Trauma-Informed Resilience for Responders, Teams, and Communities
Disaster work changes people. The question is whether it changes them through burnout or through supported, sustainable service.
Emma M. Churchman, LLC partners with disaster organizations, humanitarian teams, chaplaincy networks, and crisis-response leaders to strengthen the human side of response so your people can stay clear, steady, and effective in the hardest moments.
Book Emma
to Speak
Explore Trauma Recovery Certification
Chat with
Emma
How We Support Disaster Organizations
1) Keynotes & Trainings for Responders and Leadership
For conferences, leadership retreats, volunteer trainings, and team resilience initiatives.
Outcomes teams want:
A shared language for stress, capacity, and resilience
Practical tools responders can use in the field
Stronger decision-making under pressure - Reduced burnout and secondary trauma over extended operations
2) Trauma Recovery Certification Program for disaster workers + crisis responders
A structured training pathway that equips your people to help survivors process trauma as disasters unfold while also protecting responder wellbeing.
Why This Matters Now
When disasters strike, your teams are on the front lines of human suffering. Traditional crisis counseling happens after the trauma but what if your organization could help survivors process trauma as its happening?
In todays era of increasing natural disasters, civil unrest, and community crises, disaster response organizations need approaches that go beyond temporary relief to create lasting resilience.
Trauma Recovery Certification Program (Disaster Track)
Pioneer real-time trauma resilience for disaster response teams
Equip your organization with evidence-based tools to help survivors process trauma as disasters unfold while building unprecedented resilience in your response teams.
Who It's For
Designed for disaster-response ecosystems, including:
- VOADs and long-term recovery groups (LTRGs)
- Disaster case management teams
- Shelter, feeding, and distribution operations
- Volunteer coordinators and team leads
- Chaplains, peer support, and care teams
- Field staff and volunteers exposed to secondary trauma
The Framework: 4 Phases of Trauma Recovery
Each level teaches the four phases of trauma recovery:
Rescue, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Evolution
- Rescue: Immediate aftermath, safety and stabilization
- Recovery: PTSD symptoms emerge, identify and normalize symptoms
- Reconstruction: Alleviate symptoms, rebuild ways of operating
- Evolution: Learn to live and process trauma simultaneously, long-term resilience
Crisis-Tested Tools Your Teams Can Implement Immediately
These aren’t theoretical frameworks, they are battle-tested tools developed during real disaster response and proven effective when everything else fails.
Rescue Phase Tools
(Acute Response)
5-4-3-2-1 Senses Inventory
(60-second grounding for survivors and responders)90-Second Reset
(rapid regulation between intense moments)Quick Self-Assessment Checklist
(60-second capacity check for responders)
Recovery Phase Tools
(Sustained Operations)
Energy Management Grid
(prevents secondary trauma and burnout)Morning Mental Weather Report
(shared language for team capacity and morale)EMDR Flash Technique
(immediate trauma processing without re-traumatization)
Reconstruction Phase Tools
(Clarity + Decisions)
Three-Column Decision Matrix
(facts vs assumptions vs unknowns)
Evolution Phase Tools
(Long-Term Resilience)
Intuitive Response Protocol
(values-based leadership when data is incomplete)
LEVEL 1
For Your Recovery
A 28-Day Online DIY Course
LEVEL 2
Learn Trauma Recovery Tools
A 90-Day Online Group Cohort
(runs 2x year)
Level 3
Get Certified
A 90-Day Online Group Cohort
(runs 2x year)
Proven In The Field
Emma Churchman didn’t develop these trauma recovery tools in a classroom, she created them while serving as a nationally certified trauma chaplain during Hurricane Helene, processing trauma in real-time as the disaster unfolded, as well as from her experience mentoring leaders for over 25 years.
She wrote about her experience during Helene in The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene: 40 Days and Nights of Survival and Transformation (GracePoint, 2025).
Endorsed By Leading Disaster Response Organizations
“In my 21 years of responding to domestic disasters, I have never come across writing such as this. The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene is a must-read by every disaster response organization and their constituents, including volunteers and donors.”
~ Kevin King, Executive Director
“Emma delivered her keynote over lunch to a room with 700 people in it. Her message was so poignant that people stopped eating. You could hear a pin drop.”
Keynote Speaker at 2025 Conference in Louisville, KY
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this training be implemented during active disaster response?
Yes. This training was specifically designed for real-time implementation during active disasters.
Can we train volunteers, or is this only for paid staff?
It's designed for both paid staff and volunteers.
How does this integrate with existing disaster response protocols?
These tools are designed to enhance existing procedures (not replace them) by adding a trauma resilience layer to current operations.
Next Step
If you’re ready to strengthen responder resilience, reduce burnout, and help communities recover in real time:
About
Emma Churchman
Emma M. Churchman, MDiv is a nationally certified trauma chaplain and executive mentor who has spent over 25 years guiding individuals and organizations through the unspoken aftermath of trauma. With a rare blend of spiritual insight and strategic leadership, she has helped thousands transform pain into power—drawing deeply from her own harrowing journey through acute childhood adversity.
Emma is the founder of the Trauma Recovery Certification program, a groundbreaking training for professionals who want to address trauma at its roots—not just manage symptoms. Her teachings blend clinical understanding with soul-deep wisdom, making her a sought-after speaker for those ready to engage in real, raw healing.
Her first bestselling book, The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene (GracePoint, 2025), takes readers on an unforgettable journey of spiritual resilience during one of nature’s most recent catastrophic events.
Her memoir, Unshattered: Surviving My Mother’s 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse (GracePoint, 2025), is a bold invitation to rewrite the stories we inherit.
Her forthcoming third book, Navigating the Deep End: Resilient Leadership in a Volatile World, explores navigating leadership in crisis (GracePoint, June 2026).
Whether she’s speaking to Fortune 1,000 leaders, faith communities, or trauma survivors, Emma teaches practical, evidence-informed trauma recovery techniques that empower individuals and organizations alike to reclaim agency, reconnect with their core selves, and navigate life’s storms with integrity. As a PhD candidate in Conscious Business Ethics, she bridges the gap between soulful leadership and actionable strategy.
Emma is the founder of the Trauma Recovery Certification program, a groundbreaking training for professionals who want to address trauma at its roots—not just manage symptoms. Her teachings blend clinical understanding with soul-deep wisdom, making her a sought-after speaker for those ready to engage in real, raw healing.
Her bestselling book, The Deep End of Hope in the Wake of Hurricane Helene (GracePoint, 2025), takes readers on an unforgettable journey of spiritual resilience during one of nature’s most recent catastrophic events.
Her forthcoming memoir, Unshattered: Surviving My Mother’s 123 Personalities and Transforming a Legacy of Abuse (GracePoint, October 2025), is a bold invitation to rewrite the stories we inherit.
Her third book, The Deep End: Resilient Leadership in a Volatile World, explores navigating leadership in crisis (GracePoint, June 2026).
