When The System Pushes Back
“When the system pushes back, presence is how we hold the line.” – Mary Coughlin
When The System Pushes Back
TIDC: Staying Rooted in Principle
Caring Science: Love in Action
BUFFER: Resilience Within Resistance
Let’s be real—presence isn’t always welcomed.
Sometimes, when you bring more humanity into the room, the system starts to push back.
You’re told to “stick to the plan,” “follow the policy,” or “keep it moving.”
You might be labeled too emotional. Too idealistic. Too slow. Too much.
But presence doesn’t mean being passive.
It means being rooted enough to stay in your values even when the pressure to conform is loud.
Systems resist what they don’t understand—until someone stays long enough to shift the understanding.
TIDC: Staying Rooted in Principle
Trauma-Informed Developmental Care is not a “feel good” model—it’s a justice-based, evidence-informed way of disrupting harmful patterns in care systems.
When we:
Insist on sleep protection during high-acuity care
Advocate for parents to stay at the bedside
Speak up about moral distress or burnout
…we are not deviating from the system—we are trying to heal it.
Presence becomes our protest. Our praxis. Our non-negotiable.
Caring Science: Love in Action
Jean Watson writes that love is the most powerful healing force in the universe—but love is not without boundaries.
Caring is not the same as compliance.
To be trauma-informed is to choose presence over politeness, healing over habit, wholeness over hierarchy.
BUFFER: Resilience Within Resistance
When the system pushes back, BUFFER can hold you:
Belonging: You’re not alone. Others feel this too.
Understanding: This isn’t just about you—it’s about legacy, norms, trauma.
Forgiveness: You won’t always get it right. That doesn’t mean you stop.
Frameworks: What values and evidence can you anchor in?
Equanimity: Stay rooted. Don’t burn out in the fire.
Respect: You deserve dignity even when the system forgets it.
A Reflection to Carry With You
Where in your work or life have you felt the pushback after showing up with presence?
What helped you stay rooted—or what might help you next time?
Call to Action: Stay Rooted, Stay Connected
If you're navigating resistance in your clinical or leadership role, you are not alone.
The TIP 2.0 Certificate Program is a home for trauma-informed professionals who want to lead from science, soul, and skill.
You’ll gain tools, community, and confidence to stay grounded—even when systems push back.
Yours, in presence and passion
Mary
