Trauma and Resilience in the Face of Despair: The Necessity of Self-Care
The Book: The Reckoning: Our Nation’s Trauma and Finding a Way To Heal by Mary Trump, PhD.
About the book:
In her provocative book, The Reckoning, psychologist Mary Trump, PhD, explores Americans' current collective trauma as a product of our country's historical roots--our barbaric treatment of Native Americans and enslaved Africans, centuries of systemic racism and white supremacy, the loss of lives, social isolation, and mental health crisis created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shocking insurrection and continued socio-political fallout of January 6th. Using her personal journey through PTSD and historical context provided by key chapters in our country's morally tainted origin story, the author offers an explanation for how unacknowledged injustices and bystander inaction lead to denial, complicity, and transgenerational trauma that silence, immobilize, and damage all members of a society. Drawing on her work as a clinical psychologist specializing in trauma, Dr. Trump proposes a way forward to begin to heal and empower ourselves, a model we can use to build resilience to support our clients and ourselves as we navigate the unprecedented daily assaults to the institutions and values we as social workers are ethically bound to defend and uphold.
Topic Rationale:
In this time of our Nation’s political upheaval, many of our clients are coming to us in despair and expressing fear and helplessness at the dizzying pace of the up-ending our political landscape as we have known it. As we support our clients, we too — as their clinicians, must find our own resilience for what is likely to be a protracted and demoralizing period of struggle and increased trauma. Drawing on Mary Trump's book and other important works, like Viktor Frankl’s inspiring classic, “Man’s Search For Meaning”, our gathering will be a safe space to learn some of the historical context of our collective trauma, get much-needed peer support, and explore some practical tools we can use to operationalize hope and mobilize resilience for ourselves and our clients.
Clinical Objectives: As a result of reading the book & participating in the discussion in its entirety, participants
will be able to:
- Explore emotional regulation by managing and acknowledging strong negative emotions like sadness, anger, and frustration while still allowing yourself to feel them.
- Develop methods of Positive self-talk, e.g. Maintaining a hopeful internal dialogue by focusing on strengths and potential solutions, rather than constant dwelling on negativity.
- Operationalize our own and our clients’ support system by suggesting ways to reach out to trusted friends, family, pets, or professionals for emotional support and encouragement.
- Discuss application of adaptability— e.g. Finding creative ways — art, music, sports— to cope with challenges and adjusting strategies as needed.
- Discover and define “Meaning-making” e.g. Finding purpose or significance in difficult situations, which can provide motivation to persevere.
- Analyze lessons from history citing that we have been though upheavals as a country before, and we have survived and thrived. e.g. The Red Scare of the McCarthy era.
Facilitators:
- Linda Barth, LCSW has worked in the field of social work for over 50 years. First in foster care as a case worker, intake worker, and child therapist, and in a child development project—then in private practice with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She uses many tools in her practices. . . i.e. Gestalt therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, and IFS to name a few. In the past, she used play therapy and sand tray therapy. She continues to grow and evolve and finds fulfillment in providing a safe space for herself and for her clients to do the same.
- Deborah Shain, LCSW, BCD is long time active member of PSCSW, is Chair of PSCSW Professional Standards and Ethics Committee and serves on the PSCSW Board. In her Elkins Park private practice as a psychodynamic psychotherapist and education coach, she specializes in relationship therapy and treatment of adults seeking insight and growth regarding their behavior and interactions with family members and co-workers. An educator and author, in 1975 Shain earned her graduate degree in Clinical Social Work from the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, where she became a member of the faculty. At The Medical College of Pennsylvania, she created and directed courses in Geriatrics and Sexuality. At Cabrini College she taught Crisis Intervention and Group Dynamics. She is a member of the Department of Psychiatry at Drexel Medical School where she teaches psychiatry residents clinical skills addressing Sexuality and Principles of Sex Therapy. She authored medical education books, Study Skills and Test-Taking Strategies for Medical Students: Find and Use Your Personal Learning Style. published by Springer-Verlag.
* By reading the book and participating in the discussion in its entirety, attendees will earn 3 CEU’s
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS:
- FOR PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This program is approved for 3 credits for professional workshops sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, a state affiliate of the Clinical Social Work Association listed in Section 47.36 of Title 49, Chapter 47 of the PA Code, State Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is also approved for 3 credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).
- FOR NEW JERSEY SOCIAL WORKERS: This program is approved for 3 clinical credits. Attendance at programs or courses given at state and national social work association conferences, where the criteria for membership is an academic degree in social work, are a valid source of continuing education credit (N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.4(c)6).