San Diego Behavioral Health Series

Physical and emotional exhaustion and negativism are commonly developed among chemical dependency treatment providers who work with traumatized people. This “burn-out” carries a reduction in caring, treating other humans like objects, withdrawal from people, and apathy. By simply listening to traumatic experiences suffered or created by many patient/clients, we indirectly become witnesses in vivid detail to their traumas and "wreckage" as well. It is not unusual for us to find ourselves experiencing similar thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. This is the reasoning behind the term “contagion effect" which is also referred to as “compassion fatigue” and “vicarious victimization”.

You Will Learn To

• Understand, assess, prevent and treat these common conditions found in providers

• Handouts provided

Note: This training complements existing crisis protocols and ethical standards—it does not replace them.

Charles E. Nelson, Ph.D is the founder/director of Change with Direction. Charlie has worked over 50 years in the mental health field & is well-published including writing for Hazelden Educational Materials. He is credited with writing the first book with the word "Co-dependency" in the title (1982). Charlie is a recognized international trainer on chemical dependency & trauma. Among the U.S. based organizations he has trained are: Hazelden/Betty Ford Center, The Meadows, Sober Living by the Sea, Hawaii’s Castle Hospital, the Clint Eastwood Youth Program, U.C.L.A.’s Annual Drug & Alcohol Conference, the Naval Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, the State of California Rehab Department, Scripps Hospital’s Community Education Seminars, Oakland’s Merritt Peralta Institute, & the San Diego Psychological Association. Internationally, he has trained the Ministry of Health of British Columbia, the Alcohol & Drug Advisory Council of New Zealand, & the Cuban Psychological Association at the University of Havana. For 16 years Charlie was the Master of Ceremonies for the monthly meetings of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency—S.D Chapter. He has actively participated as a consultant to television, screenwriters, & stage theatre staff regarding relationship dilemmas & other psychosocial issues facing script characters. Productions include (but are not limited to): All in the Family, Eight is Enough, M**der She Wrote, and Trapper John, M.D. Charlie was selected by the Victim Assistance Coordinating Council for it’s Crime Victim Advocate of the Year Award and he received the California Governor’s “Doris G. Tate” Crime Victim Provider of the Year Award for his years of dedication & service to people suffering in the wake of trauma. In addition, Charlie has over 3 ½ decades of one-day-at-a-time active and grateful recovery under his belt.

Join us in person every second Friday of the month for a dynamic morning of learning and connection. Featuring expert‑led presentations on timely topics in addiction and mental health, this series offers valuable continuing education, highlights local resources and fosters meaningful collaboration within our community.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Betty Ford Center