Trauma and Change with Expert Citizens Insight Academy
December 2023
Hello all,
Greetings and welcome to my latest blog post. This time I am highlighting the feedback that I received from various agencies across Stoke-on-Trent. All brought together by Expert Citizens Insight Academy. What an opportunity Stoke has in utilising this extraordinarily successful learning and development model. All of it based around lived experience and the expertise people who have experienced post traumatic growth.
I co-produced the course with several people from across Staffordshire. As some of you know Charlotte and Ryan were pivotal in the creation of this course and have gone some way in opening the eyes of the delegates who attended the training. Lived experience really informs and educates, plus along with my style of training, it is always entertaining and interactive.
Jonathan from the Insight Academy has the unenviable task of collating the feedback from the course, all of which was uniformly, 100% positive. Would I expect any less? Nope!
Question 1. On completion of this training has your knowledge increased?
Yes – 17/17
Question 2. What did you learn during this session? Was there anything you wanted to learn that was not there?
“Training gives us a knowledge of things we can learn everyday.”
“I loved this training, more understanding of trauma.”
“How to speak to clients around trauma and wording this in the right manner, recognizing feelings & emotions.”
“More informed on trauma and better responses and questions to ask.”
“Big T, Little T, Complex trauma – really helpful & clarifying cortisol.”
“I learnt a lot during the training and I’m now more aware of the topic as a whole. How important empathy is and our human connection.”
“That I can use my own experiences to help others ( I knew that already but this training has reinforced it ) Post traumatic growth ( next to a hand drawn picture of a flower growing in the sun next to 3 love hearts.)”
“I learned about the way trauma from childhood is detriment to being dealt with as adults, the cause.”
“Better understanding of the impact of trauma, very powerful videos – thank you to those who shared their stories.”
“How to implement trauma informed practices, how to be more mindful of how to engage with those experiencing trauma + strategies to do so.”
“THAT THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL / TRAINERS WHO ALSO LOVE GABOR MATE! Other than that I’ve learnt loads about trauma and its responses.”
“LOADS – DIFFERENT THEORIES ON PIE WAS VERY HELPFUL – WHEN TO DO TRAUMA WARNING FOR EXAMPLE.”
“I learnt further about speaking to survivors of traumatic experiences and the importance of how you ask questions.”
“How to recognize trauma.”
“Ask questions to understand not interrogate, - it just takes one person to start the transformation and change.”
“How missed support opportunities can have huge impacts.”
“The power of strangers & the importance of showing empathy to everyone. All humans deserve to be treated as a human being. You do not know your words have on others.”
Question 3. How will the training you experienced shape your practice in the future?
• New Methods
• To use more open questions, to understand trauma
• This training will be beneficial to me in everyday work tasks
• Will help me to explore clients trauma. Listen better and have the opportunity to talk
• This has been really good to refresh our practice from a trauma point of view. Its hard sometimes to see where & how to find cause & not just focus on effect
• It is definitely going to change my approach in my personal and professional live positively
• It was refreshing to hear real peoples stories, including Steves which reinforces the fact that lived experience is SO powerful and it can be used in a safe way to inspire change
• It will help me to reframe my questions and be more reflective
• To be a better listener for those I get to work with
• To share knowledge with the team – ensure that good practice learnt from this course is implemented E.G around open questions, empathy
• More patience and understanding
• I WILL TAKE A LOT OF THIS FORWARD
• I will be mindful of how questions are asked and asking to listen, not just ask another question
• It will help to understand + recognize trauma in vulnerable people I deal with
• - Flower plant analogy from Charlotte, - Always use open ended questions
• I will utilize Charlottes “Flower” story when helping the young people I work with understand themselves. – Continue to be open and support others the best I can
• Be more mindful & compassionate
Question 4. On completion of the training session has your confidence in the topic increased?
Yes 17/17
Question 5. Was the trainer knowledgeable and able to answer your questions?
Yes 17/17
“Amazing knowledge & Wisdom”
Question 6. Would you recommend this training to others and why?
“Yes.”
“Definitely, yes.”
“Yes interesting and proactive.”
“Yes, brilliant trainer, really interesting, knowledgeable and keeps it fun. Steve is great.”
“Absolutely, very engaging, varied angles of the topic too.”
“Yes because its absolutely amazing.”
“Absolutely yes, very interactive & based on true, raw, inspirational stories.”
“Yes I think all the lived exp speakers help.”
“Yes – should be mandatory for everyone as majority of people we work with have experienced trauma.”
“Brilliant training, very interactive + engaging for anyone in this sector, I would highly recommend.”
“ABSOLUTELY! Amazing, passionate, engaging trainer, excellent content, not too much info, no dry boring stuff, - its hard to keep me focused and interested for more than 20 min but I did NOT struggle at all today.”
“I WILL FOREVER RECOMMEND STEVE’S TRAINING HE IS AWESOME.”
“Definitely, insightful and thought provoking. Gave a look into others experiences, and allowed me to look at myself too.”
“Yes very interesting and informative.”
“Yes, Steven was a great trainer, inspiring and engaging.”
“Yes, the delivery is great, clear and engaging as is the knowledge.”
“Informative with real life experiences which relates into being able to inform practice.”
Question 7. Would you benefit from further training? If yes what would you like?
• Yes – Motivational Interviewing
• How to live with trauma, how to work on trauma
• Yes - Motivational Interviewing
• Everything
• Yes, cant think of any from the top of my head though
• Yes - Motivational Interviewing, Compassion towards self, how to keep ourselves well when working with peers ( with our own mental health struggles )
• Any training that Steve offers as its invaluable
• Absolutely if it was available
• ANYTHING as long as Steven delivers it
• ANYTHING FROM STEVE
• Yes! Unsure but willing to attend more in future
• Yes motivational interviewing
• I would like to attend the motivational interviewing
• Day 2 of the motivational interviewing
• Yes please
Question 8. Do you have any comments / suggestions you would like to add that would influence the design of future courses?
• No enjoyed every aspect, Thank you.
• N/A
• No, great tasks, videos, activities and brilliant trainer
• Steven is fabulous!
• Not at this time, Thanks Steve you’re a genuine!! Keep training and doing the good work
• Thank you, I really enjoyed it, it felt personal and compassionate
• Thank you so much x
• Lovely day – thank you helpful both professionally and personally
• Keep doing what your doing (love heart)
• RYAN AND CHARLOTTE WERE ALSO BRILLIANT
• No it was amazing
• No
• Nothing it was all great!