Workshops

How to Deal with Trauma Anniversaries: Shootings, Deaths, Suicides, and Pandemics

ID: 4260WEB

This webinar is designed to deal with the reality that traumatic events do not disappear with the passage of time and the original trauma can be retriggered by anniversaries. We need quality ways in which to deal with trauma anniversaries that recognize their power and do not exacerbate the trauma symptoms evoked. This webinar will provide concrete examples of effective strategies for remembering traumas among individuals, families, communities and organizations. The examples will address the reality that anniversaries affect and must be remembered differently among children and adults, those located near and far during and after the original trauma, and those with other intervening trauma triggering experiences. We will also address differences between first anniversaries and those that occur after the passage of time (five years; ten years). Special attention will be paid to how educational institutions and social service organizations can deal with trauma anniversaries. [Elective for Trauma Response & Crisis Intervention Certificate Program]

Fee: $60.00
Continuing Ed. Hours (CEH): 3.0 General


Click Here to Enroll
Instructor: Karen Gross, JD, D.H.L.
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
Location: Live Interactive Online Webinar


Click Here to Enroll
Instructor: Karen Gross, JD, D.H.L.
Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
Location: Live Interactive Online Webinar

Webinar Objectives

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Define and describe trauma anniversaries
  • Demonstrate how they need to be planned as preparation is key
  • Recognize that anniversaries affect people and institutions differently and as such, must be organized with a recognition of differing perspectives

    Webinar Outline

    9:30 am Welcome/Introduction

    9:35 am Overview

  • Impact of trauma anniversaries among a wide range of individuals, families, communities and institutions
  • Discuss the architecture for the later development and discussion of strategic approaches that can be deployed
  • Trauma symptomology, trauma retriggering and how trauma anniversaries are deeply affected by the age and stage of individuals affected
  • Organizational trauma anniversaries will be addressed and differentiated. Attention will be paid to different cultural norms to commemorate past traumatic events

    10:20 am Specific Examples of Trauma Anniversaries
  • Examples of trauma anniversaries and examine and assess their effect and effectiveness (Kent State; Parkland School; World Trade Center; Golf Tournament to honor deceased college student; charitable donations)
  • Examples of trauma anniversaries and examine and assess their effect and effectiveness (Kent State; Parkland School; World Trade Center; Golf Tournament to honor deceased college student; charitable donations)
  • Attendees can share their own examples from their work or personal experiences. Particular attention will be paid to: physical memorials; videos; cards or other written presentations; panel discussions; installation art projects; athletic events.
  • There will be discussion among participants and instructor regarding reactions to existing anniversary approaches
  • We will use polling technology to determine participants reaction to existing memorials

    11:30 am How to Plan for Trauma Anniversaries
    Consideration will be given to possible trauma anniversary responses that involve development of tangible take away items and why these items have added power based on literature about permanence and need for ongoing reminders. Attention will be paid also to physical memorials including permanent and temporary installations that are evocative. There will also be a discussion of donations of monies to a cause or in response to an event and the risks and benefits of this approach, recognizing the complexity of money and its psychosocial and cultural meaning among individuals.

    12:00 pm Group Activity
    Participants in groups will have the opportunity to strategize and then design approaches to the Pandemic anniversary that will be upon us all in Jan. 2023 that are particularized to their work setting including schools, social service agencies and community organizations. There will be opportunity for feedback and takeaways when participants return to their own organizations and consider planning for the Pandemic or other anniversaries

    12:20 pm Conclusion/Q&A

    Target Audience

    Social Workers and Allied Health Professionals

    Content Level

    Beginner - Advanced

    Webinar Completion Requirements

    To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.

    System Requirements

    • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
    • Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
    • Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible.

    About the Instructor

    Karen Gross is an educator, author and artist who specializes in trauma and its impact on individual and organizational success. She is an award-winning author of adult and trauma-sensitive children's books. A frequently blogger, she has also participated in over 80 trauma-related podcasts since the start of the Pandemic. She regularly speaks to and works with groups and institutions across the globe dealing with trauma, its symptomology and strategies or its amelioration. In that context, she often uses trauma art to enable increased participant understanding, and her art has been publicly shown in various locations. She is an experienced educator, having been a tenured professor at New York Law School and a visiting professor at various institutions in the US and abroad. In addition, she served as a college president for eight years and was a former senior policy advisor to the US Department of Education (Obama Administration).

    • Search Workshops By Name or ID: