Workshop: Therapeutic case management for clients who have experienced complex trauma

Early literature related to trauma-informed practice emphasised the importance of getting the balance right between the personal and the political (Herman;1992).  Following Herman’s seminal work, there has been a dearth of literature written regarding trauma-informed practice. With all the new trauma tools and methods on offer, it can sometimes be hard for practitioners to ensure that the personal is balanced with the political; to ensure that people’s experience of injustice and inequality gets heard, and that practice is aligned with trauma-informed principles. By examining trauma-informed practice, this workshop will provide participants with ways of remaining in between these principles in your work with clients that present with a complex trauma background. This workshop will explore why maintaining this balance is crucial for these clients, and offer practical ways to get this balance right.

Outcomes

Participants will be provided with the following.

• A process that assists them to articulate their own theory of knowledge and how this relates to their practice in working with clients who have experienced complex trauma.
• A model that will assist them to remain equidistant in their practice to all trauma-informed principles.
• Theory and practice methods for combining case management with therapeutic practice for clients who present with complex and multiple needs.
• Practice considerations for working with family experiences of clients who present with complex and multiple needs.

Ideal for

Case managers, counsellors, clinicians, social workers, psychologists, allied health workers.

About the presenters

Emily McDonald, Manager Practice Development at Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV), is a mental health social worker with a Masters in Family Therapy. She has a clinical background working with individuals, couples and families in therapeutic, case management and project roles for over 20 years.

Julia Douglas is a social worker with 20 years’ experience in direct service delivery, management and training in the mental health and complex needs sector. Julia coordinates RAV’s Therapeutic Case Management Programs.