Managing Your Own Trauma In the Workplace

Managing Your Own Trauma In the Workplace

Concepts of projection, transference, countertransference, and parallel processes are fundamental to the history and practice of psychotherapy. What is often missed is that all direct service workers, even those in ‘nonclinical’ roles, are profoundly motivated and impacted by our own identities, experiences, and trauma histories. Projection, transference, and countertransference are not ‘race-neutral,’ though they are often taught from the invisible lens of whiteness. Staff’s shared identities and experiences with the communities we serve are not easily separated. Rather than approaching these concepts from the perspective of “staff” and “client” needs, this training builds on the framework of the wounded healer previously introduced in the Boundaries Workshop. All participants will gain deeper self-awareness and insight into identifying and managing their triggers, recognizing their internal ‘red flags,’ and knowing when to seek support. It will allow participants to understand better their role in experiencing trauma and provide a nonlinear framework for healing.