Table 2 Themes and Examples from Topical Experts

Barriers to implementation

“Attendance would be the biggest one…and I don’t think it’s actually possible to say, okay, we’re going to avoid triggering. Like it’s going to happen, but it’s more how do we take care of it around them?”

“anger management is a big deal with these kids”

Facilitators to implementation

“sometimes evenings are best”

“physical movement, that playful engagement, that there’s an actual activity where…the brain is literally disconnecting from the body”

Suggestions for engagement

“The relevance for their own lives is the most important thing”

“it’s getting them to not think this is something weird with a new dialogue because it’s a different language”

Recommendations for creating a more trauma informed approach (i.e. safe and welcoming)

“…always give kids a choice…use very invitational language”

“…having the right sensory stimulation, having the materials that we need to set the environment and the scene for the kids to be able to relax”

“…think about those…basic needs, water, nutrition, are they met? And thoughtful incentives”

Recommendations on mindfulness apps

“…it seems intimidating sometimes with the time. But if there are more options and maybe different categories”

Insight on YEH exposure to mindfulness

“Maybe they haven’t practiced it before, maybe they haven’t tried it, but they’ve heard about it”

“The most relatable thing for them is religion. You know, prayer”

Anticipated challenges with new strategies or concepts

“I think there are certain meditation that can be quite difficult and that’s not to say that they shouldn’t be done, in my opinion, but they can be challenging because…when we sit with awareness, we notice what arises, and often what arises is discomfort. And so, I think it takes a lot of skill to be able to offer that in a trauma-informed way.”

“…trying to not let external factors and external changes really affect you. You can only change yourself. So, I think it’s a concept that people grasp, but to put that into practice is really hard.”

Improving accessibility of the curriculum

“…emphasizing informal meditation is super important…much more accessible to them”

“I think that’s important to say we’re not trying to fit you into a mold here. You know this is about what you want to do and how you want it to feel”

Overall suggestions

“…with a highly traumatized population, I think more somatic-based practices are more useful—more movement, less illness”

“…having tangibles, having activities”

“The key is not so much the tool, but the person who’s facilitating that conversation that person has to be very well trained and really clear and not easily triggered, which is really difficult”