Trauma-Informed Faith Based Communities with Candace Wallace
Many people turn to their faith communities to seek safety, connection, and support. Without a trauma-informed lens, well-intentioned practices can unintentionally cause harm or retraumatize. Host Katie Kurtz is joined by coach and consultant Candace Wallace as they explore the integration of trauma-informed practices within faith-based communities. With expertise drawn from her extensive background, Candace Wallace explores the dual nature of faith communities as havens of healing and potential harm, urging the necessity for accountability and compassion. If you're part of or curious about faith-based systems, this episode is an essential guide to embedding trauma-informed principles into your community's foundation.
Learn more about Candace:
Candace Wallace is a passionate coach and consultant with a proven track record in designing and leading public health strategies at the federal, state, and local levels. As the founder of Seeds of Life Consulting, she empowers and equips agencies—including faith-based institutions—to integrate trauma-informed care practices that foster resilience, healing, and equity within their communities. Recognized for her servant leadership and strategic expertise, Candace is a 2025 German Marshall Fund - Marshall Memorial Fellow and has been featured in esteemed publications, including the 2020 APHA and Case Western Reserve University’s Cancer Disparity Symposium.
Connect with Candace:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crusaderchic
Show Transcript:
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Hi everyone, and welcome back to A Trauma-Informed Future podcast. I'm your host, Katie Kurtz. I am really excited to be in conversation today, not just with a dear colleague and someone I've learned so much from over the years, but a friend Candace Wallace, welcome Candace. So good to see you.
Really excited to finally be in, not just like conversation, 'cause we've been in many conversations, but like recording it so other people can finally hear us talk about it.
Candace Wallace (she/her): Yes. Now I am so excited to be here. You are a dear friend. I adore you. Your passion for TIC practice. Yeah. So thank you for having me.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Of course. Oh my goodness. Yes. So I'm, I'd love to just start by having you introduce yourself in your own words.
Candace Wallace (she/her): Yeah, so I'm Candace. I am a East Cleveland, native of Ohio. I, love family. I love food, I love community. Particularly background is in [00:01:00] public health. I've been in the field for decades.
I love the work. Social determinants oriented health disparities, all the things. But these days in the last few years, I consider myself to be a coach and consultant within the trauma informed space. I find myself loving being a practitioner here on this side, and that really came by way of me being a public health and really not hearing the language, not seeing the practice and recognizing that there was a bigger need that we needed to address amongst people in need.
So that's kind of me. That's my jam.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): I know you have worked in so many different spaces in projects, and you and I have worked on projects and things like that, and I think in the intersection of public health and social determinants of health, which I think is so imperative when we're talking about trauma-informed care.
We've had some conversations with folks on this podcast but I think we don't [00:02:00] talk enough about it. And that's why I'm so excited to discuss today is the role of when we think of systems, we often think of systems of government, system, education, community neighborhoods, but we sometimes often forget the importance of faith-based systems that many people not all are part of faith communities or faith systems.
And the role of both how faith communities can be a source of healing and resilience and support and also can cause a lot of harm and trauma. And so as somebody in full transparency, I was raised Irish Catholic, which is a very specific type of Catholic, which is heavy emphasis on the guilt. I don't practice religion.
I think personally I'm a spiritual person and believe in, just the practice of just nature and spirituality, but I don't belong to a faith-based community. But there are a lot of people who have a lot of people raised in, and I can even think of my own experiences in [00:03:00] growing up in the Catholic faith community that have been harmful and traumatizing.
I mean, we don't need to unpack. The Catholics here. 'Cause there's a lot there. But I know we came into this conversation and we've been in conversations in our community about the intersection of trauma healing and the church or faith-based spaces. And so let's dive into it. I know there's so much to unpack and so many like inlets to go down, but where would you start if we wanted to talk about these intersections?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Sure. So real quick, I want to remind, I don't know if you remember, but that's really how we met when we initially met. I was exploring the world of TIC and I specifically said that I wanted to work at the intersection of trauma-informed practice in faith-based institutions.
So I think this is kind of like a full circle moment. It really is like three years [00:04:00] ago. So when you say like, where do we start or what's a good place to begin? When we examine lived experience, trauma harm within faith-based institutions, which I do agree, it is an institution, it's not just a place it's a whole system.
I would say the first place would be accountability and awareness. Like to recognize that you probably have more people across the world that find themselves in some type of faith-based environment, community than probably any other sort of community that exists, right? So we have to become aware and recognize that harm has occurred there.
That doesn't have to be the case, but let's first start by acknowledging and becoming aware in terms of how do we change that narrative. [00:05:00] So I think that's a good starting place because it's easy to denounce what a person has experienced because it may not be your experience, but it's very much so still true.
So let's accept accountability and let's become aware about, okay, what's next? What else can we do?
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Yeah. I think that goes back to just this general understanding when we think of trauma-informed care is that what may be traumatic for me may not be for you, but that doesn't discount or minimize or invalidate my experience and that we can name and acknowledging is like such the ground level of where we're at yet it's so hard.
Right. And I think that especially in systems, it's and not just faith-based systems, but any system family systems, cultural systems, that there's this tendency because of the nuance and complexities and the shame and the disconnection that happens from this form of harm and [00:06:00] trauma that we tend to cover silence push aside, right?
And I think. Being able to acknowledge a name, a thing is so key. But there's, I'm curious if you can talk a little about, like, when we say like religious trauma when we're talking about and I've heard you even and our also, our colleague Amina used the term like church heart,
when we're thinking about specifically harm happening within a church or faith-based community, why we're talking about this is there's so many elements, right? Like the power dynamics, can you speak a little to what examples of like when we talk about religious trauma, like what are we talking about for people that may not be as familiar?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Sure. Well, you know, well first and foremost, anywhere there's people you run the risk of harm. That, and that is not exempt from the church or any sort of faith-based sector anywhere. There's people, you run the risk of harm. So when you think about harm, when you think [00:07:00] about trauma and sorts of adversities that just happen in life, they're not exempt from happening within a faith-based environment. So sexual harm it could be patriarchal dominance some type of sort of dictatorship where there's lack of governance.
And individuals can kind of say and do and be however they choose and vomit all over people. Sometimes intentionally and unintentionally. Emotional abuse I mean, you run the gamut.
I feel the more we open ourselves up to accountability and just accepting truth. The types of harm will come forth even greater. I'll be honest, when I first entered into this space, my thoughts were around like, how do we support faith-based institutions with [00:08:00] honoring the whole person?
How do we create ministries and worship environments where people don't feel like they have to minimize a component of themselves or disown a portion of themselves to come into a place of worship, a place that should be of healing and service and support, right?
But as I dug deeper, I realize that it is really multifaceted in that we should see trauma-informed care within the church or within faith-based institutions as Christ-centered.
So from two aspects, one, from when we think about governance and leadership, I think that there should be two approaches. One approach is to look at the whole person and to create safe environment.
And the other component is to reduce harm by making certain that we have safe and sound leadership and staff. As I'm having more conversations with individuals in the [00:09:00] space, I really do think that's the approach it has to be multifaceted. It is not just to receive. And to honor and to love and serve well. Right? When we're opening up the doors and we're inviting the community to come in and accepting them as a whole person in whatever shape, fashion, or form they come in. I think that is a part of it.
But I think the other part of it is also reducing harm by making certain that we have sound and healthy and capable leaders within the church.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): And so for important context you're bringing this level of experience and your work in consulting and training around trauma informed practices within Christian based Yeah. Faith, basically. So I think, I just wanna make sure that's clarified. So we're talking about faith.
We obviously, there's many faiths. But from your, for context in this purposes a Christian faith. Yeah. I wanna talk a little bit about that because I think what you were [00:10:00] saying, all I keep thinking about is how vulnerable it is to be in a space to practice faith, because it's a very personal and vulnerable thing.
And when we're in spaces where we are connecting with others around a shared experience a shared belief. There is a level of vulnerability that can, again, take two paths.
It can take a path of incredible support community care, resilience building, or if those vulnerabilities are exploited or people are wielding power in ways that could extract from those individuals, that's where we could see harm develop directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally because of the lack of understanding power dynamics.
Which is tricky because power is a long standing thing of. [00:11:00] I mean, we even say like a higher power. Right? So can you unpack that a little bit about just kind of the delicacy of understanding these nuances and how key it is for faith-based organizations, communities, kind of that umbrella of like why this approach is so key because of these these areas of just our humanity.
Our raw humanity being brought forth.
Candace Wallace (she/her): I would say first and foremost faith-based leadership has to lead with vulnerability. They have to lead with transparency, they have to lead with authenticity, and I believe that creates the grounding and the foundation for a culture of worship that invites vulnerability, authenticity, and safety.
Right? Because if you as. A leader as someone who's, you know, kind of overseeing a flock of individuals if you're [00:12:00] operating in a way that speaks to health and wellbeing within your congregation, if you will. I do think that it's, it does set the stage to be able to invite and to receive others well, when we don't have that dynamic, I think that is.
It breeds high risk for harm. When an individual come into the space and they're looking for help, they're looking for healing, and we cannot serve them well if there's no intentionality.
I think some things are just innate human nature. Right. And so we have to be able to work against some of those ills and those natural elements.
Yeah. So there, there needs to be a great intentionality about how we're leading and how we're prepared to receive others. Now, did I answer your question? [00:13:00]
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Yeah. I think that, and that's why trauma-informed care is essential, right? Because trauma-informed care as an approach. Looks at how do we take our intentions and utilize actions that yield the impact we desire?
So if our intention is to create community, if our intention is to build fellowship, if our intention is to strengthen the health of a neighborhood through faith-based efforts. Those are really good intentions. If safety is the intention, great, but we don't feel safe just by saying it's safe.
Right. You there has to be action. I'm curious if you can talk a little bit about like, okay, if these, what are some common principles, values or intentions, faith-based communities generally have, knowing that like obviously even within Christianity there's a million different types of interpretations and systems within that.
But generally speaking, some shared [00:14:00] values, which are those intentions and the actions needed to generate those actual feelings within individuals and communities.
Candace Wallace (she/her): Yeah, so choice. Choice would be, one of those core values that we would see. I feel like the, a faith-based institution, right? I get what you're saying, like it's intention is great.
It's easy to say the things, but what does it look like in practicality? I think it does look like choice. It looks like autonomy which is that it looks like authenticity. It looks very much so like creating ministries and programs that are diverse in nature, that support people across the spectrum or, of their life.
It looks like community. it looks like the church having a clear pathway to neighborhoods and communities and resources where it's bidirectional. You see individuals coming out of faith-based institutions [00:15:00] to engage, to listen, to support, and not necessarily that needing to happen within the church.
That also looks like that pathway where individuals can come in. And feel connected in a sense of identity within the church.
So I see that. I think that should be reflected amongst leadership that should be reflected amongst programs and ministries that are designed.
I think one of the biggest issues that faith-based institutions may have with trauma-informed practice and embracing it is that they feel one there, there will be some accountability. Right? And that's how we started.
But I think the other part portion is, do they have to augment the fidelity of the gospel?
So for me, I'll just speak from a Christian standpoint because I am a Christian. Right? And so while I do feel like many of the practices and modalities can be adopted by any faith, right, because we're [00:16:00] talking about people-centered, human-centered practices.
So in terms of the church particularly, I feel like sometimes trauma-informed practice is, you know, there could be some reservation just around, okay, what does that look like per se?
Can I still honor the gospel as it's written and still honor people as they are? Or do I have to shift my core value? So back to the question, there has to be some just baseline conversation around shared values. Where do we align? Where do we meet? And then how do we honor each other?
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Yeah, I mean, even just similarly to any organization or system every faith-based community that I've seen or worked with, like you, you go and you see, okay, what is this place and they say, here's our mission, vision, and values.
Right? And that's how you determine, is this the place for me? Is it not? [00:17:00] Or it's one way of navigating it. And I think similarly we see that in other institutions or other systems, right?
A nonprofit, a government agency, mission, vision, values, those are the things that kind of guide, and obviously we need to name the a thing too, in Christianity.
You know, autonomy and choice are things that often are not always shared values of many Christian specific sectors or whatever.
And they may hold values that don't necessarily their beliefs, et cetera, like don't align. Right.
Can offer some examples of what you've seen inside some of these ministries and communities of how maybe some opportunities for trauma-informed care to come in and play an important role to enhance the mission and vision of these communities.
Like how we can see trauma-informed care really amplify and support [00:18:00] the mission and the efforts. So that people can see the importance of this not as this accountability kind of calling out, but rather like, okay, here's these opportunities to strengthen utilizing this long standing approach in an applying it specifically to this context.
Candace Wallace (she/her): I think that's good because ultimately the hope is to forge relationships .
The hope is to reconcile where there may have been hurt in the church to a place of repair or to help individuals find places of safe worship.
And so I love the fact that we can acknowledge what is harmful or what has gone awry, but also where do we mediate and restore in hopes of repairing?
So I feel that the church having a true and authentic relationship with the community is [00:19:00] necessary.
I'll use Bridge City Church for an example. That's where I attend and the resilience ministry director and coach, we see that is a beautiful example of saying we want to reconcile individuals to the body of Christ through the gospel, through love.
Through service, through authentic and true care. Like I see you as a human. I see you, I hear you, and all that you've experienced up to this point. And I'm not here to crucify. I'm not here to do anything other than support you and walk alongside you in building trust. And hopefully through that relational equity right, we can begin to foster and repair.
Feelings of safety and community inside the church, but I think it first has to start in the community 'cause I may not feel comfortable coming to your church so I can [00:20:00] meet you where you are by coming into your space and just loving on you well, with a no expectation, right?
So I think that's a part of it. Having a commitment. And I think that goes back to the values of the church. Like, you don't just say it, you don't just write it, but it's actually lived out and you can see it.
So, having leadership on staff that's committed to the work, that's committed to training staff so that they can be trauma aware having those practices integrated into the practices of the church having those community partnerships, that is also very key.
Recognizing that there's no one entity, whether it be the church or any other institution, agency or organization that has everything that it needs to support the whole person. You have to have partnerships.
So what does healthy partnerships look like and [00:21:00] begin? And I think that's an act of humility. To say that this is what I'm great at, this is what I don't have, but I am open to partnership.
So as we serve and walk alongside individuals in their pathway to healing and recovery, I can refer, I can connect them to others who also have their best interest at heart that can support them beyond what I can do.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): There's three things that you kind of touched upon that I'm curious. We can kind of talk a little bit about, because I think they're pretty common in any type of community, but especially in faith-based communities.
So the one being just like, how do we check power? Because obviously there are specific roles and responsibilities within a faith-based community thinking, clergy, pastor Reverend, whatever terminology that the person leading in the church leadership, there is a power difference. We know there's power dynamics at [00:22:00] play in any relationship or community.
When we think of a trauma informed church or a trauma-informed approach within a faith-based institution, how can people be mindful of power dynamics and have open pathways of feedback to kind of check, to have, like you mentioned, like governance, like this way of being able to have accountability in a way that can ensure that power isn't becoming yielded over people or groups of people.
Candace Wallace (she/her): I think there's a few things, but one in particular is that there has to be some type of policy or pathway to grievance if there is an encounter of any sort where an individual feels harmed or unsafe, what is the pathway within the church to express and communicate that?
What can individuals at any level? Right? So I think. [00:23:00] An added part of this is that while there are roles and responsibilities and elements of leadership, first and foremost, seeing that we are all equal, God loves us all the same.
He is not impartial. So please, at no point does not allow. Your capacity for leadership or your specific skill or expertise and leadership lead you to believe that you are grander, more superior than another, right? Because you have to be accountable for your service, for how you treat, how you serve, how you love, and all of those sorts of things.
So going back to the other point, there has to be a pathway to where individuals know this though. So it's communicated. It doesn't just exist in some archive of files, and we've checked the boxes for the sake of saying there's something that exists.
But when individuals are inquiring about the church, when [00:24:00] individuals have decided to become a member or partner with that church, they need to understand out of the gate what does that look like?
Should you experience something that you foresee as harmful or unsafe? I need to be able to communicate that and what can I expect at minimum, at greatest lengths. What's some examples that we've had where we've had to rebuke or check leadership or individuals that oversee ministry.
Those sorts of conversations need to be had, so individuals know that there is advocacy and support for them if something should arise.
I had this conversation with an individual and she's, she has this thought that. When individuals have decided to go to seminary, right?
So this is kind of stepping out of the Christian faith, but just looking across the board at the faith-based sector when any individual has decided to. [00:25:00] Enter into seminary or some type of formal credentialing within faith. There's all sorts of classes and benchmarks that you have to meet, and ultimately you get certified, yada yada.
So her thought is, why aren't there trauma informed courses taught in seminary. Why aren't there assessments that look at psychological makeup? Look at background. Look at family history.
Now, I do believe that there are some faith-based institutions that are getting it right when it comes to hiring.
However, the individual has already gone through the complete pathway of being certified and ready now to serve. So I think that's another part of governance. We can look at it from a very systemic component and , credentialing and training. I think there could be elements of harm reduction there.
It [00:26:00] should exist when it at the point of hire and how we assess, how we interview, what we look for. But then once we are in places of leadership, what does that annual check-in or evaluation, having conversations with family and friends beyond just that individual to really get greater clarity on their capacity to serve and to serve well.
So governance power, I think that it is multifaceted and it could be seen at any or honored at any level of practice.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Candace I wanna acknowledge something, a part of that, that, you know, we don't have to get into it, but. I agree. Fullheartedly. Looking at this, especially from a harm reduction stance which we know it is, but I think it's important to acknowledge that for some types of Christianity. [00:27:00] There are people and institutions in that specific faith that align with trauma-informed care.
It makes sense for them to adopt this approach because there is alignment. But we have to acknowledge, especially in the given time we're existing in that there are many types of Christianity that don't really align with the principles.
Even just of like autonomy and choice like that to a point. Right. Or embracing diversity and inclusion to a point. Right. And I think, there are some stances within types of Christianity that go against this approach. Do you think that's fair to say?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Oh, for sure.
1000%.
I think the majority don't. There's two things that's coming up for me. I feel like there are those who agree that it is necessary they don't honor the practice.
Maybe they don't know where to start. Maybe you know, they're [00:28:00] overthinking it and not honoring practical ways, right? That they could start whatever.
So I do think that the majority of faith-based institutions are not honoring TIC. They're just not.
The other part is there are those who agree, but then there's so many that don't, they don't agree and. I believe that awareness and potential change has to be seen from an institutional standpoint, which we've talked a lot about, but I think any sort of shifting of power and increased knowledge and system change of any sort.
You also gotta look at the individual approach. Individuals have power. Right? Systems work, take time. It's a slow approach. It can be an effective approach, right? Because when we get it, we got it and we can shift [00:29:00] culture.
But there is a need for just every day individuals to understand trauma-informed practice and how it intersects with the church and the responsibility of the church.
And so as they are showing up for themselves, they begin to assess what is good, what is harmful, what may or may not work for them. And so they can make some executive decisions for themselves, for those individuals who are not involved in any type of place of worship, but would desire maybe they've had a harmful experience somewhere.
Right. And that's fair. They desire to reenter. They just don't know where, what to look for, how to navigate this knowledge, this understanding, these practices are good because the it equips and gives them [00:30:00] tools and insight on how to assess and discern what may work well for them. So there's the institutional approach, but I think there's power in the individualized approach as well.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Thank you for that added level of clarity and just , again, another layer of nuance. And going back to what you were sharing too, I think the one thing that comes up for me so often, and I know you and I have talked about this and also it's sort of similar to a lot of the projects we've collaborated on in the past, is really being able to look at policies are so, so important. It gives us that structure, but we need people to enact and follow through. Right.
And I think one of the things that can get a bit gray in faith-based communities is the role of support and the roles that can get a little blurry with supporting people. And I'm wondering if you can talk a little [00:31:00] bit about kind of the scopes of practice within and why those professional boundaries are so important, especially when we have people who are actually trained, certified, licensed, even to be providing faith-based counseling or support versus people who may be really well-intentioned to give advice or share or help people.
But it starts to creep on that edge of blurring the line of, of a boundary with people in a church setting who, for people who are coming that need processing or support in that way?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Yeah, I think, continuous training for ministry leaders and up and coming volunteers and various staff is essential that equips ongoing for individuals to be able to serve. Properly, it reduces harm.
It, again, those partnerships create pathways for us to refer once we feel like we [00:32:00] know we've reached a place that is outside of our scope. And so I do think having some structure and larger conversations gives baseline knowledge for anyone to just be able to understand. But when we have a system within the church that says, this is a resilience ministry.
This is where we provide coaching, this is how we refer, this is how we handle certain cases, or situations, et cetera. It does help to create a space where individuals know that they can go safely and any and everyone doesn't feel like they can and should speak and support in ways that they're unqualified or they're not qualified for.
Something that you mentioned just around , roles and qualifications and credentialing and et cetera. I think that in all spaces and places there's base line knowledge for everyone.
And we [00:33:00] only have that by having community and larger conversations. But at baseline there should be some awareness and some equipping for the everyday folk.
From there, of course there should be specific individuals who have certifications and licensure and et cetera, to where they can handle more specific cases in ways.
I think part of it is equipping people and letting them know minimally, here's how you have conversation. Here's language, here's some tools, but this is how we approach cases that need more care and delicacy.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): You and I are big believers in integration, like how do we get this approach into daily practice, into, the every day into the nooks and crannies of the whole vision of an organization or a community.
And for those listening who may either , hold leadership [00:34:00] roles within a faith-based community or who are members of, but want to bring this approach into, it can feel daunting, right?
It's like this is great, but like we know what it is, we know why it's important, but how do we begin?
How do we start, how do we begin conversations in maybe if it's in a committee or in a group, or how do I bring this to my leadership team?
What advice or feedback do you have for people in faith-based communities who wanna begin to integrate trauma-informed care ?
Like what, where do people start? Where do they look? Who do they look to? What resources are there?
Candace Wallace (she/her): I would say like the Religious Trauma Institute would be a great place to start. It's a body of knowledge, skills, resources many of which is free. That it could be a great, space to start to orientate yourself.
I would say assess, assess where you are and what you currently have. [00:35:00] So if you have people. Then that means you can begin having conversations. You can begin connecting them to resources.
I'm talking leadership staff , ministry leaders, et cetera. Just start with some free resources, assessing what you have, and be practical about ways that you can shift and make some basic changes that could have large impact.
So for instance, maybe how you onboard volunteers. Moving forward, it becomes mandatory that there is a trauma awareness webinar or, a workshop that they take, and again, this may be for free, this is complimentary. Build up your pool of resources to where, these things are mandatory coming in the gate.
How we ask questions around individuals who are equipped to serve. That's basic things, right? Onboarding questions, assessments, those sorts.
So I would say start [00:36:00] small. Start practical. Start by having the conversations. Start by tapping into free resources. . And look local. Look local. Look within your community.
Look within your church. Right? Look within your place of worship, in whatever denomination or faith or deity that you serve.
Individuals come from backgrounds that I'm sure overlap with mental health and social service and trauma informed practice. And so they may be willing to volunteer, lend a training or et cetera.
So don't underestimate the resources that you currently have within your place of worship and look local to see who you can connect with.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): I think that's such a good point that we don't have to recreate the wheel and that goes to the point of the origins of this this model of trauma-informed care, it's a strengths-based approach. So how do we look at our existing strengths [00:37:00] and harness those so that we can utilize that and affirm maybe what we're already doing, and then look at ways to continue to grow.
I've done quite a few trauma-informed trainings within faith-based communities and something I have seen from leadership to staff, to volunteers to just members is again, those like really good intentions, but just not knowing or having those specific strategies and skills to yield the impact.
So there's alignment and I think training, but is so a key and finding people like you who like, yes, I've done the training, but I am always now like, you know me.
I'm like, and here's the people who do it.
Because just 'cause I can do it doesn't mean I should. And I think there is something to be said about having that peer lens of like, this is my. Faith, this is, I am a member of a place of worship. Like I'm coming from that space is really important, right?
The messenger matters. [00:38:00] So I am always like, love it. Here's some people who I trust and I refer to. And you are one, always one of them. I'm probably sure you're probably sick of all my email. Just people, I'm like, here's Candace, like, you're there. But I think that matters.
And I think like what you're saying here too is again that starting just starting the conversation. Acknowledge this is a thing and I think that, whatever faith you're in the role and the use of like group consciousness that, like, that ability just to come together in small groups of like-hearted folks to have conversations and start there. That's where we start and we plant those seeds and seeking out eventually those.
The people like you and folks who do this work to help come in and help guide and advise and share. So I'm curious if you could share like a little bit about what you do and for anyone listening, how people can connect with you and the work you do in the communities. [00:39:00]
Candace Wallace (she/her): Yeah, so I am so elated and excited to serve as a coach a consultant.
I still have a leg in the public health sector, if you will, when it comes to introducing trauma-informed practice and hoping them to integrate into strategies and programming, et cetera. But I'm leaning more these days into the faith-based sector and I support with ministry development community engagement, which I think is a big piece.
Where we really go into the community, we honor what we're hearing, and we take that voice in those values and we bring it into thoughts and consideration and practice when developing programs and services and initiatives. I coach, I love that. I feel coaching is necessary for ministry leaders.
That's a big thing we did not talk about, but there needs to be [00:40:00] a place of safety for them as well. So. There's coaching. I can be located on Instagram at Crusader Chic, a crusader as in a crusader for Jesus, but very chic in my posture and affinity for the gospel. I am on Facebook rarely, but I am there as Candace Wallace, and the same for LinkedIn, Candace Wallace.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Awesome. Yeah. Yeah, and I think what's so important to mention too is that your coaching is you're a certified trauma-informed coach. Like you've gone through one of the very few ICF International Coaching Federation accredited programs that inc include that focus on trauma-informed coaching.
And I know you've spoke about just that trauma-informed self-care for leaders, like how to really apply that bidirectionality to yourself so that you can continue to show up and not burn [00:41:00] out or, kind of create buffers. 'cause you also, leaders in churches are hearing a lot of stories and bearing witness to a lot of hard things where that vicarious trauma can be very real.
And so, yeah there's so many, there's so many little intricacies and areas that this approach really covers.
So yes, please check out Candace, all of her work. So many great things. Again, if you ever contact me and you're like, I wanna talk about trauma-informed care in churches or faith-based, I'm always gonna be like, Hey, yes, let me introduce you to people who specialize in that 'cause I think in as trauma-informed leaders, this is where building relationships within our own trauma-informed communities are so essential, and I know that you and I, because we're located in the same literal, same community, like physically here in Cleveland, like we have built with you and I and others, a really strong foundation of trust to be able to do that, from anyone else. [00:42:00] We see competing businesses. Right.
But I don't ever feel in competition with you. I always feel in collaboration, and you and I have shared resources, projects opportunities in a way because there's so much work to be done and let us share it. And especially the niche specializations by all, like by all means, like again, like yeah, sure, I can, I have and can train faith-based communities, but that is not my area of specialty and I'm always gonna refer.
And so I always, I wanna really name that because I think it's so important for other folks in this work to remember, and I can't emphasize enough, find trusted collaborators in your field so that you can have trusted, vetted resources and referrals for people.
And just like community. This is a long game. We need each other. We need each other. And I can't be more grateful for you and like our meetings and being able to do this in community, [00:43:00] especially on a ground commu, literal community level.
Candace Wallace (she/her): No, I appreciate that. And I enjoy our partnership. I enjoy our friendship.
You are incredible. I've learned a lot from you and I couldn't agree with you more. Around looking at the practice as a whole and identifying which area of trauma informed practice works best for you, where are you most passionate about and serving there? I knew very early on that in this field, the intersection of TIC and the faith-based community was my niche. I knew that. And the more that I've. Leaned into the practice. I'm now approaching it from a global standpoint. I see it by way of politics. And how does the trauma informed church [00:44:00] help to per preserve democracy? I see it at the local level. And so what I'm saying is that there's various levels.
Within the area that you choose to practice. So that's encouragement for anyone out there. This can be implemented in any element of work, any element of interest, any element of commitment.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Yes. So agree. Thank you so much, Candace. I am wondering if you're ready for our gentle spritz of questions. Yes.
Lets do I say one word, but if you have more than one, that is okay. So if you could describe trauma-informed care in one word, what would it be?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Evolving.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): What is your current go-to for nervous system care. Self-care.
Candace Wallace (she/her): The Sabbath.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): What does a trauma-informed future look like for you?
Candace Wallace (she/her): Leading with humanity. Loving like Jesus.
Katie Kurtz (she/her): Thank you so much for being here and in conversation [00:45:00] with me and sharing this. I know , there's just so much we can go into and I'm sure we'll have you back to talk more. And I hope everyone can be sure to check out Candace and all of her work. Thank you so much for joining me today.
Candace Wallace (she/her): Thank you so much for having me.
