509 - The Trauma-Informed Professional
Karla Belzer, Family Life Educator, University of Illinois Extension
Becoming “trauma-informed” means recognizing that people often have many different types of trauma in their lives. People who have been traumatized need support and understanding from those around them, including recreation professionals. Often, trauma survivors can be retraumatized by well-meaning caregivers and community service providers. The Illinois Trauma-Informed Care Approach project seeks to educate communities about the effects of trauma on clients, coworkers, friends, family, and ourselves. Understanding the influence of trauma is an essential first step in becoming a compassionate and supportive professional. This session will provide participants with a shared understanding and language of trauma, awareness of the prevalence of trauma, and a shift in thinking to become more trauma-informed and aware.
Learning Outcomes:
- Define trauma, including the shared language and understanding of trauma.
- Develop an awareness of the prevalence of trauma.
- Identify strategies to shift thinking to become more trauma-informed/aware.