Wellness as a Radical Act: Awareness and Advocacy for Secondary Traumatic Stress
In systems built to maximize “productivity” and “output,” we take the radical stance that our wellbeing is essential and cannot be separated from the wellbeing of our clients. Come share in a community learning environment where we will acquaint ourselves with what STS is (and is not) as we explore the ways in which holding and witnessing suffering in our work can show up in our personal and professional lives. Using quiet individual reflective opportunities, small group activities, case vignettes and large group learning, we will discuss how to notice STS in ourselves, our colleagues, as we think about advocacy opportunities within our work to challenge and change systems. Come rest in community, as we consider how to mitigate the impact of STS and find collective hope and care.
This workshop is intended for those engaged in work where exposure to the suffering in others’ lives is a regular part of their day. Supervisors are highly encouraged to attend as they are often the front line of building staff awareness of these experiences and creating support plans.
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Recognize signs, symptoms, and risk factors for Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS)
- Understand how culture, race, gender, other identities, lived experiences, systemic oppression, and implicit bias impact STS
- Learn strategies to reduce the impact of STS
- Identify how to support yourself, your team and/or supervisees in safely sharing the emotional experience of trauma work
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Recognize signs, symptoms, and risk factors for Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS)
- Understand how culture, race, gender, other identities, lived experiences, systemic oppression, and implicit bias impact STS
- Learn strategies to reduce the impact of STS
- Identify how to support yourself, your team and/or supervisees in safely sharing the emotional experience of trauma work
Continuing Education Hour Pre-Approvals
Participants in this workshop are eligible to receive up to 12 CE Hours pre-approved by the following Minnesota licensing boards:
- Board of Social Work (BoSW): 12 Supervision CEs, 12 Cultural Competency CEs (#CEP-204)
Center for Practice Transformation – University of Minnesota has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7404. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Center for Practice Transformation – University of Minnesota is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
About the Presenter
Katrina Cisneros, LICSW
Katrina Cisneros, LICSW is a full-time Senior Teaching faculty member at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities School of Social Work. She is a bilingual clinical social work practitioner and has expertise in working with chronically stressed individuals and families in a variety of complex practice areas including public child welfare, adoption, youth homelessness, community mental health (both outpatient and in-home) and international humanitarian mental health work. She has provided years of both individual and group clinical supervision and is a consultant, trainer, and speaker. Katrina is on a lifelong journey of unlearning and learning.