Webinar: Vicarious Trauma in the Workplace, Understanding and Creating a Trauma-Informed Culture

March 19th at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

For Community Social Services

PLEASE NOTE: This webinar will not be recorded

Vicarious trauma is an often-overlooked consequence of working with individuals or communities affected by trauma. For professionals in social services, or any field dealing with sensitive or traumatic content, understanding the impact of vicarious trauma is essential for maintaining well-being and fostering a supportive work environment.

This webinar is designed for professionals at all levels who are looking to gain a deeper understanding of vicarious trauma and implement strategies to protect both individual and organizational well-being. Join us to learn how you can contribute to a healthier, more resilient workplace.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

Understand the concept of vicarious trauma, its differences from burnout and secondary stress, and the risk factors that contribute to its development, including job roles, exposure to traumatic material, and personal history.
Recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout and vicarious trauma, including physical, emotional, and behavioral indicators in oneself or colleagues.
Apply the Stress Pain Container visual tool as an effective strategy for managing stress and trauma.
Acknowledge the role of past trauma in influencing the experience of vicarious trauma and recognize how this can affect emotional well-being.
Implement self-help tools and strategies to protect against vicarious trauma, such as self-care practices, professional boundaries, and building support systems.
Develop strategies for fostering a trauma-informed workplace culture, promoting mutual care and understanding, and preventing the impact of vicarious trauma within the team.

Presenters:

Alyson Quinn (MSW) has been an adjunct professor at UBC School of Social work for 7 years and has recently taught in the Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology. She has been a counsellor for 30 years specializing in group therapy, trauma therapy, and conflict resolution. She is a clinical counsellor with a master’s degree from the University of British Columbia and a Diploma in Conflict Resolution from Royal Roads University. Alyson has taught students in a Trauma Informed Counselling class, in a Group work class, and in Social Work Integrative Seminars and has a great deal of experience as an individual and couple’s counsellor. Alyson is the Director of the Trauma informed Practice Institute where she delivers, along with colleagues, workshops on Trauma informed Practice. She is an author of 5 published books and a chapter in Holistic Engagement: Transformative Social Work Education in the 21st Century where she outlines her pedagogy for an Integrative Practice. Her books including her latest book Heal Trauma: How to Feel it, Unlock Patterns and Release it can be found on these websites alysonquinnwrites.com.www.traumainformedpracticeinstitute.com

Taj Dhanoa RCC, MA, BSc (Hons) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), she is a member of the BCACC (British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors). Taj has 2 degrees in Psychology, as well as a background in neuroscience and has published several research papers in the world’s top scientific journals. Taj has worked both independently and as a member of several inter-disciplinary mental health teams within the health authorities, including the UBC Mood Disorders centre for over 10 years. She provides a range of evidence-based psychotherapy and counselling services from a person-centred, strengths-based and trauma informed perspective.

Taj is engaged in therapeutic work as an individual and group therapist, a researcher as well as a clinical instructor. Her work focuses on chronic pain, anxiety, bipolar disorder, problems with emotion regulation, trauma and the many issues affecting quality of life.