Complex Trauma Work (Stage 1) the 1st phase of trauma recovery

Celia Dawson,
Psychotherapist & Trainer, Certifying Co-ordinator, The International Focusing Institute (USA),​ BA, Dip in Person-Centred Psychotherapy, PCAI (GB)

Our aim over the past few years has been to convince people of the importance of Phase 1 of trauma recovery work.  This is the essential work that goes into helping trauma sufferers to achieve a certain stability so that they can address their trauma without being triggered and re-traumatised while undertaking their therapy.
 
Last month (September 2017) we were delighted to find that this message is getting through and we had so many applicants for our Stage One workshop that we were obliged to run a second workshop the following weekend.
 
It was interesting for us to run the two workshops on consecutive weekends.  We had two very different groups but what we found was that both groups were made up of very dedicated people who are determined to make a difference to their clients. Some participants were very experienced in the field but were happy to refresh their skills and at the same time to learn a new somatic therapy skills. Some participants were trainees or were interested in becoming therapists and this workshop helped them with the basics for therapists; mainly looking after themselves and preventing secondary trauma impact. This was a good reminder for everyone in the two groups.  We all benefited from the sharing of wisdom and experience in the groups.  Dzmitry and I are grateful to all who came for making both groups safe and caring.