For first responders, stress and trauma are part of the job. But that doesn’t mean they have to let the chaos be part of their everyday lives.First responders—law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical professionals, military personnel, and more—spend each day confronting stress and trauma head-on. Rarely is there time to process and recover from the turmoil and violence they encounter day after day. It doesn’t help that first responder culture encourages a “get on with it” attitude, offering limited resources for the internal struggle that builds up over time.It doesn’t have to be this way.Tactical Brain Training offers a solution for first responders to use their incredible emergency management skills to recover from the rigors of this demanding work. Developed by Gina Rollo White, a therapeutic mindfulness expert with over 10 years in the first responder world, this first-of-its-kind guidebook provides proven, sustainable strategies for regulating stress and trauma in real time and following the emergent event. Whether you are a first responder yourself, a clinician supporting someone in this profession, or a family member, this book will empower you to:Connect with real-life stories that showcase the types of challenges faced by first respondersLearn scientific insights behind the long-term impacts of stress, trauma, and mindfulnessPractice short, effective brain exercises, both written and in guided videos, that build mental clarity and put you in the driver’s seat of how you respondDevelop a personalized mindfulness action plan for neutralizing stress and bringing your brain back “online”Although running toward chaos may be part of the job, living in a state of internal chaos does not have to continue to be the norm.

Our mission is to empower First Responders with mindfulness strategies to be safe, healthy, and emotionally regulated. We give First Responders tools to work with stress and trauma, as well as increase compassion and empathy. We teach First Responders how to manage reactions, notice impulses, and work through emotions - on the job and when they go home. Founder Gina Rollo White has spent the last seven years developing and leading mindfulness workshops for first responders. A long time mind-body practitioner, Gina received a Masters Degree in Mindfulness from Lesley University, the nation's only university that offers graduate programs in mindfulness. While in university, Gina conducted studies on the benefits of mindfulness for first responders. Her research found that mindfulness can measurably reduce stress and increase wellness for this population.But Gina’s interest in mindfulness for first responders did not begin in the laboratory. As the daughter of two first responders, Gina has seen first hand how chronic stress impacts first responders and their families. As a child, she saw how the sacrifices her parents made for their communities not only took a toll on their physical and mental health but also created strain at home and in the family. Years later, in university, she learned about the connections between trauma, the brain, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness, she learned, could help reverse the negative consequences of sleep deprivation, exposure to violence, and physical injuries by changing the brain itself. This ability -- to positively change the brain through mindfulness -- is important for everyone, but Gina realized these skills are especially critical for one population in particular: the individuals who put their lives on the line to ensure public safety. Gina created Mindful Junkie to empower first responders with mindfulness strategies to be healthier, safer, and more emotionally regulated - both on the job, and at home.

The Trauma Aware Mindfulness Collective is comprised of diverse practitioners dedicated to teaching Mindfulness through a Trauma Sensitive lens. Each practitioner brings a unique approach and all have co-facilitated global Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness trainings. Each Collective Member can tailor trainings based on specific population needs.

Supporting the development and delivery of law enforcement mindfulness trainings based on Tactical Brain Training ®; Mindfulness for First Responders.

Throughout Virginia, there are more than 19 communities coming together across disciplines around trauma-informed care. Most often in Virginia, these groups form as trauma-informed community networks (TICNs). Every TICN looks different because they are built by the local community, however, in each of these communities, these networks share common characteristics:Build a stronger, more resilient trauma-informed communityIncrease awareness of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and identify areas that the group can collectively build uponDevelop a shared language about trauma and resilienceHelp organizations to become trauma informed, conduct trainings, support, and implement new practices in schools, courts, and community servicesCreate a mechanism for collaboration, and the sharing of information and resourcesAnd much more!TICNs help to connect practice across disciplines and help to identify gaps and how policies can be implemented. Virginia’s community networks play a key role in advancing trauma-informed policy and promoting a statewide policy agenda. For more information about Virginia’s TICNs and the Campaign for a Trauma-Informed Virginia, visit the Voices for Virginia’s Children website at vakids.org.

Supported a year-long series of Mindfulness courses led by David Treleaven, PhD. – author of Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness – including Introductory & Advanced level Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (TSM) courses. During these courses, Gina was part of the Dedicated Practitioners Program (DPP), a select group of mindfulness educators, engaging in insightful reflection and discussion of the course content and practices with David and the other members of the DPP. Gina also served as a Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Community Facilitator for the participants in the Advanced Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Course, co-facilitating Community Practice Sessions for course participants from around the world.