Trained as a trauma-informed care facilitator, Dr. Kristy Carbonelli-Cloutier, DC, MBA, understands how intentional choices in office layout, communication, and clinical interactions can help patients feel safer, more respected, and more engaged in their care. “Trauma informed care is increasingly recognized as a core clinical skill, supported by evidence linking trust, communication and safe environments to patient adherence and outcomes,” she explains.
In conjunction with Engage 2026, Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier, who is department chair of basic sciences and a professor at Parker University, will present “Designing a Practice with Compassion.” The on-demand presentation addresses the impact of power dynamics in the provider-patient relationship and offers concrete strategies to build trust, support autonomy, and recognize signs of discomfort or trauma history. The presentation will also encourage reflection on systems that prevent provider burnout and promote sustainable, purpose-driven care. By the end of the session, participants will leave with actionable tools and mindset shifts to design a chiropractic practice rooted in compassion—one that enhances both clinical outcomes and the overall patient experience.
Read more about Dr. Carbonelli’s upcoming presentation below and register for Engage 2026 here.
How is the topic you are presenting at Engage 2026 relevant to today’s chiropractor?
Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier: Trauma, chronic stress and cultural experiences shape how patients engage with health care. Trauma informed care is increasingly recognized as a core clinical skill, supported by evidence linking trust, communication and safe environments to patient adherence and outcomes. In chiropractic, care is hands on and relationship driven; small missteps in communication or environment can erode comfort, while simple adjustments in language, posture, choice giving and room setup quickly build trust and improve care.
What makes you an expert in this area?
Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier: I am a trained trauma-informed care facilitator through the Center for Cultural Humility (CHUM) at UC Berkeley and have extensive experience teaching communication and patient-interaction skills in chiropractic education. Before becoming department chair, I designed and taught Parker University’s communication course, emphasizing patient-centered language, rapport-building, shared decision making, motivational interviewing, and reducing power differentials. I have also trained clinic faculty in applying trauma-informed strategies to enhance patient safety and comfort. My combined clinical, teaching, and faculty-development experience gives me a practical understanding of how to integrate TIC principles into everyday chiropractic practice in simple and effective ways.
What first interested you in this topic?
Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier: My interest developed through my experiences as both a practitioner and a faculty member. In practice, I noticed that when care environments felt safe and respectful, individuals were more likely to share personal histories or concerns they had never disclosed before. These moments highlighted how trust and emotional safety function as powerful clinical tools, and how environment and communication can either support or undermine them. Observing how much people opened when they felt safe motivated me to pursue additional training and intentionally integrate trauma informed care into my professional work.
Can you provide one or two takeaways from your presentation/topic that Engage 2026 attendees will not want to miss…and why.
Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier: Small, realistic practice modifications such as how you approach the table, offer choice, or arrange your treatment room can dramatically increase patient trust. These strategies are immediately applicable and elevate both patient comfort and clinical outcomes. Trauma informed care does not slow down practice; it makes care smoother, clearer, and more effective. Attendees will leave with practical tools that reduce misunderstandings, improve adherence and strengthen the therapeutic relationship.
How many times have you attended or presented at ACA Engage in the past?
Dr. Carbonelli-Cloutier: My involvement with Engage has evolved over time, beginning as a student and continuing in recent years as a faculty member. I have contributed through educational sessions on geriatrics, documentation, and multifaceted care, and more recently by supporting students as they learn how to lobby and advocate for the profession.
I look forward to continued engagement in advocacy and professional dialogue. Engage is always energizing, and I leave each year with new ideas, deeper connections, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Don’t miss Engage 2026! Join with fellow ACA members Jan. 22–24 in Arlington, Va., at the Crystal Gateway Marriott to learn from top experts, sharpen your clinical and professional skills, and connect with your chiropractic community. ACA has applied for CE credits in California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas, in addition to offering CE in more than 30 PACE-accepted states. Get the details here: Engage 2026 Continuing Education. In addition, take advantage of early-bird rates by registering today for the conference.
