Learn about state-of-the-art trauma theory and treatment to provide trauma-informed services in residential care facilities; corrections settings; social services; in schools; in health and mental health settings; in human resources. We can tailor a presentation to fit your needs. Contact us for more information.

• Working with PTSD in Primary Care Settings
  Healthcare workers routinely encounter survivors in every aspect of the system. However they may not always know it. This presentation will help primary healthcare workers recognize the signs of trauma and learn ways of interacting with survivors that will enhance the medical relationship, increase compliance with treatment, and help prevent unnecessary procedures through awareness of trauma-related psychological symptoms and related health difficulties.
  


• Creating Trauma-Informed Services
  While the effects of traumatic stress may be seen across all aspects of health services, not all agencies have the resources to provide trauma-specific services. This presentation will help you make use of the state of the art in trauma theory and treatment to provide trauma-informed services that will support and enhance your existing programs.
  
  
• Ethics in Victim Services
  Working with persons who have been victimized carries particular stresses and pitfalls. Based on book of the same name copublished by VALOR Sidran Institute Press, this presentation provides both practical and experiential methods for identifying and addressing the ethical needs and dilemmas inherent in victim service work.
  
  
• Risking Connection®: A Training Curriculum for Working with Survivors
  Risking Connection® is a comprehensive program that will help you understand and respond effectively to trauma survivors. Studies show that adult survivors of childhood trauma account for a majority of individuals in treatment for psychiatric disorders and substance abuse, but the effects of traumatic experiences are often overlooked in treatment. Based on a relational framework for understanding the effects of trauma, Risking Connection empowers helpers and consumers alike and adapts to any treatment or support setting. To read more about the Risking Connection curriculum, visit www.riskingconnection.com.
  


• Risking Connection® in Faith Communities: A Training for Faith Leaders Supporting Trauma Survivors
  Learn about the nature of psychological trauma, how it affects people, and how faith leaders can help. Because this presentation is addressed to spiritual and lay leaders, particular attention is paid to the spiritual impact of trauma. We focus on the need for growth-promoting relationships; explore the connection between trauma and spiritual distress; recognize the value of spirituality in recovery; address the impact of trauma on the helper; and looks at how faith communities can promote healing.
  


• Supporting Traumatized Children in Schools
  Early recognition of trauma can allow helpers to address the needs of the child and prevent both future victimization and a myriad of other difficulties for these children. This presentation provides information about recognizing traumatized children, differential diagnosis, and techniques for helping children cope and develop skills for healing and thriving in a school setting.
  
  
• Trauma Assessment and Treatment Planning
  This presentation explores ways of using the assessment process (in addition to gathering information) to develop a respectful, productive therapeutic connection. Assessment tools are reviewed and used to discuss the collaborative development of treatment plans.
  


• Trauma Treatment in Corrections
  Trauma survivors comprise a large proportion of those who are incarcerated. Training for correctional treatment and security staff can help improve inmate/officer relations, reduce the likelihood of re-traumatizing incidents for staff and inmates, and reduce confrontations between inmates and staff. This presentation includes concrete interventions for working with inmates in crisis.
  
  
• The Restorative Approach: Residential Child Services
  The Restorative Approach(TM) is a treatment system for congregate care programs treating children and adolescents. It is designed to translate current knowledge of trauma, the brain, and how people heal into our day-to-day work with children, adolescents, and their families and is a replacement for traditional points and levels. The Restorative Approach emphasizes the healing power of the relationship. When children do something that hurts others, the response includes an opportunity to make amends, and opportunities for learning skills that will help the child avoid similar problems in the future. Instead of "doing time," the child is learning skills and reconnecting with people. The Restorative Approach offers hope for a more healing environment, less restraints and staff injuries, and a more meaningful experience for both staff and children. It is also more transferrable to the outside world, where levels and points do not exist. The Restorative Approach restores the focus to the most important and powerful aspects of our work with the children, families, and staff, which are mutual and respectful caring relationships. This training includes the basics of the approach, tips for transforming programs toward trauma-informed care, and how to manage challenges that arise in the process.
  
  
• Stopping the Cycle: Providing Healing Rather than Re-Enactment
  The prevalence of abuse in the histories of persons receiving care in mental health and substance abuse service programs is given voice in this presentation. Common treatment practices will be explored to distinguish those that inadvertently perpetuate trauma from those that contribute to recovery from traumatic stress–related problems. In addition, treatment approaches that facilitate the development of trauma-informed practices and policies are covered.
  
  
• The Story of Anna
  Ann Jennings presents the compelling journey of her daughter Anna through the mental health system. The tragic history of this particular family and child points up the failure of a variety of systems and provides examples of how a trauma-informed system can provide better care with a more positive outcome.