Acknowledging shadows to build stewardship
In our work and community we can provide services for people, beings and ecosystems in trauma. Trauma is individually defined and to be respected. There are various names such as compassion fatigue, secondary trauma that describe how working with those in trauma can effect their caregivers. Over time our energy can be impacted. Recognizing unhelpful behaviors towards ourselves and the ones we are caring for improves how we function.
Befriending shadows
We can be blind to the ways we can impact on others in trauma. It takes courage, humility and self reflection to look upon our shadow the unconscious, automatic and negative aspects of our behaviour. It is often not our intention but sometimes we can potentially harm ourselves and others. In presenting workshops on trauma stewardship, I have with participants created a safe place with compassion to shine light on our shadows . Shining light in this way helps us to reconnect with ourselves and our community. Reconnecting helps us self and co regulate emotionally, diminishing loneliness and potentially providing allies.
Trauma Stewardship
Trauma stewardship was pioneered by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burke as daily practices for individuals and organisations to tend to the suffering of others or the planet without losing themselves in the process. Please open link on you tube to Laura van Dernoot Lipsky TED talk on trauma stewardship.
https://youtu.be/uOzDGrcvmus?si=i8ewTJshme44cUo9
During the workshop we walk in nature to ground our senses and discuss the trauma compass. The trauma compass is a tool used to re centre individuals and organisations to bring them home.
I am grateful to Jill Faulkner for providing me with the resources and encouragement to present workshops on Trauma Stewardship. I have found this is the education I was missing in working in the healthcare / education systems. My wellbeing is now sustained by the daily practices of trauma stewardship. I am passionate in sharing workshops to support and reconnect people. Please contact me on phone 0417942301 or email [email protected] if you are interested in a workshop.
References
Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burke ( 2009) Trauma Stewardship an Everyday guide to caring for self while caring others, Berrett-Koehler Publishers
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