Listen to Understand: Importance of Empathy in crisis communication

Target Audience: Mental health professionals, healthcare providers, social workers, first responders, educators, and other professionals working in trauma-exposed environments.

Training Format: This training will include a combination of lecture, discussion, case studies, and experiential exercises to ensure participants leave with practical tools they can apply in their work.

AM Session 9AM-12PM

"Listen to Understand" Imporatnce of Empathy in crisis communication

This presentation will be facilitated by Kevin Briggs and Kevin Bethia. They will be sharing an exceptionally impactful story how they met on the Golden Gate Bridge that chaged both of their lives that day.

Kevin Berthia is a Suicide Survivor, Advocate, and Speaker. Kevin pours his heart into sharing his powerful story of growing up in silence, always feeling the need to hide the unbearable pain he was in. Through high school and into his early twenties, Kevin was known as the life of the party. Until his very public suicide attempt at the Golden Gate Bridge changed everything.

Kevin Briggs, a retired California Highway Patrol sergeant, spent many years patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge. While on patrol, he encountered numerous individuals who had lost all hope and were contemplating suicide. Through compassion and the ability to “Listen to Understand,” he encouraged several hundred individuals over his career not to end their lives but to begin a new chapter. These challenging but rewarding efforts earned him the nickname “Guardian of the Golden Gate.”

PM Session 1PM-4PM

“Healing the Helper: Recognizing and Preventing Trauma’s Impact on Professionals”

Presenter: Eve Yelinek, LPC Licensed Professional Counselor | Owner, Yelinek Therapy Services LLC

This training is designed for professionals in the helping industry who have a higher exposure to populations that experienced traumatic events. Therefore, the helping professional is at a higher risk for secondary traumatization, vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue, and occupational burnout.

The participants of the training will gain a better understanding of the after effects of working in an environment exposed to traumatic content, and effectively learn strategies to prevent and manage the effects of prolonged exposure to trauma.

The training will cover signs, symptoms, prevention strategies, management strategies, including empirically-validated therapeutic interventions, including EMDR. Training Objectives: By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Define and differentiate secondary traumatization, vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue, and occupational burnout.

2. Identify the signs and symptoms of secondary traumatization, vicarious traumatization, and burnout in themselves and colleagues.

3. Understand the after effects of trauma exposure on mental health professionals and those in related fields.

4. Learn prevention strategies to effectively mitigate the effects of occupational Develop adaptive strategies to sustain long-term, rewarding employment. Address empirically-validated therapeutic interventions, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), for managing symptoms.

5. Well-being. Develop practical strategies for the workplace and personal life to enhance

Host or Publisher Mental Health America of Southwestern PA