Discover how Tiffini Johnson’s ashRISE program helps survivors reshape their trauma into personal empowerment and creative expression.
The room is quiet, save for the soft hum of anticipation. It’s the final session of the ashRISE workshop, and the participants are about to share their creations. As they hold up the pieces of art, stories, or writing that have emerged from their deepest struggles, the silence breaks into a collective gasp of realization. This is not just the end of a workshop; it’s a rebirth.
Tiffini Johnson knows this transformation well. As the creator of ashRISE, a workshop series designed for survivors of trauma, she has watched countless individuals turn their darkest moments into symbols of strength, hope, and creativity. She has witnessed firsthand the power of rewriting one’s narrative, a process that doesn’t erase the past but uses it as the canvas for something new. And in many ways, Tiffini’s own journey is the spark behind the program’s birth.
The Roots of ashRISE: A Personal Transformation
At its core, ashRISE is more than a creative workshop; it is a living testament to the resilience of the human spirit. But for Tiffini, its roots lie deep within her own experiences of trauma, survival, and ultimately, healing. Like many survivors, she carried her past as a burden, a collection of fragmented memories and emotions that felt too heavy to carry alone.
When Tiffini was nineteen, she volunteered as a hotline specialist for a local rape and sexual abuse center in Nashville. The emotional weight of this work was immense, but it was also transformative. During her training, she was introduced to the concept of neuropsychology, particularly the role of the amygdala and hypothalamus in stress responses and flashbacks. This knowledge became pivotal for Tiffini, as she found a way to redefine her own survival mechanisms. She conceptualized her hijacked amygdala as a “bodyguard” and the diminished hypothalamus as its assistant, transforming what once felt like brokenness into a form of resilience. She says, “Maybe I was always on guard, always cautious. But a bodyguard is supposed to be aware, cautious, right? I wasn’t broken; my body was simply working really, really hard to perceive threats in order to protect me. Shame of my brokenness faded into a sense of gratitude for how hard my body fought to keep me safe.”
This approach to reinterpreting trauma was a seed that would eventually grow into ashRISE, a workshop series aimed at helping others do the same: transform the “ashes” of their lives into something beautiful, powerful, and manageable.
The Turning Point: From Survival to Rebirth
The turning point in Tiffini’s journey was not marked by a single dramatic breakthrough, but by a gradual, stubborn decision to stop hiding. She began to learn about the ways in which the nervous system stores trauma. Polyvagal theory, which explores how we react to stress through fight, flight, or freeze, provided her with the language to understand what her body and mind had been doing all along. It was clear that safety wasn’t just a thought; it was something deeply felt.
But understanding the science wasn’t enough. Tiffini needed a heart. She needed creativity. She needed a space where she could reclaim her voice, her story, and her strength. This led to the birth of ashRISE.
“I realized that I wasn’t just surviving anymore,” Tiffini reflects. “I was learning how to rise.”
ashRISE was designed to be a safe space for people to explore their trauma creatively. It’s not about ignoring or glossing over the past; it’s about integrating it into the person you are today, using it as a stepping stone for transformation. Each session in the workshop is built upon this principle: that trauma does not define us, but it shapes who we become.
What Makes ashRISE Unique: Neuroscience Meets Creativity
The structure of ashRISE is rooted in both neuroscience and creative expression. Each of the six-week sessions starts with practical techniques designed to help participants feel safe and present in their bodies, which is often the first step in healing. They learn about defense mechanisms, the science behind their nervous system’s responses, and how they can use this knowledge to better navigate their experiences.
But the heart of the program lies in its creative component. Each participant is encouraged to create something tangible that represents their journey: whether it’s a piece of art, writing, or a creative project that brings their survival story to life. This “Personal Transformation Project” is a powerful act of reclamation, a way of turning pain into art, shame into story, and memory into motion.
The results are profound. Tiffini remembers a woman who stitched her divorce papers into a quilt, a symbolic act of reclaiming control over a painful chapter of her life. Another participant turned his anxiety patterns into music. Each of these creations told a unique story of resilience and transformation.
“The true beauty of this work is that it allows people to see that they are still here,” says Tiffini. “Resilience isn’t about being tough. It’s about tenderness, about acknowledging that the fire nearly consumed you, and yet, you light another match.”
Moving Beyond the Ashes: The ashRISE Process
Moving Beyond the Ashes: The ashRISE ProcessThe process of ashRISE is simple yet profound. It’s broken down into four key steps, each designed to help participants transform their trauma into a source of empowerment.
R: Remember
The first step is to remember. To grieve what was lost, to acknowledge the cost of trauma, and to allow oneself to feel the weight of it. This is not about getting stuck in the past, but about honoring it as a part of your story.
I: Imagine
The second step is about imagining. What does the future look like when you step forward? What might it feel like to redefine yourself on your own terms? ashRISE encourages participants to imagine a blank canvas for tomorrow, knowing they are beautiful and capable exactly as they are.
S: Shape
Shaping is the next step, where participants start to mold their path forward. This isn’t about forgetting the past, it’s about integrating it into the journey, understanding that it has shaped who they are today. With the right tools and support, participants can move forward with strength and clarity.
E: Empower
The final step is empowerment. Using the tools and techniques learned throughout the workshop, participants are encouraged to take action toward their goals and dreams. This isn’t about moving forward in spite of their trauma, but with recognizing that they are still whole, still valuable, and still capable of creating the future they desire.
The Future of ashRISE: A Sanctuary for Survivors
What makes ashRISE truly special is its focus on creating a sanctuary, a space where survivors can feel safe, accepted, and truly heard. Tiffini’s vision for the workshop has always been to provide a space where people do not have to explain their pain to be understood. “Every cohort teaches me something new,” she says. “It’s a constant reminder that we are all survivors in our own way, and we all have the ability to rise.”
It’s clear that ashRISE is not just a program; it’s a movement, a way of showing survivors that they are not alone, that their stories matter, and that they have the power to transform their pain into something beautiful.
A Call to Rise
If you’ve experienced trauma, or if you’re simply seeking a way to reframe your past and move forward, ashRISE offers the tools, support, and community to help you transform. It’s not about forgetting your story; it’s about rewriting it, turning your ash into color, and reclaiming your power.
To learn more about ashRISE or to sign up for the next cohort, visit ashRISE. You can also visit Tiffini Johnson’s website at tiffinijohnson.com to learn more about her books, read her blog, or connect with her on social media.
