Trauma-Informed and Culturally Responsive Practices in Schools Building a Climate of Compassion

by Pickens, Isaiah B.

• ISBN13: 9781462550999
• ISBN10: 1462550991
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2026-03-16
• Publisher: The Guilford Press
• More Book Details
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Summary

In order to succeed in school, students fundamentally need to feel safe and connected--particularly when chronic stress at home, in the community, or at school makes it difficult to learn. This book explains practical ways to infuse schools with trauma-informed and culturally responsive (TICR) practices that can foster compassionate relationships, promote the well-being of students and educators alike, and unlock students’ academic and social–emotional potential. Isaiah B. Pickens provides a wealth of tools for implementing TICR strategies in classroom instruction, multi-tiered systems of support, school safety planning, and professional learning. In a convenient large-size format, the book is packed with case examples, checklists, activity guides, templates for assessment, and best-practice resources. The companion website offers 41 reproducible and downloadable handouts.

This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.
 

Author Biography

Isaiah B. Pickens, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and organizational development specialist whose career is dedicated to strengthening people and systems. He is a former Assistant Director for Service Systems at the UCLA–Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and a former Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Pickens is well known as a trauma expert and specialist in creating emotionally intelligent school cultures. He is certified by Stanford University as a Compassion Specialist and is a recipient of the Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, among other honors. Dr. Pickens is founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Trauma and Connection
2. Rethinking Discipline: A Culturally Responsive Approach
3. The Intersection of Trauma, Culture, and Social−Emotional Learning
4. Amplifying the Impact of Trauma and Culture: Social Isolation and Compassionate Candor
5. Trauma Recovery: Navigating In-School Traumatic Events through Cross-System Collaboration
6. Bravely Educating: Self-Care and a School Culture of Staff Wellness
7. Transforming into a Compassionate Education System
Glossary
References
Index