Presentations and Workshops

Traumatic experiences happen every day and the ̽����Ƶ community is not exempt. After a traumatic experience, usually friends, mentors, family, and sometimes faculty/advisors are the first to be told about these experiences. How one responds matters as it can impact healing, as well as whether the survivors will seek additional support.��

Approximate time: 60 minutes, depending on whether practice scenarios and mandatory reporting are included. 45 minutes at minimum is preferable.

This session focuses on:

• Overview of OVA services and how to refer
• The positive impacts of trauma-informed support and how it can help a survivor heal
• General information on the impact of traumatic events (for more in-depth on this point see other presentation on Neurobiology of Trauma)
• Learning trauma informed skills to better respond to someone after they share about a traumatic or life disrupting event��
• If you have a CU IdentiKey, you may also����at your convenience through Percipio (approximately 30-40 minutes).
• Please note: If your student group is also considered to be “responsible employees,” aka Resident Advisors, Teaching Assistants, etc, OVA will provide the staff version of this presentation which also includes a section on trauma-informed mandatory reporting for "responsible employees" (those required to reports sexual misconduct, discrimination and protected class harassment).

This is a basic, quick session about OVA’s services when time is limited.

Approximate time: 20 minutes

This session focuses on:

• Review of OVA's advocacy and trauma-specific counseling services for students, staff and faculty
• How can OVA support you and how to refer people to OVA
• Please note: When possible, it is best to provide this with a version of the Supporting Survivors presentation��

This session offers information about the neurobiology and psychology of trauma. Most appropriate for academic courses exploring trauma.

Approximate time: 75 minutes

This session focuses on:

• Information on what people may experience physically, emotionally and cognitively in the aftermath of a traumatic event
• How the brain and body respond to traumatic experiences, neurobiology of traumatic events
• Healing and recovery stage

This session focuses on vicarious trauma, compassion satisfaction vs. compassion fatigue, burnout, and self-care. We explore barriers to caring for ourselves and how to look at new ways that can be accessible to everyone.��Most appropriate for students who work in roles that expose them to hearing about other people’s traumatic experiences.

Approximate time: 60 minutes

This session focuses on:

• Learning about the impact of helping others, including vicarious trauma, compassion satisfaction vs. fatigue, and burnout
• Learning the difference between coping and self-care, exploring barriers to self-care, and redefining self-care
• Adding new techniques to your self-care toolbox

This presentation provides psychoeducation on intimate partner abuse (IPA), with an emphasis on increasing awareness and understanding of domestic violence and exploring its psychological impact. Most appropriate for students who are in or questioning if they are in a relationship with an abusive partner, students who are secondary victims (those who support people with abusive partners), or students who simply want to learn more about the topic.

Approximate time: 60-75 minutes

This session focuses on:

• Understanding IPA (definitions, different forms of abuse, the impact it can cause)
• Healthy, unhealthy, and abusive behaviors in a relationship
• Defining healthy boundaries
• How to help a friend: safety planning, support, and the healing process

This presentation includes aspects of the Self-Care for Vicarious Trauma presentation and focuses specifically on experiences of marginalization and discrimination. This presentation is suited for students who have experienced personal and community impacts of working within social justice.��

Approximate time: 60 minutes

This session focuses on:

• The overlap between oppression and trauma.
• Gaining an introductory understanding of how chronic oppression can impact people’s stress responses and neurobiological development
• The differences between the intent of our actions and the impact of oppression
• Identifying the various impacts of oppression
• Identifying how we can use self-care
• If time allows, a section can be added related to identifying means of being accountable for (mis)actions and making repairs. (by request only)