The Weight of the Work: Trauma-Informed Care, Survivor Empowerment and Managing Vicarious Trauma
Working with survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault is challenging. Survivors greatly benefit from practitioners who are prepared to navigate the realities of trauma alongside them. However, research increasingly indicates that this exposure to trauma also impacts providers themselves and contributes to outcomes like “burnout.” The Weight of the Work is designed to build skills of service providers and clinicians to provide empowerment-based, trauma-informed services to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault, as well as to support their own wellness at work. Participants will explore the impact of both primary and vicarious trauma on individuals, reflect on how provider values & background impact their work, and will practice strategies to incorporate trauma-informed, empowerment-based techniques as best practice. It is recommended that participants have already received foundational training(s) on intimate partner violence and sexual assault but is not required.
