If young people have experienced chronic and/or traumatic stress it can show up in their behavior, ranging from internalizing (anxiety, withdrawal, disengagement, etc.) to externalizing behaviors (defiance, power struggles, aggression, etc.). We are most effective in responding to these challenging behaviors when we view behavior as a form of communication and address the young person’s needs for safety, belonging, and feeling valued.  In this session, we explored trauma-informed mindsets and strategies to address the social-emotional and behavioral needs of the young people you work with and care for.