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In a world with constant external noise and stimulus bombarding us in-person and through the screens, it can be hard to find a place of retreat, to find comfort, and to learn how to work through stuck emotions and past traumas which may be severely debilitating our lives. Trauma is widespread within the population and while, for some, it may be affecting their life greatly, others may exhibit fewer obvious signs. However, trauma could be hindering many of us from making the changes we wish to bring about in our life.
While individuals often seek help from professionals who they can empathetically relate to, often they are still poorly understood when it comes to making integrated and holistic change. This could be simply due to a lack of awareness and knowledge around the subject as there are so many complexities and nuances within the realm of trauma and our understanding of it. However, this can also be because many professionals will be carrying trauma themselves, and for some that can seriously impact their work and ability to help others.
What is a Trauma-Informed Training? Trauma-informed training allows us to raise awareness among all staff about the wide impact of trauma and how we can prevent the re-traumatization of clients in settings that are meant to support and assist healing. It acknowledges past trauma and the resulting coping mechanisms when attempting to understand the behaviours of those we are working alongside. It means bringing empathy and compassion to every interaction and creating a safe and accessible space for all.
Trauma-informed training also brings awareness to vicarious trauma.
Vicarious trauma is a process of change that occurs from empathetic engagement with trauma survivors. Anyone who engages empathically with survivors of trauma may be potentially affected. This could include health professionals, social workers, civil service professionals, humanitarian workers, health coaches, yoga professionals etc. By learning the necessary coping mechanisms for vicarious trauma, we are able to fully show up for ourselves and for those in our community that we are helping.
Creating Change. Through a better understanding of the body and how it is affected during certain circumstances and events (mentally, physically and emotionally), we as humans are able to ultimately return ourselves back to a balanced state of living, thus breaking the pattern of stress, anxiety, and eventually trauma within ourselves, our community and our globe.
The Self Agency Academy has partnered with Legacy Motion to cocreate our 20Hr Trauma-Informed Training. Legacy Motion is a non-profit organization that promo
tes resilience, empowerment, trauma resolution, psychosocial coexistence, peace and community building through restorative, movement-based practices.
If you feel this course would benefit yourself, your workplace, and/or your community – we would love to have you join us for our online training ,September 11-13, live and interactive with both Kirsten and myself.