"It's definitely not a destination. It's a journey." - Megan Corcoran
Who supports the people who support everyone else?
Meg Durham speaks with educator, former school leader and trauma-informed education specialist Megan Corcoran about her new book, Beyond Survival Mode: Thriving as a Trauma-Informed Professional.
Together, they explore what survival mode really is, what it means to be a trauma-informed educator, and why sustainable trauma-informed practice starts with caring for the adults doing the supporting.
Megan shares practical strategies to help educators stay connected to students without carrying responsibility for fixing everything, understand their nervous system, recognise their own limits and prevent teacher burnout.
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In this episode, you'll learn:
- What survival mode is and why it is so common in schools
- What it means to be a trauma-informed educator
- Common misunderstandings about trauma-informed education
- How to support students without carrying responsibility for fixing everything
- Practical strategies to prevent teacher burnout
- The role of the nervous system in educator wellbeing
- How to create trauma-informed schools that support both students and staff
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Chapter Markers:
- 00:00 Welcome
- 01:06 Why Megan wrote Beyond Survival Mode
- 04:11 Understanding survival mode
- 06:37 What it really means to be trauma-informed
- 13:10 Common misconceptions about trauma-informed education
- 22:08 Caring deeply without carrying everything
- 29:15 Recognising your own limits
- 36:18 Understanding your nervous system
- 41:30 Creating schools that care for students and staff
- 43:47 Unconditional positive regard
- 46:06 Final thoughts
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Reflection prompts:
- I have started to notice…
- I know I'm moving into survival mode when…
- One belief about caring for others I'm ready to let go of is…
- I give myself permission to...
- A deliberate action I'll take this week is…
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Episode 168 Shownotes - Click here
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Megan Corcoran Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Meg Durham - Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
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Your Questions Answered:
What is survival mode?
Survival mode is a state where your brain and body become focused on getting through the day rather than thinking creatively, planning ahead or responding calmly. When we experience ongoing stress, emotional demands or trauma exposure, our nervous system prioritises safety and protection. This can leave educators feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted and stuck in a cycle of simply coping rather than thriving.
In this episode, educator and trauma-informed specialist Megan Corcoran explains why survival mode is common in schools and why recognising it is the first step towards sustainable wellbeing. We discuss how understanding survival mode can help teachers, school leaders and education support staff care for themselves while continuing to provide high quality support for students.
What does it mean to be trauma-informed?
Being trauma-informed means recognising that trauma and adversity can influence behaviour, learning, relationships and wellbeing. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with this student?", trauma-informed educators learn to ask, "What might this student need?" They create learning environments that foster safety, connection, predictability and belonging while reducing the risk of causing further harm.
In this conversation, Megan Corcoran shares why trauma-informed education is much more than understanding students. It also involves understanding ourselves, our colleagues and the impact emotionally demanding work can have on educators. Trauma-informed practice is an ongoing process of learning, reflecting and adapting rather than a destination or a one-off professional learning session.
How can educators support others without burning out?
Preventing teacher burnout begins with recognising that caring for others does not mean carrying responsibility for everything. Sustainable wellbeing for educators comes from understanding our nervous system, recognising our limits, setting healthy boundaries and knowing when to ask for support. Supporting students is a shared responsibility across families, colleagues, leaders and the wider community.
In this episode, Megan introduces the powerful idea that education is a relay rather than a marathon. We each carry the baton for our part of the journey before passing it on to others. This shift in mindset helps educators, school leaders and helping professionals continue making a meaningful difference without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
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** The School of Wellbeing Podcast is one of Australia's best health and wellbeing podcasts for teachers, educators and school leaders! **
