> Workshop: When the Therapist needs treatment following a life changing personal event

Workshop: When the Therapist needs treatment following a life changing personal event

Sunday 29 November 2020
17:00 to 18:00

“Trauma is a fact of life“ – Peter.A.Levine.

However, even in today’s climate of heightened public awareness in relation to both societal and individual mental health needs, there continues to be a level of denial. Some therapists still feel a sense of shame at acknowledging our own susceptibility to the breakdown of our personal mental health. Friends, family and even professionals may think or even say “…But you are the expert – why can’t you heal yourself ?”

Tara will be drawing from the experience of writing her contribution to a chapter in a 2020 Routledge published book on Trauma and the Arts Therapies, and her co-presentation along a similar theme at last year’s conference. She will be opening up a dialogue with regard to participant’s early experiences of trauma, our current understanding of it, and what changes in the collective consciousness are needed, going forward.

This workshop will provide opportunities for personal stories to be thought about and for some to be shared safely. To what extent do our early experiences of trauma shape our current practice, and which qualities and quantities of these early and current experiences are healthy to bring into our future practice ?

In particular, negotiating fitness to practice, before, during and after a life changing experience. Specifically, we will explore relationships with colleagues and institutions such as the NHS.

“Bringing people and their stories together for healing and change” is the energy force behind Tara’s private practice – http://www.storiesathome.co.uk

This session is being recorded.

Tara Thornewood – Dramatherapist / Visiting Lecturer at Anglian Ruskin University/community theatre director /Mother of three teenage girls/ cancer survivor. After a career spanning 30 years, Tara is currently deepening her research and understanding of trauma, particularly in relation to negotiating fitness to practice following a life-threatening illness.