Maine Correctional Center, Photo Courtesy of SMRT
About TiD Society
Trauma-informed Design
Our physical environment can impact our emotions and behaviors, both negatively and positively. It has the ability to increase or reduce our stress levels. The spaces in which we live and receive services can communicate safety and promote supportive relationships, or they can symbolize lack of dignity and agency, which is further exacerbated for individuals who have experienced trauma.
Trauma-informed design (TiD) is about integrating the principles of trauma-informed care, as originally established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and continually evolving, into design. The goal is to create physical spaces that promote safety, resilience, positive relationships, and healing.
In order to truly create a space that will support healing in survivors, it is important to cultivate an understanding of the people who will use the space, their identities and culture, and what is important to them, as well as the surrounding community. That understanding can then be used to anticipate and mitigate stressors and potential triggers, maximize choice, and create a safe, comfortable environment. As the users of the space develop a sense of safety, they can build resilience, strengthen their ability to emotionally regulate, and better access new opportunities.
Our Focus
The Trauma-informed Design Society is a transdisciplinary team with a focus on turning research into practice, and back into research. Located across the United States, the Society merges the co-founders’ extensive experience in human services and interior design with the rapidly evolving field of trauma science, to help organizations implement a trauma-informed approach in their services and mitigate potential triggers and other stressors in the built environment.
Our Mission
We work to ensure Trauma-informed Design practitioners have access to the latest research and resources, so they can apply TiD to their projects with fidelity.
To reach this goal, we operate in four main spheres:
Standards
Developing a framework and standards for the provision of effective, evidence-based TiD services
Our Leadership Team
Janet E. Roche, MDS CAPS
Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer
As a Master of Design for Human Health from the Boston Architectural College (BAC) and the CEO of both the Trauma-informed Design Society and Janet Roche Designs, Janet Roche leads in the field of health and wellness design. She has taught Trauma-informed Design, Biophilia, and Environmental Health and Human Conditions + Design as a faculty member of the BAC and is now leading the TiD Credentialing and continuing education programs.
Christine Cowart, MA
Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer
Christine Cowart, a dually-certified trauma professional and policy specialist, has built a career in human services with a focus on criminal legal systems, family services policy, and trauma intervention. Through this work, she developed an in-depth understanding of trauma, its possible effects, and what can be done to change the story. She founded Cowart Trauma-informed Partnership, to help organizations implement trauma-informed care practices, and has been working to merge trauma-informed care with design since 2020.
J. Davis Harte, PhD, WELL AP
Co-Founder, Vice President of Education and
Senior Researcher
Dr. Davis Harte is Director and Faculty of the Design for Human Health Master of Design Studies program at the Boston Architectural College (BAC). She is a WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP), and in addition to the Trauma-informed Design Society, she is also a co-founder of The Global Birth Environment Design Network.
Adrienne Erdman
Vice President of Research and Development
Adrienne Erdman is a human factors specialist with passions for human-centered design and creative thinking, focusing on understanding user needs and translating them into impactful design solutions for both products and their environments. She regularly speaks and writes on topics of design research and their application in real-world contexts.
