I have provided trainings to organizations across New Mexico, including: ABQ Scoliosis and Spine Therapy; Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD); Crossroads for Women; Emerge NM; First Choice Community Healthcare; La Sala Crisis Triage Center; Law Office of the Public Defender; Motivational Interviewing Training Center (MITC); New Day Youth and Family Services; New Mexico Solutions; Not Our Farm; Paws and Stripes; Pegasus Legal Services for Children; Recovery Services of New Mexico, and more!
We've all been bored or zoned out in a training before! I aim for my participants to feel engaged and energized. My trainings are collaborative, experiential, and informative (and hopefully fun). I strive to accommodate a variety of learning styles. I can do many different time formats, such as full day, 3 hour blocks, multi day trainings, and so on. I am able to do virtual trainings nationwide or in-person meetings in New Mexico. All trainings can be modified for a variety of populations served, including unhoused, justice involved, youth, women, etc.
Training Topics (click on each for descriptions):
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Long COVID and Mental Health
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Mindfulness and Concepts of Buddhist Psychology
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Body Acceptance and Body Neutrality
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Reintegration after Incarceration
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Substance Use in the Family: Compassionate Boundaries
Harm Reduction Psychotherapy
Harm reduction psychotherapy is a collaborative, empowering approach to helping clients reduce harm in their lives. Practitioners use a nuanced, compassionate perspective to explore the behaviors causing a client harm, without a focus on abstinence. This approach is rooted in a deep respect for client self-determination and choice. In this interactive training, participants will learn clinical applications of harm reduction psychotherapy. We will investigate the difficulties that often accompany using this non “black and white” approach, and explore how to develop a deeper level of practice. I can basically combine these two trainings, depending on the needs/interests of your agency- the psychotherapy component has techniques that can be used by non-clinical staff as well.
Harm Reduction 101
Participants will gain an understanding of the principles of harm reduction, and learn how this modality can be utilized with a variety of client populations. We will explore the harm reduction principles, mindset and values, and ways to apply them in your specific setting (such as with substance use, disordered eating, justice involvement, etc). Participants will learn more about evidence-based practices of syringe exchange, medication-assisted treatment, and safer injection sites. We will also explore ways to combat stigma related to addiction.
Trauma Informed Care
Trauma informed care is “a framework of thinking and interventions that are directed by a thorough understanding of the profound neurological, biological, psychological, and social effects trauma has on an individual” (Crisis Prevention Institute). Trauma informed care is vital in working with populations who have often experienced trauma and oppression; but it is equally essential for supporting helping professionals. Participants will learn the principles of a trauma informed approach and how to implement these on an organizational and Individual level. This approach can be utilized in multiple managerial ways, such as in supervisory practices, development of macro level policies, and cultivating safety in the workplace. We will explore the effects of trauma on the body and brain, and learn how to establish physical and emotional safety for our clients and staff. We will also look at TIC through an expanded culturally specific lens.
A Dynamic Duo: Trauma-Informed Care and Harm Reduction
Trauma-informed care and harm reduction are theories and practices rooted in compassion, empowerment, and collaboration. The principles of trauma-informed care and harm reduction go hand-in-hand. Participants will learn an overview of the central principles and values of both modalities. We will explore how these frameworks can be utilized with a variety of client populations. We will also discuss ways to apply the concepts of trauma-informed care and harm reduction to ourselves as service providers.
Healing from Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue has been referred to as “the cost of caring.” In this training, you will gain an understanding of what compassion fatigue is, how to recognize the symptoms, and how to develop positive coping skills. Participants will be educated about compassion fatigue, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. Compassion fatigue has been referred to as “the cost of caring.” Due to having compassion and empathy for our clients (while also navigating systemic issues and obstacles), we may experience emotional and physical distress. We will work on healing strategies and developing plans for self care. Participants will also be able to share and process their experiences with compassion fatigue.
Developing Healthy and Compassionate Boundaries
Boundaries are always a vital part of helping relationships, but particularly in these difficult times. Due to the collective trauma of the 2020s, boundaries have become more complex with clients, colleagues, and ourselves. Boundary setting is an essential tool for coping with compassion fatigue. We will explore some of the barriers to setting healthy boundaries, including our difficult emotions like guilt and shame. Participants will learn how to establish boundaries to strengthen professional relationships, as well as to improve overall wellbeing.
Cultivating an Anti-Racist Therapeutic Framework I
Racial trauma and oppression are barriers to BIPOC clients in both accessing and engaging in therapeutic services. Participants will learn about racial trauma, including symptoms BIPOC individuals may experience. We will explore trauma informed principles through a culturally specific lens, ethnocultural transference and countertransference, and somatic abolitionism. Through self reflection and group discussion, we will acknowledge and identify ways we can bring anti-racism to our clinical practice.
Cultivating an Anti-Racist Therapeutic Framework II
We will discuss & practice the implementation of trauma informed principles from the first training. We will learn how to put foundational knowledge of racial trauma into action. We will identify the components of a racial trauma informed intake assessment, study multiple racial trauma treatment models/clinical interventions, review coping skills and tools to share with BIPOC clients, and engage in therapist/client role play scenarios about race.
