Continuing Education, a platform rooted in relevance, compassion, and connection.
A Mission Rooted in Experience
EngagedMinds was born out of a simple but powerful belief: education for mental health professionals should be more than a checkbox—it should empower us to create meaningful change.
Having spent years in the field, I’ve seen firsthand how unresolved trauma and unprocessed grief shape lives. Clients arrive in our offices carrying heavy burdens, often unsure how to begin unpacking them. The tools we, as professionals, bring to these moments matter deeply. Yet, without proper training, even the most well-intentioned efforts can fall short.
That’s why I made it my mission to ensure that the training I offer meets professionals where they are, providing practical strategies that they can immediately integrate into their work.
Why Trauma-Informed and Grief-Informed Care Matters
Trauma and grief touch every aspect of life, often in ways that go unrecognized. For many, these experiences aren’t isolated events—they’re interwoven into the fabric of daily life.
As mental health professionals, we know that trauma can manifest in countless ways: a client’s struggle to form trusting relationships, their sudden outbursts of anger, or even the numbness they carry like armor. Similarly, grief can be complex and nonlinear, often surfacing when least expected.
Being trauma- and grief-informed isn’t just about understanding these experiences—it’s about recognizing the subtle ways they show up and knowing how to respond with care and competence. It’s about creating spaces where clients feel seen, heard, and supported, even when they’re at their most vulnerable.
Lessons from the Field
My years working in foster care and residential treatment facilities taught me so much about resilience—both in clients and in the professionals who serve them. I saw how essential it is to be grounded in both compassion and evidence-based practices, especially in high-stress environments.
But I also saw the gaps. Too often, professionals are handed tools that don’t quite fit the job or attend trainings that leave them with more questions than answers. I knew there had to be a better way—a way to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Creating Training That Matters
One of the biggest challenges in traditional training is the lack of applicability. Professionals leave feeling uninspired or unprepared to bring the concepts into their day-to-day work. At EngagedMinds, I’ve made it my mission to change that.
Every training we create is designed with you in mind—the therapists, social workers, and counselors who show up every day to do the hard, meaningful work of helping others. We focus on making complex topics approachable, providing actionable strategies, and keeping the content engaging.
Explore Our Upcoming Trainings
Discover practical, trauma-informed, and grief-informed strategies you can immediately apply to your work.
View our training calendar here.
Looking Ahead Together
EngagedMinds isn’t just a continuing education provider. It’s a reflection of my belief that meaningful training can change the way we work—and the way we care for ourselves and our clients.
I created this platform to fill a need I felt deeply in my own career. My hope is that it becomes a resource for you, too—a place where you can find tools, inspiration, and connection.
Let’s Connect
I’d love to hear from you. What are the biggest challenges you face in your practice? What kinds of training would feel most helpful to you? Let’s start a conversation about how we can grow together.
Next Steps:
Explore our upcoming trainings
Join the EngagedMinds community and free Book Clubs where continuing education meets real-world application.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the latest resources and trainings.
