Q: How long have you been an Ukeru trainer?

A: I have been an Ukeru trainer for just over two years, supporting implementation across Ranch Ehrlo programs that serve youth with complex emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. During that time, I’ve worked closely with direct care staff, supervisors, and leaders to move Ukeru from a training event into a lived practice embedded in daily care.

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

A: I work primarily with children and adolescents in residential/group living and intensive treatment settings, most of whom have experienced trauma, disrupted attachments, and system involvement. I was drawn to this field because I believe young people deserve care environments that prioritize safety, dignity, and healing – not punishment. Ranch Ehrlo’s commitment to trauma-informed care and relational practice strongly aligns with those values.

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

A: The part of Ukeru I enjoy teaching the most is brain development, particularly trauma and the brain and how this informs a trauma-informed approach to care. At Ranch Ehrlo, staff work with youth whose behaviors are often rooted in survival responses rather than choice or defiance. When staff understand what is happening in the brain under stress, it fundamentally changes how they interpret behavior and respond in the moment.

Teaching this section helps staff move from asking, “What’s wrong with this youth?” to “What has this youth experienced, and what do they need right now?” That shift builds empathy, reduces power struggles, and supports safer, more regulated responses. It also helps staff recognize their own stress responses and the importance of co-regulation, which is critical in high-intensity environments. This foundation makes the rest of Ukeru not just understandable, but meaningful and sustainable in practice.

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

A: I would say that hesitation makes sense, especially for staff who have worked in environments where physical intervention was seen as the only option. What Ukeru offers is not less safety, but enhanced and smarter safety. At Ranch Ehrlo, we’ve seen that when Ukeru is implemented with fidelity and strong clinical support, it creates calmer environments, less physical interventions and more consistent outcomes for youth and staff alike.

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

A: Remember that Ukeru is as much about mindset as it is about technique. At Ranch Ehrlo, successful trainers take time to understand the realities staff face and create space for honest reflection. Be patient, stay grounded in the philosophy, and model the calm, respectful presence you’re asking others to bring into their work.

Q: How has Ukeru impacted your life? 

A: Ukeru has influenced how I approach leadership, conflict, and accountability.  Working at Ranch Ehrlo, where relational practice is core, Ukeru has reinforced the importance of staying regulated, slowing down, and leading with intention. Those principles have led to a dramatic reduction in the use of physical interventions and I know have led to less injuries to workers and an increased sense of safety.

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

A: An Ukeru quote would be, Job #1 for all who work with individuals: Calm the Amygdala.  If we want them to be able to learn and reason, then we must calm the Amygdala first.

Favorite quote overall: “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.”

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

A: Protective. Relational. Transformational.