Designing for Healing: How Trauma-Informed Design Transforms Spaces and Lives with Christine Cowart and Janet Roche

I Hear Design: the i+s podcast

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.