Looking Through a Trauma Lens: An Introduction to Working with Children, Youth and Their Families in the Context of Traumatic Experiences
Background | Learning outcomes | About the facilitators
NOTE: These workshops are now completed. The Hincks-Dellcrest Gail Appel Institute offers related training throughout the year. Check out their training workshops.
This project offered four, two-day, in-person workshops focused on trauma-informed frameworks and strategies for working with children and youth with complex mental health issues delivered in Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Toronto and London.
These two-day workshops provided a background on current understandings of how trauma impacts children, youth and their families. Facilitators described promising research and best practices for working with children and youth who have experienced trauma. The workshops also addressed how best to identify the myriad of traumatic responses using a culturally sensitive framework, and how to encourage healing in individuals and communities. On the second day, participants explored themes related to vicarious trauma and the implications of being a helping professional in this field.
The face-to-face workshops were designed to support the systems transformation outlined in MCYS’ Moving on Mental Health. There was particular emphasis on the third of the eight core services, “Counseling and Therapy Services.” The goal was to provide current information and research about trauma-informed treatment services for children and youth with complex mental health needs that can reduce the severity of, and/or remedy the mental, social and behavioral challenges of children and youth with complex mental health needs.
View the 2-day workshop agenda.
Learning outcomes:
- How to recognize the effects of trauma in children and youth
- How to better understand clients within the context of complex, developmental trauma
- How to incorporate a trauma lens into our work with children and youth with complex mental health needs
- How to implement basic strategies to assist in the stabilization and support of children, youth and families with traumatic histories
- How to recognize vicarious trauma, how to differentiate it from “burnout” and how best to understand and manage its effects on our personal and professional lives
About the facilitators:
Janine Lawford, M.S.W, R.S.W
Janine is a senior social worker and psychotherapist with a specific interest and expertise in the area of trauma. Janine has extensive experience working with children, youth and their families. She works at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre as a therapist, trainee supervisor and instructor. Janine co- leads both a trauma seminar and a trauma-focused assessment and treatment team. In her private practice, she offers psychotherapy and specialized training, as well as consultation to the Tele-Link Mental Health program at the Hospital for Sick Children in the area of trauma. Janine also works in the field of high-conflict divorce as a Clinical Investigator for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.
Erica Watson, M.S.W., R.S.W.
Erica is a senior social worker and psychotherapist at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre with a specific interest and expertise in trauma who has extensive experience working with children, youth and their families. Over the past twelve years, Erica has provided family and individual therapy in Day Treatment and Outpatient Services. Erica has developed a strong passion for practising, teaching and training in the area of trauma assessment and treatment. Erica co-leads a trauma seminar and a trauma assessment and treatment team. In her private practice Erica provides psychotherapy, professional workshops and does clinical custody and access assessments for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer.