How do we best support our people through trauma exposure?

Supporting those who have experienced suffering is rewarding work. Yet, it comes with challenges.

In the event of a critical incident, organizations need a plan to provide immediate support. For trauma-exposed workplaces, supporting staff with the subtle “wear and tear” of daily trauma exposure is also essential (and often overlooked).

Providing opportunities to receive integrated support at work is a key component of a healthy workplace.

What you will learn

Create and implement a comprehensive Debriefing & Mutual Support Program in your organization.

This training will give you the tools and resources to build a support program uniquely adapted to your workplace.

Explore a Continuum of Mutual Support

Learn about evidence-informed models to provide tertiary, secondary, and primary support to your staff.

Complete Your D/MS Checklist

Assess your current policies and practices and build a comprehensive D/MS program that meets the range of needs in your organization.

Program instructor

Diana Tikasz

Diana Tikasz, MSW, RSW, has worked in the teaching and health care sector for over 30 years and specializes in trauma-focused work. Over the course of her career, she has worked as a member of emergency department crisis teams and coordinated hospital based sexual assault and domestic violence treatment programs which included assisting individuals experiencing a crisis, counselling those who have been traumatized by violence, and teaching a variety of other professionals how to do this work effectively while staying healthy themselves.

She is a TEND Associate and Organizational Health Specialist for the TEND Roadmap to Organizational Health program where her work is focused on supporting staff, teams, leaders and organizations that do high stress, trauma-exposed work to integrate practices into the flow their daily operations.

COURSE MATERIALS

The D/MS Training Program Workbook

Includes exercises, assessments, tools, and checklists to help you create and implement your D/MS program.

On-Demand Webinars

Complete your pre-requisite learning with access to three of our most popular on-demand courses.

One-Year Subscription to the TEND Toolkit

Access our library of resources for helping professionals which includes 100+ videos, resources, and strategies.

JOIN US FOR A FOUR-WEEK, ONLINE PROGRAM

Each week includes a two-hour lecture and a 75-minute discussion period.

Meet participants from across the world and learn from their experiences in small group discussions.

Learn best practices, strategies, recommendations and tools to support the development of your D/MS program.

Week one

Broadening the Lens on Debriefing & Mutual Support

What is debriefing? We explore current literature to identify which practices are most helpful for trauma-exposed workplaces – and which practices may be harmful. We examine the impacts of potentially traumatic events and identify the difference between debriefing, mutual support, reflective and narrative practices, and communities of practice.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Friday, October 4, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM ET OR* 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Week two

Building the Scaffolding to Support Your People

In this second session, we focus on the structural elements of a D/MS program by examining four foundational principles. Using the Continuum of D/MS Models, we undertake an extensive exploration of tertiary, secondary, and primary support practices. This will help you  to understand which models will be best suited to your unique workplace.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Friday, October 11, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM ET OR* 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Week three

The Human Element of D/MS

In week three, we focus on the qualities and values that are essential to animating our D/MS structure. We explore specific tools and strategies for facilitation that help to embed these models into the flow of our workday.

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Friday, October 25, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM ET OR* 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Week four

Creating Your D/MS Program Checklist

In week four, we review the D/MS Program checklist – a comprehensive tool that will help you integrate and apply the content learned in this program. We will assess what D/MS practices already exists, what is most needed, potential barriers, and an action plan to get started.

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Friday, November 1, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM ET OR* 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM ET

Week five

Final Reflection & Discussion

Once you have an opportunity to begin implementing your D/MS program, we meet again to troubleshoot challenges and to share successes and insights.

Friday, November 29, 2024 | 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM ET

*In an effort to facilitate meaningful discussions, participants will be assigned to one of two groups for the week 1 – 4 reflection discussions. Every effort will be made to ensure that participants are grouped with members from similar sectors or professions. All participants will attend the Final Reflection Discussion at 1:00 PM ET on November 29.

Investment

$2,950

CAD + Applicable taxes.
$500 non-refundable deposit due at time of enrollment.

REGISTER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Anyone who is interested in learning more about debriefing and mutual support practices. This session would be applicable to both facilitators as well as those responsible for creating and implementing support practices in their workplace.

Past participants of our programs include professionals from healthcare, education, legal fields, policing, military, government agencies, public health, advocacy, animal welfare, and many others.

Yes. All participants of the Debriefing & Mutual Support Program will be given access to three of our on-demand webinars that cover the basics of secondary traumatic stress, grounding practices, and psychological first aid. These sessions will give you the fundamental knowledge necessary to fully engage in this training. These materials will be made available to you upon receipt of your course fee or non-refundable deposit.

We encourage all participants to set aside 3-hours of protected time prior to the beginning of the program to review the introductory material.

You will require a reliable internet connection, a microphone, and webcam. Participants will also need to be comfortable using the online program Dropbox to access materials for this program.

In an effort to facilitate meaningful discussions, you will be assigned to one of two groups for the weekly Q&As. This helps to keep the group size small and to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to contribute. Every effort will be made to ensure that you are grouped with members from similar sectors or professions.

Both groups will attend the final Q&A session at the end of the program.

If you have a schedule conflict with one of the Q&A times, please note this when submitting your registration form or contact Alison, our Operations Manager at alison@tendacademy.ca. Participants will be notified of their assigned Q&A time at least two weeks in advance of the beginning of the program.

We reserve the right to cancel this course should the number of registrations be insufficient. We are not responsible for any costs that may be incurred by the cancellation of this course.

In the event that TEND cancels this program, all course fees including deposits will be returned to participants.

  • If you choose to cancel your registration on or before 8 days prior to the beginning of the course, you will receive a refund of your course fee minus the registration deposit of $500.00 CAD + Tax. This deposit can be put towards a future program.
  • If you have already received the materials for this course prior to cancelling, you will be responsible for this cost ($250.00 CAD + Tax)
  • No refunds will be issued on or after September 24, 2024. A colleague may attend in your place.

Terms & Conditions apply

Yes. All of the sessions will be recorded and can be viewed on your own schedule. Participants will be responsible for reviewing any missed materials throughout the course.

In order to ensure a personalized experience for all participants, registration for this program is limited. If the current session is full, please email Alison, our Operations Manager, to be placed on our waiting list.

Yes. We offer our Debriefing & Mutual Support Training Program as an in-house training to organizations. Contact Alison, Operations Manager, to learn more.

Class size is limited.

We anticipate that this event will sell out quickly. Please let us know as soon as possible if you intend to participate.

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