This past May, TIWL had the honor of presenting at the 36th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference, hosted by the Trauma Research Foundation—a gathering recognized worldwide for convening leading voices in trauma research, clinical practice, and innovation. 

Our workshop, “Trauma Informed Weight Lifting and the Healing Power of Sport,” co-presented by Mariah Rooney (TIWL Co-Founder), Candace Liger (TIWL Program Director), and Megan Bartlett (Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport), was the highest attended session of the day—a testament to the growing recognition of movement as a powerful pathway for healing.

About Our Presentation

The energy in the room was palpable as participants from around the world gathered to explore how movement and sport can be harnessed for healing. Our workshop invited attendees to reflect on their own experiences with movement, challenged assumptions about what strength and resilience look like, and offered practical strategies for creating trauma-informed spaces in gyms, clinics, and communities.

One concept we were especially excited to share was therapeutic dosing, a foundational principle in the TIWL approach. Therapeutic dosing refers to the intentional and calibrated application of movement, coaching, or somatic interventions that align with an individual’s capacity to process and integrate experience, including their neurodevelopmental history and current nervous system state. This means that every intervention is thoughtfully aligned with where a person is—respecting their unique journey and optimizing for healing, rather than overwhelm. Introducing this idea resonated deeply with attendees, who were eager to integrate more nuanced, person-centered practices into their own work.

We were especially moved by the thoughtful questions, shared stories, and genuine curiosity from attendees—many of whom expressed a deep desire to bring trauma-informed principles to their own practices. The overwhelming attendance at our session is a clear sign that the field is ready for change, and that there is a hunger for approaches that honor the whole person.

Reflection from our Director, Candace Liger

“This was my first year attending the Boston Trauma Conference, and honestly, I didn’t know what to expect from our workshop attendees. I figured they’d be interested in the content, but I never expected how locked in, super engaged, and even ready to move they would be! 

Most of the audience were clinicians, which made us feel even more empowered to lead this trauma-informed workshop centering lived experience and movement. I witnessed and reflected on so many “aha!” moments as folks started realizing just how much intentionality goes into our approach to healing through weightlifting and sport. Great questions and amazing feedback made this experience really powerful.

Honestly, working with such a passionate, knowledgeable, and dedicated team of presenters - Mariah (TIWL) & Megan Barlett (Center for Healing Justice & Sport) was one of my favorite parts of the whole Boston Trauma Conference experience. So much symbiosis and effortlessness in blending our work together.  

A final highlight?  Finally getting to present in person with Mariah. All of our trainings up until now have been online, so this was our first time doing it live, in the flesh, together. And listen — after that, I told Mariah we gotta make in-person facilitation a top priority!

I’m so grateful for the experience and deeply excited to keep creating more in-person spaces like this. This work is truly changing lives.”

Looking Ahead

We are filled with gratitude—for the opportunity to share our work, for the connections forged, and for the collective commitment to reimagining healing. For us, this is just the beginning. TIWL will continue to advance research, train practitioners, and build communities where every body is welcome, seen, and supported.

We look forward to sharing more insights from Mariah and Candace in the coming weeks, as they reflect on the experience and the conversations that emerged. In the meantime, we invite you to explore our research, join our trainings, and connect with us to learn more about how trauma-informed weight lifting can be a catalyst for healing and change.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Boston, and to all who continue to champion healing through movement. Together, we are building a future where strength is measured not just by what we can lift, but by how we lift each other.