Adults & Adolescents

Friday Night - Immersion Group Sessions

These are guided experiential sessions where attendees don't just learn - they feel, express, create, and embody healing in real time. Each session blends trauma-informed practices, nervous system regulation techniques, creative modalities, and community connection, so every person is supported at the level they need.

Adult immersion groups are about releasing, reconnecting, and restoring. They are structured, but deeply human

Structure: Grounding and Safety Building, Guided Experiential Work, Group Connection Practices, and Integration and Closure

Adolescents immersion groups are designed to be creative, interactive, empowering and emotionally safe for young nervous systems.

Structure: Gentle Nervous System Activation, Creative Expression, Skill Building Awareness, Connection and Community, and Safe Shutdown and Closure.

Keynote:

Reclaim Your Power: Intuition, Awareness, and Finding Your Sisterhood with Shelly Moorman - LADIES ONLY PLEASE

After trauma, rebuilding trust in your own judgment is key. This essential workshop focuses on empowering women to hone their natural protective instincts. We will dive deep into actionable strategies for heightened situational awareness and the skill of "reading the room." Most importantly, we'll validate and reinforce the power of listening to your gut—that crucial inner voice that often holds the first warning. This is a session about awareness, self-trust, and taking practical tools back into your everyday life. Trust your instincts. Reclaim your safety.

Regulate and Restore: Breathing, Nervous System & Somatic Healing with Gina Fox

If your body feels constantly on edge, overwhelmed, or exhausted… this workshop was created for you.

In Regulate and Restore, you’ll be gently guided through breathing and somatic techniques that help your nervous system slow down, release what it’s been holding, and reconnect with a sense of safety.

This is not about pushing or forcing change—
it’s about giving your body the space it needs to finally exhale.

ADULT SESSIONS

Living Through Leisure with Kristina Martin

This interactive session will focus on the role leisure education plays in healing from trauma. Participants will learn what is and how recreational therapy came in to existence, its role in promoting health and healing and identifying and decreasing barriers to participation.

Therapeutic Music with Dustin & Camille

Music has been methodologically proven as an effective form of recreational therapy for mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual healing. Join Dustin and Camille to learn how music can become a healthy outlet for even the most novice musician.

*If you have a guitar, you are highly encouraged to bring it.

Saturday Keynote & Sessions

Drum the Stress Away with Tesha

Release energy, build fitness, and have fun! This cardio drumming workout uses upbeat music and rhythmic movement to create a moderate-intensity, high-energy experience that supports cardiovascular health, coordination, and stress relief for teens and adults.

Waltzing Through Trauma with Gabby Hull

Through guided waltz movements, attendees will experience how dance can regulate the nervous system, restore rhythm and connection, and reduce common trauma symptoms by fostering a sense of safety, embodiment, and joy.

No dance experience or partner is required. Just an open mind and willingness to move toward healing.

Self-Leadership Without Self-Erasure with Dr. Judith Belton

Restoring Internal Authority Through Therapeutic Art

This two-hour experiential workshop supports adults who carry responsibility and are beginning to feel the internal cost of doing so. Through therapeutic art, participants explore how self-leadership can quietly turn into self-override—and how to restore internal authority without guilt, collapse, or over-responsibility.

Rather than focusing on productivity, coping, or performance, this workshop centers on clarity, internal boundaries, and sustainable self-leadership. Participants are guided through structured visual processes that help them recognize where they may be erasing their own needs, signals, or values in order to function—and how to reconnect with a more grounded, internally led way of showing up. This is not an art class or a therapy session. The emphasis is on visual expression as a tool for insight, integration, and self-leadership. No artistic skill is required.

In Their Own Light: Uplifting Siblings of People with Disabilities with Paula Wiese

Discover the unique experiences of siblings of individuals with disabilities in this insightful, interactive session. Learn about the challenges and trauma these “well" siblings may face, how these experiences manifest, and practical ways to offer support.

Join open discussions to share perspectives and reflect on personal reactions and feelings.

Mental Reset: Boxing for the Mind with Aaron and Veronica McLaurine

This isn’t about fighting others—it’s about reclaiming control. Boxing-based movement helps release stored stress, sharpen focus, and reset the nervous system. Leave feeling grounded, strong, and mentally clear.

*Adults and Adolescents combined session (will be split into adult and youth)

Gina Fox - TBA

ADOLESCENT SESSIONS

Your Vibe Check: Trust Your Gut & Own Your Safety - Girls (Up to 15 years old) with Shelly Moorman

Learn how to trust your super-power—your gut feeling! This fun, interactive session teaches young girls to be more aware of their surroundings, or "keep their head on a swivel," in a way that feels safe and easy. We’ll cover simple, practical tools for reading a room and knowing when something feels off. You already have the power to stay safe—we'll just show you how to use it! Walk away with confidence and everyday safety wisdom.

Exit Strategy with Jeremiah Fulmer

This is a tool you will take with you. Exit Strategy teaches teens how to pause conflict before escalation, protect their nervous systems, and return to the conversation with calm clarity, connection, and emotional safety.

Anxiety Alchemization with Jeremiah Fulmer

This is the intentional process of transforming anxious energy into clarity, creativity, and empowered action. By decoding the messages within anxiety we reclaim our agency, can restore our sense of safety and convert emotional turbulence into growth.

Drum the Stress Away with Tesha

Release energy, build fitness, and have fun! This cardio drumming workout uses upbeat music and rhythmic movement to create a moderate-intensity, high-energy experience that supports cardiovascular health, coordination, and stress relief for teens and adults.

Being You Without Disappearing: Self-Leadership Through Therapeutic Art with Dr Judith Belton (2 hour session)

This two-hour therapeutic art workshop helps teens explore self-leadership in a way that feels relatable, respectful, and empowering. Instead of focusing on behavior, discipline, or emotional control, the workshop invites teens to look at how they make choices, respond to pressure, and stay connected to themselves without disappearing to fit in or cope.

Through guided drawing and visual expression, teens explore moments when they shrink, go quiet, or disconnect from their own signals—and how to strengthen a sense of internal leadership that supports confidence, boundaries, and authenticity.

The workshop is developmentally appropriate, non-clinical, and designed to feel emotionally safe. Sharing is always optional, and no art skills are needed.

In Their Own Light: Uplifting Siblings of People with Disabilities with Paula Wiese

Participate in a dynamic workshop designed for teens! Through games, role play, and open conversation, explore your experiences with people who have disabilities and learn how to support their siblings. Build empathy, understanding, and discover strategies to make a positive impact.

Mental Reset: Boxing for the Mind with Aaron and Veronica McLaurine

This isn’t about fighting others—it’s about reclaiming control. Boxing-based movement helps release stored stress, sharpen focus, and reset the nervous system. Leave feeling grounded, strong, and mentally clear.

*Adults and Adolescents combined session (will be split into adult and youth)

Living Through Leisure with Kristina Martin

This interactive session will focus on the role leisure education plays in healing from trauma. Participants will learn what is and how recreational therapy came in to existence, its role in promoting health and healing and identifying and decreasing barriers to participation.

Gina Fox - TBA

Regulate and Restore: Breathing, Nervous System & Somatic Healing with Gina Fox

If your body feels constantly on edge, overwhelmed, or exhausted… this workshop was created for you.

In Regulate and Restore, you’ll be gently guided through breathing and somatic techniques that help your nervous system slow down, release what it’s been holding, reconnect with a sense of safety, and relax you from head to tow.

This is not about pushing or forcing change—
it’s about giving your body the space it needs to finally exhale.

Our Caterer & Menu

*this is included with your ticket purchase.

FAQs

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable clothing, a journal for notes, water bottle, and an open heart ready for transformation. *Please make sure you look over each session and see if materials are needed to attend.

How Do I Pick Sessions I Want To Attend?

Before you check-out, there will be a form that all attendees fill out. You will pick all of your sessions, meal choices, and tshirt order there.

Are Payment Plans Available?

Yes, we are able to do payment plans. There is a fee. We will take your total and divide it up into equal payments. ALL payments must be paid in full two weeks before the summit. NO exceptions. Please see payment plan information within the ticket sale. Email us at riseupfromtrauma@gmail.com to start a payment plan.

Adolescents

Adolescents 12-17 will be permitted WITHOUT an adult. We will have volunteers as Team Leaders. Paperwork MUST be filled out ONE WEEK prior to the conference starting. This will emailed to the parent.

What Is "We Understand You" Summit?

The We Understand You Summit is a trauma-informed gathering focused on awareness, education, and connection for trauma survivors of trauma or mental health. Through speakers, experiential sessions, and community support, the summit creates space for understanding, healing, and hope.

It’s a starting point, a place of shared humanity and learning.

Who Is the Summit For?

The summit is open to anyone 12 years and older seeking greater understanding of trauma, mental health, and the nervous system in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Participants are encouraged to engage at a pace that feels safe for them.

Separate sessions are designed for adults and adolescents to ensure age-appropriate, supportive experiences.