Therapeutics of Trauma Informed Care and Management

Trauma Informed Care aims to meet the needs of trauma survivors via workers and programs becoming trauma-informed (Harris & Fallot, 2001). Maxine Harris (2004) describes a trauma-informed service system as a human services or health care system whose primary mission is altered by virtue of knowledge about trauma and the impact it has on the lives of consumers receiving services. This means looking at all aspects of work and programming through a trauma lens, constantly keeping in mind how traumatic experiences impact consumers. Workers and programs that are informed by an understanding of trauma respond best to consumer needs and avoid engaging in re-traumatising practices.

This training addresses all aspects of individual worker and larger program needs in relation to understanding and responding to the impact of trauma on consumers.

Expected learning outcomes include:

• Understanding the development and history of Trauma Informed Care
• From top to bottom – the management of trauma informed care services
• Trauma informed service assessment
• Understand the impact and legacy of complex developmental trauma
• Appreciate the role of avoidance in coping with traumatic stress
• Appreciate the multiplicity of mind/personality
• Understand dissociative functioning
• Understand the central role of secure attachment
• The benefits of mindfulness in the workplace
• How to assess and settle heightened autonomic arousal
• Keeping ‘safety’ for all as a key service principle
• Balancing empathy with boundaries and limits for positive client and worker outcomes
• Explore the self care needs of workers

The material for this workshop will be presented in both a didactic (teaching), and experiential (pair and small group exercises and discussions) learning format.

Who should attend?

Managers and workers from mental health, counselling, alcohol and other drugs, problem gambling, homelessness and respective welfare sectors