The R.E.M.A.P Framework: A Trauma-Informed Tool for Building Trust, Safety & Connection
A Trauma-Informed Tool for Building Trust, Safety & Connection
In my years of coaching leaders, clinicians, and organizations, I’ve seen this truth play out time and again. We sit in meetings and speak in circles. We talk past one another in difficult moments. We get caught in “trauma triangles” (not to be confused with but
adjacent to drama triangles. We retreat into silence when something needs to be said—but doesn’t feel safe to say.
What I’ve learned is this: Most communication breakdowns don’t happen because we don’t talk. They happen because we don’t connect.
AND Communication isn’t just about words.
It’s about safety. It’s about presence. It’s about the courage to repair and relate—even when it’s uncomfortable. If we truly want to create psychological safety in healthcare environments, corporate environments, community environments, and even in our homes
and families, we must examine more deeply the root that sources the trees.
That’s why I created the R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework: A trauma-informed, brain-based communication model that brings emotional intelligence in communication and helps us shift from reactive patterns to responsive, relationship-centered communication.
�� Behind The R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework
Behind the R.E.M.A.P Framework are five human-centered pillars:
R — Recognize, Reflect & Respect
We begin by pausing. By noticing. By reflecting on our internal state before reacting externally. Respect starts with awareness—of our triggers, our power, and our presence.
E — Emotional Awareness & Courage
This is where emotional intelligence meets bravery. Can we sit with discomfort? Can we name what’s real without rushing to fix, defend, or minimize?
M — Model, Mirror & Mend
Leadership isn’t performative—it’s relational. When we model integrity, mirror empathy, and mend harm, we create a culture where accountability doesn’t require shame.
A — Adaptability, Accountability & Acknowledgement
True leadership requires flexibility and responsibility. It means acknowledging our impact, embracing feedback, and leading with cultural humility.
P — Practice Progress Over Perfection
Perfectionism is the enemy of growth. This pillar invites us to move forward—even imperfectly—choosing learning, repair, and evolution over fear of failure.
�� Going Deeper to Make Change
Recognition without reflection can be reactive. Recognition with respect honors relationship and humanity.
Emotional awareness helps us track their own and others & emotional states, while
Courage gives us permission to stay present through discomfort, speak truths, and challenging our systems behaviors when it feels safe to do so.
This supports cultures where leaders are human, accountable, and committed to restoring trust.
We can Model, setting the tone for safe, courageous communication and we can Mirroring emotional tone, values, and impact back to the system and to others.
AND we can bring in the essential practice of relational repair and restorative action, which many leadership frameworks omit.
Adaptability, Accountability Acknowledgement, creates space for healing, humility, and systemic growth, allowing us to be flexible in our behaviors, listening, and response, supports ownership of impact without shame or defensiveness, naming what is so, and recognizing our need for regular positive feedback
Practicing Progress over Perfection emphasizes the value of repetition as an anchoring to learning, whiile disrupts cultures of shame, fragility, and fear of failure—especially for high-performance and high-pressure fields like ours
�� REMAP in Action
This framework isn’t just for work. It’s for life.
It’s how we:
De-escalate conflict without avoiding it
Communicate with our children when emotions are high
Repair trust after a misstep with a team member or partner
Stay grounded when systems of power or oppression are at play
From the boardroom to the family dinner table, REMAP helps us show up more human and more whole.
�� Why Trauma-Informed & Brain-Based?
We navigate 11 million bits of information / second coming into our nervous system.
When we feel threatened—even emotionally—our brains shift into survival. That’s why in moments of tension, we shut down, lash out, freeze, or we default to people pleasing.
The R.E.M.A.P.™ Framework is built to help us effectively navigate those moments.
By grounding in self-awareness, emotional regulation, and relational safety, we help ourselves and others stay connected—even when it’s hard.
�� From Safe Space to Brave Space
Ultimately, REMAP is an invitation.
To respond instead of react.
To lead with integrity instead of image.
To create cultures—at home and at work—where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Whether you are endeavoring to expand psychological safety in healthcare, emotional intelligence in communication, decrease conflict in your teams, or create deeper connection in your family, R.E.M.A.P is a tool that you can use to navigate tough communication moments and create connection by moving away from transactional and toward relational communication.
Learn more about how to build a culture of trust and safety by expanding the communication capacity of your leaders. Bring Trauma Responsive Communication to your leaders and staff in one of our trauma informed communication coaching cohorts
Click here to learn more: https://mindremappingacademy.com/courses/ticc/Hospitals
Healthcare Organizations Click Here: https://mindremappingacademy.com/courses/ticc-healthcare/
