How Trauma-Informed Design Transforms Spaces and Lives with Christine Cowart and Janet Roche
Key Highlights
- Trauma-informed design integrates principles that actively reduce stress and support healing in various environments.
- Research using biometric data is advancing the evidence base for trauma-informed approaches in the built environment.
- The Trauma-informed Design Society is developing standards, certifications, and educational resources to promote best practices.
- Designing with fidelity and inclusivity ensures spaces meet the needs of diverse populations, including neurodivergent and vulnerable groups.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing research are key to expanding the impact of trauma-informed design across sectors.
What if the spaces we design could actively reduce stress and promote healing? In this episode of I Hear Design, interiors+sources Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows sits down with Janet Roche and Christine Cowart, co-founders of the Trauma-informed Design Society, to explore the growing movement of trauma-informed design. They discuss the science behind stress and the built environment, the importance of designing with fidelity, and how research, consulting, and education are advancing the field. Listeners will gain insights into how trauma-informed principles can be applied across sectors—from schools and healthcare to workplaces and community spaces—to create environments that improve health, safety, and overall well-being. Whether you’re an architect, designer, educator, or advocate, this conversation offers a roadmap for transforming design into a force for resilience and care.
Interested in learning more? Purchase a copy of Roche and Cowart's new book, Trauma-Informed Design, here.
Meet Our Guests
Christine Cowart, MA, CTP, Co-Founder, Chief Operations Officer, Trauma-informed Design Society
Janet E. Roche, MDS CAPS, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Trauma-informed Design Society
As a Master of Design for Human Health from the Boston Architectural College, Janet Roche is a faculty member teaching Trauma-informed Design and Biophilia. She has also taught Environmental Health and Human Conditions + Design. As the CEO of both the Trauma-informed Design Society and Janet Roche Designs, she leads in the field of health and wellness design.
Take A Deeper Dive
Looking for more on environmental psychology and inclusive design practices?
📖Read: Transforming Built Environments Through Trauma-Informed Design
🧠Learn: Designing Wellness with Nature’s Geometry with Andrea Keller (CEU)
Key Moments in This Episode
Introduction & Context
00:00:05 – 00:01:16 | Robert Nieminen
Robert sets the stage for the episode, introducing Editor-in-Chief Carrie Meadows as guest host and previewing the conversation with Janet Roche and Christine Cowart of the Trauma-informed Design Society.
Guest Backgrounds
00:01:27 – 00:04:20 | Carrie Meadows, Christine Cowart, Janet Roche
Christine shares her career path from criminal justice and human services to trauma research and certification as a trauma professional. Janet describes her transition from social work and business ownership to inclusive design and her discovery of trauma-informed design.
Founding the Trauma Informed Design Society
00:04:24 – 00:07:12 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche
Janet recalls the lightbulb moment of learning about trauma-informed design and how the pandemic accelerated interest. She explains how personal and professional experiences inspired the founding of TIDS alongside Christine and Dr. J. Davis Harte.
Mission & Four-Pronged Approach
00:07:38 – 00:11:37 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart
The guests outline TIDS’s four core areas: professional development and certification, establishing industry standards, advancing research, and consulting. Christine stresses the importance of practicing trauma-informed design with fidelity across the built environment, design process, and organizational policies.
Research & Metrics in Practice
00:12:15 – 00:16:49 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart
Discussion of TIDS’s partnerships with ASID, EDRA, and Wrexham University. Christine highlights efforts to move trauma-informed design from “soft” theory to hard evidence using biometrics like heart-rate variability and eye-tracking.
Community Engagement & Ethical Research
00:17:13 – 00:23:26 | Christine Cowart, Janet Roche, Carrie Meadows
The importance of population research, lived experience, and trauma-informed interviewing practices. Janet and Christine share stories about capturing fresh perspectives, including voices of new staff and hesitant participants, to ensure inclusive outcomes.
Resistance & Misconceptions in the Field
00:24:08 – 00:29:52 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart
Christine outlines common pushbacks, such as assuming trauma-informed design applies only to certain project types or fearing stigma from the term “trauma.” She emphasizes that 90% of the population has experienced trauma, making this work universally relevant.
Parallels to Sustainability & Equity
00:30:03 – 00:33:59 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart
The guests compare the current trajectory of trauma-informed design to the early days of sustainability. They stress designing for those with the greatest needs benefits all, including in contexts like neurodivergence in the workplace.
Education, Certification & CEUs
00:34:11 – 00:41:56 | Carrie Meadows, Christine Cowart, Janet Roche
Details about TIDS’s forthcoming 16-week credentialing program and CEUs tailored for multiple disciplines, including social workers, architects, educators, and nonprofits. Both guests emphasize accessibility and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Resources & How to Get Involved
00:44:34 – 00:47:37 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart
Janet and Christine direct listeners to tidsociety.com for information on credentialing, CEUs, research tools, student work, and their upcoming book. They encourage signing up for the newsletter to stay updated.
Closing Remarks
00:47:45 – 00:49:23 | Carrie Meadows, Janet Roche, Christine Cowart, Robert Nieminen
Carrie reflects on the inspiring conversation and thanks the guests. Janet and Christine share their passion for the work and appreciation for the platform. Robert closes the episode with subscription reminders and final thoughts.
About the Author
Carrie Meadows
Editor-in-Chief
Carrie Meadows is Editor-in-Chief of interiors+sources (i+s), where she leads editorial strategy, content development, and brand storytelling focused on the people, projects, and innovations shaping the design industry. With more than two decades of experience in B2B media, she has built a career connecting technical expertise with creative insight—translating complex topics into meaningful stories for professional audiences. Before joining i+s in 2024, Carrie served as Editor-in-Chief of LEDs Magazine within Endeavor Business Media’s Digital Infrastructure & Lighting Group, guiding coverage of emerging lighting technologies, sustainability, and human-centric design. Her earlier editorial experience spans across Laser Focus World, Vision Systems Design, Lightwave, and CleanRooms, where she managed print and digital publications serving the optics, photonics, and semiconductor sectors.
An advocate for clear communication and thoughtful storytelling, Carrie combines her editorial management, SEO, and content strategy expertise to help brands and readers stay informed in a rapidly evolving media landscape. When she’s not crafting content, Carrie can be found volunteering at a local animal shelter, diving into a good crime novel, or spending time outdoors with family, friends, and her favorite four-legged friends.
Robert Nieminen
Chief Content Director
Chief Content Director, Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources
Robert Nieminen is the Chief Content Director of three leading B2B publications serving the commercial architecture and design industries: Architectural Products, BUILDINGS, and interiors+sources. With a career rooted in editorial excellence and a passion for storytelling, Robert oversees a diverse content portfolio that spans award-winning feature articles, strategic podcast programming, and digital media initiatives aimed at empowering design professionals, facility managers, and commercial building stakeholders.
He is the host of the I Hear Design podcast and curates the Smart Buildings Technology Report, bringing thought leadership to the forefront of innovation in built environments. Robert leads editorial and creative direction for multiple industry award programs—including the Elev8 Design Awards and Product Innovation Awards—and is a recognized voice in sustainability, smart technology integration, and forward-thinking design.
Known for his sharp editorial vision and data-informed strategies, Robert focuses on audience growth, engagement, and content monetization, leveraging AI tools and SEO-driven insights to future-proof B2B publishing.