The world Is a bit much right now.
internal Communications for an overwhelmed workforce
Internal Calms™ is an approach to employee communications built for today’s world. It’s time to commit to less noise and more clarity, so your people can stay focused, connected, and ready for what’s next.
THE STEADY WORK
The official Internal Calms practitioner series.
Three workshops. One curriculum. A completely different way of thinking about your work. Start with the neuroscience. Build the foundation. Redesign the system.
The STEADY HOUR
One hour. Director-level advising. A clear path forward.
Bring your most pressing communications challenge. You’ll leave with clarity and two or three ideas to build from — no long-term commitment required.
WORK WITH ELLEN
Audits, listening strategy, and ongoing partnership.
Need a full picture of what your communications strategy is actually doing to your people? Ready for something more sustained? There’s a fit for where you are.
Hi, I’m Ellen.
I’m a trauma-informed leader, internal communications consultant, and expert storyteller passionate about building clarity and trust in the workplace. With 20 years’ experience across tech, healthcare, and journalism, I help organizations communicate with empathy and intention, creating lasting impact for teams everywhere — even in ongoing uncertainty.
I'm based in Portland, Oregon, and work with organizations nationwide.
Why this? Why now?
Climate anxiety, layoffs, AI headlines, political division — these aren’t occasional disruptions anymore. They’re the daily soundtrack of work. Employees are showing up with their nervous systems already activated before they even open their laptops.
Yet we’re still communicating like it’s 2019.
The Internal Calms approach works with nervous systems, not against them. It recognizes that what happens in the lives of employees — from traumatic events to chronic stress — fundamentally changes how we process information.
This approach doesn’t eliminate uncertainty. But we can help people stay steady within it by communicating with clarity and humanity — consistently, transparently, and with deep respect for what our people are carrying.