TRAINING: Trauma Informed Practice for Participatory Artists

Trauma informed practice “is tantamount to acknowledging the truth of what has happened or is happening in someone’s life, the resources one draws on to respond to challenges, and how this reality continues to be expressed in thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships in the present”

A Drama Therapist’s Perspective on Teaching Theatre in Times of Crisis by Nisha Sajnani

About this training:

Although it’s very important to maintain the distinction between art and therapy, participatory artists are often in positions where they need support their participants’ mental health. This training is specifically for artists and facilitators and takes a person-centred approach to understanding trauma and incorporating this understanding into your creative practice.

This training will:

• Provide an overview of the physiology of trauma and an insight from the perspective of a clinical psychologist;

• Unpick popular perceptions and misuse of language around trauma and PTSD;

• Offer practical tips for creating safe spaces for participants and avoiding practices which may retraumatise participants;

• Create a space to explore problem solving using real-life scenarios.

This event is aimed at artists working in communities, theatre-makers and activists interested in using theatre as a tool for positive change.

Length: 2.5 hours

Ticket Cost: For participants who are supported by their organisation or company the full price of a ticket is £25.

For freelancers and individual attendees the ticket cost is £20

A discount rate for those on low or no income is available for £15.

We also have a small number of bursary places available for those with limited funds, please email Marianne at marianne@collective-encounters.org.uk

Access: This event will use live transcription. If you require BSL interpretation, or any other access support please get in touch before the event.

Trainers: AIDAN JOLLY is a musician, performance maker, trainer and researcher with more than 25 years’ experience of working with communities in struggle. He works on projects that seek redress for historic and current injustices, and is the Course Director for Collective Encounters’ Radical Makers programme. He is also studying for a Masters by Research at Edge Hill University, looking at the ethics of participatory arts projects. He has worked with survivors of torture, veterans, homeless people, and has personal experience of complex PTSD.

JESS MICHAELSON is a Gestalt Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Trainer with over 20 years’ experience of working with traumatised adults from diverse communities, in particular with refugee survivors of Human Rights abuses. For the last 17 years Jess has been working as a psychotherapist and trainer for Freedom from Torture. Jess also works as a freelance supervisor and trainer offering training on many aspects of therapeutic work which includes working with asylum seekers, working with interpreters and self-care. Jess has a longstanding passion in human rights as well as in the therapist’s journey when developing their work with survivors of human rights abuses.

Jess has written a chapter “Holding hope: the challenge for therapists working with survivors of torture” in Psychological Therapies for Survivors of Torture: A Human Rights approach for people seeking asylum. Boyles, J (ed) 2017.