Our society is becoming increasingly aware of the impact of trauma on a host of affected populations. This 3-hour workshop explains the nature of PTSD, provides information on how individuals can manage symptoms (including some practice with mindfulness exercises), and provides guidance on how to best interact with individuals who are triggered (with an emphasis on validation and on positive communication strategies). Given the increasing awareness of how many healthcare consumer populations are affected by PTSD, this workshop is broadly relevant to anyone working in healthcare or human service fields.

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1. recognize the symptoms of PTSD and understand how they impact the person’s life;
2. provide guidance to individuals who experience PTSD on how to manage their symptoms more effectively;
3. effectively support an individual experiencing the emotional fallout (anger, fear, despair) of a trigger.