Why not share information on trauma and resilience directly with survivors?

Jeanne Elberfeld posted:

This is wonderful, but please remember that many service providers are themselves trauma survivors. They are a perfect audience as well.

Jeanne, as a service provider myself, I have to agree with you. However, when you think about the balance of power, it is usually in the providers' hands. The people with the power get the choice not to listen, which is when they need to listen most of all. I've heard many professionals say 'but not all therapists' or 'what about service providers?' and miss the chance to hear what those who have a harder time being heard are trying to say. 

This is wonderful, but please remember that many service providers are themselves trauma survivors. They are a perfect audience as well.

        After initially receiving the diagnostic construct of 'Adjustment disorder', I subsequently participated in a VA/NC-PTSD study of Non-military/Non-Veterans and after extensive testing subsequently received a "PTSD" diagnosis, but participants weren't eligible for treatment through the VA [Veterans Administration]. I subsequently located an EMDR ['Facilitator Level'] Therapist and was able to stop having the 'flashbacks' and .....                  In 2000, I attended a 'Grand Rounds' presentation at [then Dartmouth, now] Geisel Medical School, by an Epidemiologist noting: "52% of Detroit Metropolitan Area Schoolchildren met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD". Similar numbers of schoolchildren were subsequently reported in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, and in June of 2018-at five charter schools in New Orleans. This may very well meet the 'ACE' criteria for 'Adverse Community Environments' now included in the World Health Organization's WHO ACE International Questionnaire-which screens for over 40 types of the two forms of 'ACEs'-Childhood Experiences and Community Environments.                                                                       This forthcoming conference seems like an appropriate sequel for all types of 'survivors'.

Cissy White (ACEs Connection Staff) posted:

Louise:

This sounds like an amazing conference and I'm glad you are leading the way! I admire the work you do and how you do it - how you are always centering survivors,  and not only when talking about who is impacted by trauma but when choosing experts who lead and share about the impact of trauma and changing systems, sectors, each other, as well as ourselves. This is such a great example of HOW we do the work being change and hope in action! 

Cissy

Thank you, Cissy! It was really important to act on my belief that survivors should be leading this field by ensuring that all our presenters are trauma survivors as well as experts in their own fields. You are one voice that has always made me feel I'm not alone in this belief. Want more of you, more of your voice! 

Louise:

This sounds like an amazing conference and I'm glad you are leading the way! I admire the work you do and how you do it - how you are always centering survivors,  and not only when talking about who is impacted by trauma but when choosing experts who lead and share about the impact of trauma and changing systems, sectors, each other, as well as ourselves. This is such a great example of HOW we do the work being change and hope in action! 

Cissy