Course for specialists

Helping the helpers to help!

Working with burdened and traumatized clients

The aim of the course is to raise awareness, support and empower people on the topic of "trauma work and self-care". We are dealing with occupational injuries, with the risk of secondary trauma and the concept of self-care. It is about valuing existing resources, developing new skills, practising new behaviours and developing a healthy attitude.

The aim is to strengthen the individual and professional personality in line with individual and social needs. The training is meant to support specialists in reflecting, strengthening and expanding their professional role and self-esteem as a social service provider.

The training is designed as a 2.5-day workshop, which takes place over 3 consecutive days with approx. 16 teaching hours. This ensures intensive and concentrated work. As a result, disruptions caused by everyday (professional) life are excluded and the participants can focus on the subject matter, individual experiences and group processes, which can lead to a deepening of the learning processes.

The content of the training is conveyed through lectures on theoretical and empirical knowledge and through practical experiential learning. Experiential learning is understood as a circular and continuous process of experience, reflection, and application.

The program:

Introduction to basic concepts:

1. Understanding trauma and it`s influence.
2. Consequences for helpers: vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and burnout.
3. Psychodynamics: theories and models, identification and assessment.

Prevention and self-care strategies:

1. Risk and resources.
2. Definition and description of self-care.
3. Analysis of the status quo: "How do I cope with stressful situations?"
4. Self-care plan.

Self-care and organization: trauma and self-care informed organization:

1. Primary, secondary trauma and self-care informed organisation
2. Elements of a “informed organisation”
3. Limits and resistances
4. Individual action plan for supporting an organisational change

Methodology is based on a humanistic/ Gestalt approach.

1. Lectures
2. Active methods. Group dynamics, role-play, psychodrama and experiential exercises to engage participants actively in learning.
3. Practical emphasis: guided practices and case studies to provide practical experience and practical application of theoretical knowledge.

Trainers:

• Oliver Baiocco: Gestalt and Body Therapist, Trauma Therapist, Counsellor, Social Scientist, M.Sc. (DVG, EAGT).
• Kaire Talviste-Baiocco: Gestalt Psychotherapist, Trauma therapist, Sexologist, writer, M.A (EGPÜ, EAGT, EAP).