Preventing Secondary Trauma

1. Preventing Secondary Trauma Elliott Connie, MA, LPC Wednesday October 12, 2011

2. Greetings! • What are you best hopes for attending this workshop? • What else? • What else? • What else? www.Elliottspeaks.com

3. Finish the Following Sentence… • In small groups finish the following sentence, “One of the ways I have been pleased about the way I have been going about my work in the past days and weeks is…” • And another • And another www.Elliottspeaks.com

4. Secondary Trauma • Secondary trauma is commonly referred to as "the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized or suffering person. www.Elliottspeaks.com

5. Tips to Prevent Secondary Trauma • Focus on what the client wants. • Connect with the client beyond the trauma (problem free talk) • Listen to the trauma story with a constructive ear. • Listen for what life was like either before the trauma occurred or when the client is able to overcome it. (Exceptions) • Focus the conversation on the details of the desired future. • ALWAYS end the conversation with positive feedback www.Elliottspeaks.com

6. Best Hopes • Must be client led. • Establishes a goal for the conversation • Focuses on the presence of something • Problem description in not required, in fact, can be detrimental in couples therapy • Related to their partner’s hopes • Concrete and observable www.Elliottspeaks.com

7. In Groups of Three • Client, Therapist, Observer • Role a play a conversation until the therapist has worked with the client to establish a “best hopes” for the conversation. • Rotate until everyone gets a turn. www.Elliottspeaks.com

8. In Pairs • One person is the interviewer and the other is the interviewee • The interview have a conversation with the interviewee asking questions about anything except for a problem or their work life. • Switch roles www.Elliottspeaks.com

9. Listening with a Constructive Ear Listen for signs of: • Signs of strength • Evidence of resource • Past successes • Personal Achievement www.Elliottspeaks.com

10. Exceptions • Times when the client forgets to follow the “problem rule”. What they do instead is a potential exception. • There are always exceptions, no problem happens all of the time. • These exceptions have to be pointed out and amplified to the client. www.Elliottspeaks.com

11. Preferred Future • Concrete and observable • Mathematically positive • Future focused • Realistic • Requires mutual effort • Recognized as having a desirable impact on the client’s life and their loved ones • Detailed (can never have too many details) www.Elliottspeaks.com

12. In the Same Groups of Three • Therapist, Observer, Client • Suppose you woke up tomorrow and the traumatic event was no longer bothering you allowing you, what would you first notice? • X 10 • Rotate until everyone gets a turn. www.Elliottspeaks.com

13. End the Conversation with Positive Feedback • Allows the client to recall the interaction as positive. • Increases client follow through with developed strategies. • Empowers the client to use their best traits identified in the conversation. www.Elliottspeaks.com

14. In the Same Groups of 3 • Tell the members of the group you have been working with 5 things you have noticed about them that you have appreciated. www.Elliottspeaks.com

15. Conclusion • Update on Marsha • What will you take away from our time here today? • What else? • What else? www.Elliottspeaks.com

16. Contact Elliott • Phone: (817)602-1714 • Email: contact@elliottconnie.com • Website: www.Elliottspeaks.com www.Elliottspeaks.com