Trauma-Informed Responses for Victims Services
Virtual Training Series
Session 1, May 13th: Understanding and Responding to Mental Health Symptoms:
Balancing Rules and Expectations with Support
Session 2, May 20th: Verbal De-escalation Skills
Session 3, May 27th: Suicide Assessment and Response
All webinars will be from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the virtual “Trauma-Informed Responses for Victims Services" training series.
Participant Registration and Cost: This training is free for victim-serving professionals. Participants need to register in advance training. Click here to register.
Session Descriptions
Session 1: Understanding and Responding to Mental Health Symptoms: Balancing Rules and Expectations with Support
Effective support for clients in human service agencies requires workers to understand how mental health conditions and exposure to trauma can manifest in disruptive behaviors. Holding clients accountable while maintaining a position of support requires staff to interpret and respond to what clients are showing us without re-traumatizing them or being traumatized ourselves in the process of helping. This workshop will explore the various ways that people who have mental health challenges or trauma histories might communicate their distress through behaviors and interactions with those providing services.
Learning outcomes:
- Participants will be able to describe three behaviors they are likely to see in people who have experienced trauma.
- Participants will be able to identify two common mistakes in recognizing trauma.
- Participants will be able to describe two ways to address behavior without retraumatizing the survivor.
Session 2: Verbal De-escalation Skills
This workshop will focus on building skills for workers who engage with clients who may present with high emotional intensity, distress, volatility, or defiant, demanding, or verbally aggressive behavior. Participants will build competence in managing interactions and insight into client and worker reactions by exploring de-escalation steps and skills practice.
Learning outcomes:
- Participants will be able to identify four steps to de-escalation.
- Participants will be able to demonstrate two skills for lowering emotional intensity.
- Participants will be able to describe five responses to avoid de-escalation.
Session 3: Suicide Assessment and Response
Suicidality in clients often generates feelings of anxiety and uncertainty in workers who serve clients with mental health challenges. Because of the high risk for catastrophic outcomes, responding effectively requires understanding the basics of assessing risk and responding appropriately. This webinar will focus on specific questions to ask someone who shares suicidal thoughts as well as what to do once you have answers.
Learning outcomes:
- Participants will be able to describe the components of a suicide assessment.
- Participants will be able to identify three strategies for beginning a safety plan.
- Participants will be able to define two next steps for suicide intervention.
Presenter:
Ms. Sarah Yanosy’s career has integrated clinical work, education and administration, resulting in expertise in individual and family therapy, program and curriculum development, and program evaluation and replication. Ms. Yanosy currently teaches at the Fordham University School of Social Services and the Columbia University School of Public Health. She served as the Founding Director of an international training and consultation organization serving over 350 organizations across the U.S. and in seven other countries, teaching human service providers to implement trauma-informed interventions. Most recently, Ms. Yanosy co-developed the PRESENCE Model, an online training model for trauma-responsive practice.
Ms. Yanosy has been a keynote and featured speaker on trauma and organizational culture and has published extensively on the implementation and impact of trauma-responsive practice. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Cornell University and Smith College, respectively, and has completed post-graduate programs at New York University, Fordham University, and Columbia Business School.
DCJS Contact Information:
Tricia Everetts
Tricia.Everetts@dcjs.virginia.gov