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Why not share information on trauma and resilience directly with survivors?

 

The Echo conference is known for shining a light on new developments in the trauma field, and this year, our 
"And Still We Rise" conference will be no different.


Only the difference this year is that we will be doing something revolutionary in our field - providing information on trauma and resilience DIRECTLY TO SURVIVORS. Historically, the conference audience has been service providers and - as any trauma survivor will tell you - it is imperative that our services, systems, and institutions become more trauma-informed. Yet, how is it empowering for trauma survivors if we invest in sharing information - information that explains our reactions and the trajectory of our lives, is key to our recovery, and is essential for building resilience and post-traumatic growth - with those who seek to support us rather than sharing it directly with trauma survivors? It should not be an 'either/or' proposition, and yet even the words 'trauma-informed care' place the emphasis on educating the carer, not the person being cared for.

Of course, many service providers are also survivors and embracing this dual identity allows us to celebrate the wisdom and insight being a survivor affords us.

The other unique aspect of our conference is that all the presenters will be #MeToo silence breakers and activists. 

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This is a conference put on by trauma 
survivors for trauma survivors.

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Our goal? To celebrate resilience and inspire all trauma survivors to embrace their power and voice.

Find out more about our presenters and workshops here.

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Jeanne Elberfeld posted:

This is wonderful, but please remember that many service providers are themselves trauma survivors. They are a perfect audience as well.

Jeanne, as a service provider myself, I have to agree with you. However, when you think about the balance of power, it is usually in the providers' hands. The people with the power get the choice not to listen, which is when they need to listen most of all. I've heard many professionals say 'but not all therapists' or 'what about service providers?' and miss the chance to hear what those who have a harder time being heard are trying to say. 

        After initially receiving the diagnostic construct of 'Adjustment disorder', I subsequently participated in a VA/NC-PTSD study of Non-military/Non-Veterans and after extensive testing subsequently received a "PTSD" diagnosis, but participants weren't eligible for treatment through the VA [Veterans Administration]. I subsequently located an EMDR ['Facilitator Level'] Therapist and was able to stop having the 'flashbacks' and .....                  In 2000, I attended a 'Grand Rounds' presentation at [then Dartmouth, now] Geisel Medical School, by an Epidemiologist noting: "52% of Detroit Metropolitan Area Schoolchildren met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD". Similar numbers of schoolchildren were subsequently reported in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, and in June of 2018-at five charter schools in New Orleans. This may very well meet the 'ACE' criteria for 'Adverse Community Environments' now included in the World Health Organization's WHO ACE International Questionnaire-which screens for over 40 types of the two forms of 'ACEs'-Childhood Experiences and Community Environments.                                                                       This forthcoming conference seems like an appropriate sequel for all types of 'survivors'.

Last edited by Robert Olcott
Cissy White (ACEs Connection Staff) posted:

Louise:

This sounds like an amazing conference and I'm glad you are leading the way! I admire the work you do and how you do it - how you are always centering survivors,  and not only when talking about who is impacted by trauma but when choosing experts who lead and share about the impact of trauma and changing systems, sectors, each other, as well as ourselves. This is such a great example of HOW we do the work being change and hope in action! 

Cissy

Thank you, Cissy! It was really important to act on my belief that survivors should be leading this field by ensuring that all our presenters are trauma survivors as well as experts in their own fields. You are one voice that has always made me feel I'm not alone in this belief. Want more of you, more of your voice! 

Louise:

This sounds like an amazing conference and I'm glad you are leading the way! I admire the work you do and how you do it - how you are always centering survivors,  and not only when talking about who is impacted by trauma but when choosing experts who lead and share about the impact of trauma and changing systems, sectors, each other, as well as ourselves. This is such a great example of HOW we do the work being change and hope in action! 

Cissy

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