As the experts with the Professional Excellence Program in the School of Social Work at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies point out, traumatic events are typically unexpected and uncontrollable. Such events may overwhelm an individual’s sense of safety and security and leave a person feeling vulnerable and insecure in their environment.
On Tuesday, March 29th, Trauma-Informed Care Instructor Debra Ross with Georgia State University’s Professional Excellence Program joined MAX to lead a workshop on the impacts of “secondary traumatic stress” (STS), or “the result of being exposed to the trauma experienced by others” and provide tips on how to manage STS. This program
Following are some of the key takeaways from the workshop:
- STS is not the same as burnout and is manageable.
- STS (and related symptoms) is a normal reaction to exposure to traumatized individuals.
- People can have a range of symptoms. No two people will react the same way to trauma.
- If the symptoms are causing distress, there are a number of helpful and feasible self-care actions one can take.
- Whether dealing with STS or not, it is important to take at least 10 minutes for oneself each day.
Special thanks to Dr. Deidre Carmichael, Project Director, and Amy Mobley, Program Manager, for working with our team at MAX to bring this workshop to us.
Plans are underway to have a more in-depth training through our next MAX Academy on trauma-informed care especially as it relates to serving the customer. Stay tuned for further details.
ABOUT THE MAX ACADEMY
Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic competitiveness in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.
The MAX Academy offers professional development and capacity building training workshops to help workforce development professionals develop new skills, learn best practices, and engage in peer-to-peer learning.