Working Safely and Effectively with Trauma - Principles of Safety and Stabilisation (Brisbane)

This is a 2-day, experiencial, face to face workshop that provides clinicians with skills and strategies to foster and develop a therapeutic resilience when working with clients who are experiencing trauma and mental illness.  

This workshop explores how movement, breath and other somatic interventions support Phase 1 Safety and Stabilisation work for mental health and trauma. The role of developing mindfulness in self and clients is also explored.  Participants will develop a greater clinical awareness of embodied therapeutic presence and how to maintain this in long term work.

DAY 1 - SAFETY:

We will explore: 

• Understanding the 3-phase model of working with Trauma.
• Working with Safety. We will explore Safety principles, Co-regulation through Embodied relationship, The role of Flight, Fight & Freeze & Fawn, Enactment and the potential new reparative emerging experience, Language of invitation and choice.
• Understanding the practical application of Dan Siegal’s Window of Tolerance Model and Stephen Porge’s Polyvagal Theory - Level 1.

DAY 2 - STABILISATION:

This day is highly interactive, with participants having the opportunity to put strategies into practice. We will explore:

• Practical Strategies for Nervous System Regulation – Level 2:
• Strategies for Toning the Ventral Vagal Nerve
• Movement and Breath as a Nervous System Regulator
• Emergency Nervous System Regulation- when in Hyper or Hypo Arousal
• Strategies for working with dissociation, and:
• Developing Clinical Resilience – exploring qualities of patience, self-compassion, mindfulness, curiosity.

Learning Outcomes

• Increased understanding working effectively with trauma and the principles of Safety & Stabilisation.
• Increased understanding of clinical resilience.

Event details (two day workshop, both days must be attended)

Date: Wednesday 13 March and Thursday 14 March 2024 
Time: 9.00am - 4.00pm AEST (Both days)
Location: Karstens Brisbane, Level 24/215 Adelaide Street, Brisbane QLD 4000

Who should attend

This workshop is for clinicians in domestic and family violence, sexual violence and women's health and wellbeing services.  

About the facilitator

Shirley Hicks

Shirley Hicks is a practising somatic psychotherapist, educator and yoga teacher, with a private clinic based in the Gold Coast at Varsity Lakes. She supports survivors of cult and ritual abuse, redress clients and Victims of Crime NSW. Shirley has supported clients of the Mental Health Fellowship through body-based yoga programs. She has been working in the Mental Health sector for close to 3 decades. She also facilitates in-house yoga-based programs for clients with mental health and trauma challenges. As co-founder of Trauma Sensitive Yoga Australia (which has recently closed) she has facilitated skills enhancement workshops since 2012, for yoga teachers who are either actively working with or have a desire to expand their skills when working with trauma and mental health clients

If you are in the WorkUP Queensland target group and would like to access a travel/accommodation support subsidy to participate in this workshop please download the application form.