Working with trauma and safe practice

Trauma is about our senses being so overwhelmed by external forces that we no longer have any power to think rationally or make sense of the world around us… and this workshop is about how mind, brain and body try to process that trauma in the aftermath.

Using PowerPoint presentations, experiential exercises and discussion groups, this workshop is about understanding that process and how we can work safely and effectively within our personal, professional and ethical boundaries by:

1. Providing a basic neurophysiological understanding of psychological trauma; of what happens in the mind, brain and body as a result of traumatic experience/s and how we can help people to understand and manage their triggers and internal processes.

2. Providing knowledge and experiential understanding of somatic body awareness, relaxation and mindfulness exercises as part of safe practice and building a therapeutic relationship.

3. Exploring and understanding effective use of rewind and the use of other visualisation and creative imagery including their use as both an ‘accelerator’ and, more importantly, as a ‘brake’ on negative internal processes.

4. Exploring and understanding the potential impact and difficulties of trauma work on counsellors and therapists as a part of safe practice including perpetrator/victim transference, counter-transference and vicarious trauma.

5. In participating in this workshop, you will be asked to bring in some minor phobia or past experience that you feel safe to disclose and work with in 1:1 exercises over the weekend. Safety, confidentiality and appropriate boundaries are central to our work and for all participants at this workshop.