Vicarious [Secondary] Trauma Workshop
The vicarious trauma workshop is designed for researchers whose work engages them with the traumatic experiences of others. It aims to help researchers reduce the risk of vicarious traumatisation and manage the exceptional emotional demands this kind of research can place on them.
It is particularly relevant to research contexts including conflict, genocide, natural disaster, domestic violence, imprisonment, sexual abuse, and displacement, but is open to anyone who feels it might be useful.
Researchers can attend before, during and/or after fieldwork. The workshop consists of a full day from 9:30am – 4:30pm
The morning session will introduce the phenomenon of vicarious trauma: how it develops, typical effects, and broad strategies to mitigate these effects including: trauma-informed self-care, managing trauma exposure, processing trauma, trauma-proofing your relationships, and balancing trauma with the positive.
The afternoon session will look in more detail at the neurophysiology of stress and trauma response, and introduce a range of techniques borrowed from the trauma therapist’s toolkit that the researcher can deploy to stay functional and well. We discuss use of breathing techniques, imagery, and other in-the-moment interventions. We also introduce a range of methods to process traumatic experience, including therapeutic journalling and self-help trauma therapy techniques.
Objectives:
• Have a deeper understanding of the process of vicarious traumatisation and how it relates to individual research
• Be aware of a range of strategies and techniques to maintain personal and professional mental health and wellbeing
• Form ongoing contacts to draw upon for support if required
Bookings for Hilary Term 25 open in Thursday of Week 0 from 11am
See our full Terms and Conditions below before you apply
If you have specific circumstances which may affect your engagement with this event, or your meeting our Terms and Conditions, please continue with your booking and contact us by email to discuss how we can support you: researcherdevelopment@socsci.ox.ac.uk
The Trainer
Maureen Freed
Other Divisional Events
Researcher Development Terms and Conditions
In booking any training workshops, you agree that:
COMMITMENT: application is not an expression of interest; it is a firm commitment. You will be available for the full duration of the course session(s); if you are not, please do not make a booking. You will not accept any subsequent meeting invitations that may fall during the given workshop times.
PRE-WORK / HOMEWORK: if applicable, you will complete any given pre-work and/or homework as described on the workshop web listing, as it constitutes part of the workshop
CANCELLATION: should your circumstances change, and you are not able to attend the full session(s). you will cancel giving at least 72-hours' notice, so we can offer the place to someone on the waiting list.
ARRIVAL: you will join, or arrive at, the workshop 5 minutes before the advertised start time, to ensure a prompt start.
LATE POLICY: you understand that the online room will be locked / workshop door will be closed 10 minutes after the event start time and late-comers will not be admitted. This is to preserve the integrity of the course for those who are present.
ENGAGEMENT: you will give the session your undivided attention and engagement. You will not be able to do other tasks in parallel. If online, you will ensure that your environment and internet connection allow you to participate verbally and with video cameras on. These are interactive workshops, and it is not appropriate to attend from a silent or shared workspace.
ATTENDANCE RECORD: you understand the Register will be taken in the last half-hour of the course, and anyone not present in the room at that point will be marked as non -attending (see below)
FEEDBACK: you will contribute feedback afterwards, to help us understand how well the session met its intended aims, and facilitate our continuous improvement
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-ATTENDANCE: you understand that any non-attendance
a) is visible to departments and supervisors/PIs, and
b) may result in any future bookings you’ve made within the same term being cancelled, and the place(s) offered to the waiting list.