Meet Dr. Erlange Elisme, DSW
Trauma-Informed Care Specialist
Dr. Erlange Elisme is a trauma-informed care consultant with 30+ years experience, Harvard Medical School certification, and specialized expertise in immigrant communities.
I know what it means to carry stories that don’t have easy words. As an immigrant, I’ve lived the experience of navigating between worlds and holding trauma while building a new life.
From Lived Experience to Professional Framework
Guiding Principle: "What happened to you?" not "What's wrong with you?"
My journey into trauma-informed care began as a school social worker. I sat with children whose behavior told stories their words couldn’t express. I supported exhausted teachers and overwhelmed families. I worked with administrators and healthcare personnel across public and private sectors. One truth emerged across every conversation. People have experienced uncertainties and adverse experiences. These experiences shape how we relate to one another.
This work exists because I believe we can do better through deeper understanding and more compassionate systems. The E.L.I.S.M.E., DEPTH, ICEBERG, and ANCHOR frameworks I’ve developed aren’t academic theories. They’re tools born from real transformation I’ve witnessed in communities like yours and mine.
I do this work because I’ve seen what happens when organizations shift from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” Every family deserves tools to build resilience. Every leader deserves support to create psychological safety. And every person deserves the opportunity to heal and thrive.
Education & Certifications
- Certification in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery, Harvard Medical School
- Doctorate in Social Work (DSW)
- Advanced training in trauma-informed care and leadership
- Specialized certification in working with survivors of human trafficking
- Ongoing professional development in nervous system regulation and secondary trauma
- Certified life coach
A science-based, culturally responsive partnership
Grounded in Neuroscience
We translate brain-based research into practical strategies you can use immediately. No jargon. Just tools that work.
Culturally Responsive
We center the experiences of diverse and immigrant communities with humility and respect. Your culture matters. Your story matters.
Tools-Focused
Every session includes actionable frameworks and ready-to-use resources. You leave equipped, not just inspired.
Sustainable
We help teams move beyond awareness to lasting trauma-responsive practice. This isn't a checkbox. It's transformation.
Let's Work Together
Ready to transform your organization's culture?
We help you create sustainable change by moving from awareness to action with practical, culturally responsive tools that reduce burnout and build resilience.
OUR COMMITMENT
We support organizations in building resilience-focused systems that recognize and respond to the effects of stress and adversity. Through evidence-based frameworks and culturally responsive practices, we create emotionally safe environments where people can thrive, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved.
Our approach transforms organizational cultures by integrating trauma-informed principles into daily practices. When organizations understand trauma’s impact, they become powerful catalysts for healing and sustainable change.