Q: How long have you been an Ukeru trainer?

A: About a year & a half!

Q: What population do you work with? What inspired you to get into this field? 

A: I work with youth that have intellectual disabilities who are in the foster care system. I was originally inspired to work in this field by my high-school best friend & her mother. As I grew into my teens, we would help her mom with things like decorating for their events, volunteering to help with curb appeal for her group homes, etc. At 18 I applied and have worked in the field ever since.

Q: What part of Ukeru do you enjoy teaching the most and why?  

A: My favorite part is section 3 of the lecture material. Going into the brain and showing the process of how our brains were wired for survival but also showing that we can undo the “bad” that has happened. I also love going over epigenetics, transgenerational trauma, etc. I think it gives people hope when we can explain the science behind it, the why and the how of the brain. Hope not only for the clients we serve, but also for staff dealing with their own personal traumas.

Q: What would you say to someone who is unsure about using Ukeru? 

A: I would start with my experience. I’ve worked with both adults and youth, and as rapport developed over time, the need for physical management decreased. At the heart of Ukeru, that is what it is all about. When I show the clients that I am a safe and trusted person through rapport, I don’t need to use my hands or “power” to keep everyone safe. It’s also important to delve not only into trauma, but secondary trauma as well. Physical management can also affect us, even with all the resiliency skills we can build, it is still traumatic to have to engage physically. At the end of the day, Ukeru does not start when you pick up the pads or when you are using a hair pull technique. It starts the moment you walk in the door and say hello to the child, client, or youth. We are all “using Ukeru” daily without even realizing it. From universal precautions with our coworkers and clients, all the way to safe turning for a client eloping.

Q: What advice or tip would you give to a new Ukeru trainer? 

A: Don’t be nervous! Anytime I have caught myself stuttering over a sentence or scrambling trying to remember a move exactly right, I remember to give myself grace and I’ll say ‘I’m learning my backwards bike, too!’ Use humor a lot, actually. When I get nervous during the lecture, I’ll talk about how this is activating my amygdala sometimes. When you’re training with a partner, lean on them! Collaborate with each other and see who feels the most confident in which area and game plan with them. When you’re starting out, if someone else is leading a piece, treat that as your training as well. Truly listen to your teammates, it’s almost like studying and practicing. But next time, challenge yourself and do the piece you didn’t do last time!

Q: How has Ukeru impacted your life? 

A: From a broader standpoint, it has helped my confidence with staff being a trainer. Getting to train skills that have the potential to keep everyone safe while being their supervisor has been an amazing opportunity for staff growth. In my role, I also serve as an upper branch of on-call, so when I’m responding, it’s typically more intense situations that need de-escalation. Ukeru has helped my confidence there as well. Knowing I can rely on the rapport that I’ve built with each client rather than physical management has taken away a lot of fear and anxiety from crisis calls. On a personal note, I’ve learned to be more patient with myself when learning new things. Knowing I, too, am building new neural pathways daily gives me so much more patience with myself, and encourages me to try new, hard tasks! 

Q: What is your favorite quote or a motto that you like to live by? 

A: “Flying by the seat of my pants” has always been my go-to! It pairs with the motto I live by, the sun is going to come up tomorrow no matter what, so I might as well, too! You’ve gotta be flexible with life, be adventurous, make mistakes, and take chances. Just try your best and be nice!

Q: What three words would you use to describe Ukeru?

A:  Calming, Reassuring, Patient.