Trauma Informed Care Training 2/22/21

Trauma Informed Care Training

2/22/21

Recording link:

https://contracosta.webex.com/contracosta/ldr.php?RCID=3fd16d769287441e89a99a65a2df335a

Password:

sYShaFV8

Trauma Informed Care

February 22, 2021

Be mindful. Take a deep breath.

Take care of yourself

Grounding Intentions

Big Picture - What is Trauma?

In the chat box, finish this sentence...

When I think about trauma,

I think of...

Big Picture - What is Trauma?

“Trauma is when experiences

overwhelm the ordinary responses

that give people a sense of

control, connection, and meaning

.”

Some Frameworks of Trauma

Ongoing

Collective

Individual

Historical

Systemic

Single event or

lived experience

that has lasting

effects.

Discrimination and

oppression (isms)

in our social

arrangements and

systems that

promote inequity.

Emotional and

psychological

physical wounding

over the lifespan and

across generations.

When a traumatic

event/series of

events affects

many people.

Ongoing or

continuous lived

experiences that

are traumatic.

Each breakout group will focus on one type of trauma.

Brainstorm ways people might experience this type of trauma.

Community

Violence

Intimate

Partner

Violence

Childhood

Trauma

Gender Based

Abuse

POVERTY

RACISM

Mass Incarceration

Traumatic Grief

and Loss

Natural Disasters

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Refugee Trauma

Historical/Cultural Trauma

Car Accidents &

Personal injuries

VICARIOUS

COVID

Homophobia

&Transphobia

WAR

₆

Common Responses to Carrying Trauma

• Avoidance/numbing/isolating

• Distracted, difficulty concentrating,

hypervigilance

• Physical symptoms

• Anxiety/hostility/blaming/attacking

Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience and Chamberlain, L., Amazing Brain Series

8

Thinking/

Rational Brain

Cerebral Cortex

How Our Brain Responds & Impacts our Body and

Behavior

Emotional

Brain

Limbic System

Instinctual

Brain

Brain Stem

1. What was the experience like for you?

2. How is it like trauma lodged in our bodies?

Rock in Your Shoe

Niroga mood shifting

exercises

Twist Your Torso and Release Tension

Shift Our Perspective

What is wrong?

What is wrong with you?

Instead of asking...

Foster Safety and Well-Being

Consider asking...

What is working well?

What are your

strengths?

What is going on?

What have you experienced?

How can I support you?

What would be helpful?

Vicarious Trauma or Compassion

Fatigue

Vicarious trauma is the emotional

residue of exposure that service

providers have from working with

people as they are hearing their

trauma stories and become witnesses

to the pain, fear, and terror that

trauma survivors have endured.

Common Responses/Feelings to

Vicarious Trauma:

15

- Change in worldview

- Frustration

- Hopelessness

- Guilt

- Stress

- Disconnection

- Cynicism

- Blaming/Judgmental

- Fear

- Chronic exhaustion

- Physical ailments

- Impact on

self-perception

Calming and Connected Responses

Mirror Neurons

Physiologically we can mirror each other's

responses to trauma and toxic stress.

We can also offer calming and connecting responses.

17

Before

Check in with Yourself

● How am I feeling?

● Physically?

● Emotionally?

● Mentally

QUICK TIPS

For Trauma Informed Conversations

18

QUICK TIPS

For Trauma Informed Conversations

Establish a Relationship

-Open with a greeting and introduce

yourself. “Good morning, my name is _.”

-Be transparent. “As part of my role I

need to ask some personal questions.

These are important because _____”

Be Sensitive and Slow Down

-Pay attention to how other person is

responding and shift. “Would you like

some water?”

-Check in. “Do you need a moment?”

-Pause. Don’t rush through topics.

Be Flexible and Responsive

-Ask what would make the

conversation more comfortable.

Maybe,: Go to a more private space?

Take a walk during conversation ?

Write down a difficult response ?

Be Empathetic and Encouraging

-Acknowledge questions may be

difficult.

-Acknowledge their experiences have

been difficult and try to see goodness

in them.

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family

ritual

cultural practices

exercise

friends

spiritual resources

agency support

work/life balance

connection

safety

S.T.O.P Practice

How Might We Shift…

● How do we tune into our experiences?

● How do we care for ourselves and each other?

● What is one small step that we can take tomorrow?

Staci Haines (2020) - How to Nourish Your Resilience in a Time of Trauma

We are in a historic moment in our world of more recognition of

the impacts of many people’s experiences that may be traumatic.

Contact info

The Alliance to End Abuse

www.ContraCostaAlliance.org

[email protected]

22

Kathryn Burroughs

[email protected]

Vanessa Sequeira-Garza

[email protected]

QUICK TIPS

For Trauma Informed Conversations

Before and After

• Check in with Yourself

⇒ How am I feeling? Physically? Emotionally? Mentally? ⇒ What are my hopes for this conversation?

⇒ How did this conversation go? Do I need to debrief with someone? Use the self-care wheel • Ground Yourself

⇒ Take a few deep breaths ⇒ Touch your feet to the ground

In Conversation

• Focus on the Relationship ⇒ Open with a greeting ⇒ Introduce yourself

⇒ Share your intentions, let them know what to expect

⇒ E.g., “Hello, my name is ____.” “What is your name?” “Nice to meet you.” “I work with

____. I was hoping to check in with you (and/or) ask you a few questions about ____.”

• Slow Down

⇒ _{An elevated heart rate can speed up interactions – focus on slowing down your speech and} taking pauses while talking

⇒ _{This can invite calmness into the conversation for both parties}

⇒ _{Don’t rush through topics, take time to engage with this person on a human level} • _{Be Sensitive}

⇒ _{Pay attention to how the other person is responding - notice when they are becoming upset} or uncomfortable

⇒ If they are becoming upset or agitated, slow down and shift the conversation (e.g., “Would you like some water?”)

⇒ Check in (e.g., “How is this conversation going for you? Do you need a moment?”)

⇒ Be transparent and mindful about the questions you ask. (e.g., “As part of my role I need to ask some sensitive and personal questions. These are important because _____”)

• Be Empathetic

⇒ Acknowledge when questions might be difficult to answer ⇒ Acknowledge when their experiences have been challenging • Be Flexible and Responsive

⇒ Ask what would make the conversation more comfortable for this person.

Perhaps they want to go to a more private space? Perhaps a walk along conversation without direct eye contact? Perhaps they would like to write down a difficult response rather than saying it aloud? Sometimes “objectifying” challenging topics can make them easier to discuss (e.g., “The event/situation/emotion”)

• Be Encouraging

INFORMATION UNDERSTANDING HOW WOULD I DO IT? Slide # Confusing because: In the same way because: Applicable

Not Applicable Clear because: In my work by:

Would like to know more about: In my life by:

Sharing it by:

INFORMATION UNDERSTANDING HOW WOULD I DO IT? Slide # Confusing because: In the same way because: Applicable

Not Applicable Clear because: In my work by:

Would like to know more about: In my life by:

Sharing it by:

INFORMATION UNDERSTANDING HOW WOULD I DO IT? Slide # Confusing because: In the same way because: Applicable

Not Applicable Clear because: In my work by:

Would like to know more about: In my life by: