About EPower & Associates

Changes in our Organization

Since 1982, we’ve offered corporations and agencies exceptional skills in instructor led training, the development of competency-based learning, and organization development. Our clients (see list below) have ben some of the most successful organizations in multiple industries. And in the mid-1990s, we became involved in healthcare. delivering training around the world that focuses on helping people heal from overwhelming experience. That same knowledge supports improved customer service, reduced conflict, job performance, and better service delivery.

We know from the research that increasing Emotional Intelligence (EQ) has incredible positive benefits in a person’s career and their relationships. We know from the research that the skills in EQ are the same skills in Trauma recovery. Every individual and organization benefits from reducing the impact of overwhelming experiences, and from increasing EQ for all employees from the C suite down.

In 2020, we created the Trauma Informed Academy® as part of Epower & Associates, Inc. to develop a comprehensive approach to address the three key elements that are foundational to EQ and trauma recovery: becoming Trauma-Responsive, coping with change, and developing sturdiness and resilience. We knew it was time to bring this work to the forefront.

Our Mindset

We do—as we always have--extraordinary work from extraordinary perspectives. Our core values are trust, respect, collaboration, balance, and brilliance. Our primary influences are relational- cultural theory, trauma psychology, organizational development, sociology, adult learning, and competency-based human resource development.

The Trauma Informed Academy

The Trauma Responsive System (TRS) is our signature work, housed in The Trauma Informed Academy. It blends Emotional Intelligence (EQ) with Trauma Informed (TI) thinking and is evidence-informed both from the worlds of multidisciplinary quantitative and qualitative research.

The core topics in the model address skills common to both TI and EQ that are part of or support those that are needed for coping and recovery.

In addition to the Core Course, which is 12 modules, 9 of which are our model shown, we offer specialty training for Mental Health Professionals, Educators, and Healthcare providers. In each, we integrate additional modules on how this work relates to being Trauma Informed. Here’s what people tell us:

"This is an amazing program and I have learned so much about the population we serve as well as my own thought processes and how I reach others." -- Kathy

"What an incredible experience! The TIA program has transformed them. I heard comments like, "When a child is misbehaving, I think about what might be causing the behavior. It helps me understand and connect with the child in a new way." Comments like this are so simple, but so profound. I truly hope you can travel to Zambia with us so you can experience the incredible culture and meet the people whose lives have been impacted by your involvement. " -- Kristin

"I have taken other trauma training but this by far is the best I have participated due to the interactions that we have with each other; the chat rooms etc. Thank you for ALL you do." -- Participant

Legacy work

Our work in instructional design is now a smaller part of our work, and while we may take on an occasional course to create, we'd rather help folks master the basics of instructional design. Our self-directed program, Build Winning courses, helps talent development people in private practice or internal to an agency develop serious chops in the classic basics that undergird current development of learning.

More News

January 2023-- EPower & Associates, Inc. and The Trauma Informed Academy (TIA) are pleased to announce the launch of two new self-paced programs. The programs are self-paced versions of the Trauma Informed Academy's core program and their flagship work on Resilience called "Elastic." Both use a platform that is device agnostic, available 24x7 on any internet-enabled device, provides gamification, and is easy to use. Certificates are available, as are live training calls.

The TIA's core program helps Residential Treatment Programs meet the requirements for the QRTP program, and helps other congregate care facilities meet F699 requirements. Go to https://traumainformedcare.com to learn more about the self-paced TIA, and to https://thetraumainformedacademy.xperiencify.io/ to learn more about the Resilience program.

December 2022--Elizabeth Power, M.Ed. of The Trauma Informed Academy has been selected as a Fulbright Specialist in Trauma Informed Care and Trauma Informed Processes. She is on the roster for three years, helping countries around the world with short-term projects that decrease the time, trauma, and costs of healing for individuals, communities, and organizations.

November 2022--EPower & Associates is now providing training and development services to Voltyx, a leading provder of project management, construction and testing in electric utilities.

October 2022--The Trauma Informed Academy's full 42 week program is now available to everyone! And, we're working on a new design and update that will be more engaging for everyone. Its short lessons with actionable handouts and weekly training calls help learners master the combination of trauma-informed care with emotional intelligence. We've also finalized our courses for Educators on Trauma-Responsive Teaching and Creating Trauma-Responsive Classrooms, which continue to help teachers have classrooms that are less stressful and more conducive to learning. These are available as onsite PDs or online as a series of webinars.

September 2022--Ever the early adopters, EPower & Associates' is now using the most robust adult learning platform with gamification, eXperiencify. EP&A is moving all of their courses on Trauma, Resilience, and Change to this platform with an anticipated launch date of January 2023. All EP&A Programs remain available in their current formats as well. May 2022--EPower & Associates' is now a certified supplier of training and writing services to META, working with the Facebook Research Group.

June 2021--EPower & Associates' new program, The Trauma Informed AcademyTM launched with the enrollment of three residential treatment programs in Virigina using the training in support of becoming Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTPs).

Feb 2021--EPower & Associates, Inc published the first of five in Elizabeth Power's new Healer series. Healer: Reducing Crises blends personal and professional development in easy-to-read knowledge and practical every day skills.

Apr 2020--The EPower Change Institute offers its evidence-informed program on amplifying resilience using self-care to an online group of 40 with exceptional results. Based on a researched and adapted schema, Amplifying Resilience Using Self-Care teaches learners how to refocus self-care actions through seven C's to increase the impact.

Nov 2019--The Japanese model using both TI-Med and The Trauma Informed Academy's influence has been published. The cover image, a bowl mended with gold, is symbolic of Kintsugi. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of putting broken pottery pieces back together with gold - built on the idea that in embracing flaws and imperfections, you can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art. EPower & Associates operates The Trauma Informed Academy and focuses on personal and professional development through a trauma-responsive lens.

Oct 2019--The Trauma Informed AcademyTM piloted its new program, The Sacredness of Trauma, in Minneapolis MN. Designed to help faith communities that have a scripture (Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and more). The program reduces the stigma of trauma by helping learners connect their faith history to solid knowledge about the universality of trauma, how it impacts people, and congregational responses. The creation of sacred space to hear and bear witness the stories we all carry in ways that are healing.

Oct 2018--Elizabeth Power, M.Ed. is in Japan with Pamela Saunders, Ph. D. to teach TI-Med as part of Japan's national effort to become Trauma- Informed. TI-Med is the first research-based program helping PCPs and their staff become trauma-informed. Power and Saunders were part of the research team at Georgetown University Medical Center. Power served as an SME and consultant in adult learning.

Feb 15, 2011--EPower & Associates, Inc. is slated to become the sole resource provider for King County WA's five-year SAMSHA Transformation to Trauma-Informed Care grant, providing training and technical assistance in the implementation of Risking Connection, Sidran Institute's flagship program. Risking Connection® is an evidence-informed National Center for Trauma Informed-Care listed promising practice.

Nov 07,2010--Elizabeth Power, M.Ed. and Bonnie Green, Ph.D. presented a poster representing the NIMH grant involving Risking ConnectionR with which both have been involved for three years. Power, CEO of EPower & Associates, has provided evidence-based curriculum design for this program, which fosters the development of trauma-informed care for Primary Healthcare Providers.