In the global rush toward sustainability, we focus on carbon, conservation, and capital—but what about the people? Behind every burned-out frontline worker, fractured family, or failed system lies something we rarely acknowledge in sustainability conversations: trauma.
If we want a just and lasting future, we must broaden our definition of sustainability to include healing. That means building trauma-responsive systems—not just in therapy offices but also in schools, governments, treatment centers, and the global frameworks we depend on.
Trauma: The Hidden Obstacle to Sustainability
Trauma is not only a personal experience; it’s a systemic disruptor. Research shows that trauma—especially when unrecognized or unaddressed—undermines resilience, productivity, and trust (van der Kolk, 2014; Herman, 1997). Whether through adverse childhood experiences (Felitti et al., 1998), institutional betrayal (Smith & Freyd, 2014), or social violence, trauma alters how people relate to one another and to systems meant to protect them.
Left unresolved, trauma drives the very issues sustainability seeks to solve:
- Public health crises (substance abuse, chronic illness, suicide)
- Inequitable education and justice outcomes
- Family breakdown and community disintegration
- Burnout and compassion fatigue in helping professionals
Case in Point: Reforming Adolescent Transport
One example of how trauma-informed reform can change systems is the Respectful Adolescent Transport Protocol, a model I developed to replace coercive, traumatizing approaches to adolescent treatment placement. Instead of force and secrecy, we use relational safety, consent-informed practice, and dignity-centered care.
This isn’t just good ethics—it leads to better outcomes for youth, families, and treatment professionals. When dignity becomes the default, healing begins before treatment even starts.
A Ripple Effect for Global Systems
Trauma-responsive care doesn’t stop at mental health. When embedded into policy, education, and justice reform, it can:
- Reduce recidivism
- Improve school retention
- Support climate resilience in vulnerable communities
- Increase civic trust and democratic engagement
As Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory reminds us, safety is a prerequisite for connection—and connection is essential for sustainable cooperation (Porges, 2011). Without trauma literacy, even the best-intentioned systems will replicate harm and erode trust.
The Future Depends on Healing
Sustainability isn’t just about preserving the planet. It’s about ensuring that our systems can help people—especially in crisis—without retraumatizing them. To create a just and sustainable future, we must prioritize trauma-responsive design that includes policies rooted in dignity, leadership grounded in empathy, and services that see healing not as a luxury but as a necessity.
As I often say: Healing is the most radical form of sustainability.
Sources:
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., et al. (1998). Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.
Herman, J. L. (1997). Trauma and Recovery. Basic Books.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Smith, C. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). Institutional Betrayal. American Psychologist, 69(6), 575–587.
