More Than Cogs in the Machine: Bringing trauma-informed principles into the workplace

Curt and Katie chat about trauma-informed workplaces. We explore what a trauma informed workplace is, why it is important to implement, and how best to do so. We also explore some practical challenges to creating a trauma-informed workplace and ideas for how to handle these challenges. This is a continuing education podcourse.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode we talk about how to create a trauma-informed workplace

People affected by trauma are expected to perform in the workplace, but often have difficulty with environments that treat them as replaceable. This can lead to employee underperformance, burnout, and turnover in the workforce. Healthy interactions with the workplace can help both the individual and corporate performance. This workshop addresses principles and practices that allow for employers to create a trauma informed workplace.

What is a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Remembering that all workers are human

·       Collaboration and encouraging autonomy for employees

·       Acknowledging that trauma exists for everyone

·       Trauma is addressed in the workplace (e.g., mitigating secondary or vicarious trauma)

·       4 R’s of Trauma can give guidance to how to identify and respond to trauma

·       Supportive policies go beyond self-care

·       There is a systemic mechanism to support staff and improve

·       Based in trust and trustworthiness

What are the risks of not having a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Lower employee productivity, lower quality work

·       Higher levels of burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism

·       Recreating past traumas when we’re not aware of the dynamics in play

How can therapists create and benefit from a trauma-informed workplace?

·       Create supportive policies and procedures

·       Evaluate how well trauma informed principles are being implemented

·       We discuss an evaluation tool for this purpose

·       CTIPP Toolkit (Campaign for Trauma Informed Practice and Policies)

·       Acknowledge shared humanity

·       Creating connection and collaboration between team members

·       This may be something that needs to be repaired or built within a workplace that has problems

·       Understanding how to build, sustain trust, and effectively take feedback and implement it

·       Transparency and accountability

What are some challenges in implementing a Trauma-Informed Workplace?

·       Very challenging conversations needing repeated repair

·       Avoiding conversations about trauma

·       Digging deeply into emotional life of employees (i.e., with the potential of HR violations)

·       Practical limitations to what employers can provide to their employees

·       Us versus them mentalities and not seeing opportunities to collaborate

Receive Continuing Education for this Episode of the Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide

CAMFT CEPA: Therapy Reimagined is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #132270). Therapy Reimagined maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Courses meet the qualifications for the listed hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. We are working on additional provider approvals, but solely are able to provide CAMFT CEs at this time. Please check with your licensing body to ensure that they will accept this as an equivalent learning credit.

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Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/