One of the most difficult tasks for staff in human service work is to successfully respond instead of react to agitated clients. While many trainings teach de-escalation approaches, few are explicitly grounded in an understanding of how trauma and stress impact the brain. And even fewer acknowledge that responding to an escalation requires the professional to override their natural “fight-flight-freeze” instincts. This two hour training will examine disconnecting our own stress response when responding to power struggles and escalated clients. Guided by frameworks of Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, and Behavioral Change Theories, the training will educate, inform, and inspire service providers to improve practices and approaches. Frameworks presented can be used in organizational settings of both children and adults.
Presenters:
Rowan Willis-Powell is an experienced systems transformation advocate with 10 years of experience using their living expertise to uplift the voices of youth peers, guide development of youth peer programs, educate the behavioral health community about supporting LGBTQIA individuals, and advocate for appropriate and equitable suicide prevention and intervention for youth. Rowan has 10 years of experience connecting and mentoring young adults with lived experience in behavioral health service settings to peer support career pathways and leadership opportunities on community, state, and national levels. Rowan has supported numerous organizations and groups with the process of developing or strengthening their youth serving programs and always strives to ensure that youth voice and youth engagement are at the focus of the work.
Liz Geisel, MSW has dedicated the last twenty years to the field of social work, specializing in healthcare, mental health and substance dependence. Her clinical approach focuses on trauma-informed practices, harm reduction and building collaborative partnerships with individuals, families and organizations. Liz has worked at several leading Boston based healthcare organizations including the Sidney Borum Health Center (now part of Fenway Health), the Institute for Health and Recovery and Boston Medical Center. Liz collaborates with the MA Bureau of Substance Abuse Services and AdCare to create impactful trainings to individuals working in the field of substance dependence and recovery. Most recently, Liz was the Director of Programs at Family Reach, a national nonprofit focused on financial toxicity for individuals living with cancer. Liz is a passionate trainer that engages participants through interactive activities, real life scenarios and lessons learned through her years of working with vulnerable populations. Liz can usually be found listening to music, playing outdoors or thrifting for old furniture in the hopes of restoring it back to beauty.
If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.
