From ACEs to HOPE: A New Chapter in Healing and Thriving
For years, I have been sharing the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) with anyone who will listen. And I mean anyone—professionals, community leaders, parents, neighbors, faith groups—because this research matters. It gives us language and understanding for something many of us have carried silently for too long. ACEs research shows us, in undeniable terms, how early adversity impacts lifelong health and well-being. Knowing this changes the way we see ourselves, our families, and our communities.
But ACEs is only the beginning of the story.
The question I hear so often is: “Now what?”
That’s where the newest research on Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) comes in—and I couldn’t be more excited to be certified to facilitate HOPE Sessions (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences). This is the “what next.” This is the part of the story that shifts us from simply understanding trauma to building resilience, connection, and healing.