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Sustaining empathy: Preventing burnout

Advanced empathy skills for supporters of people with complex trauma backgrounds; deepening empathy and building vicarious resilience to promote compassion satisfaction.

One day. For your team. Delivered in-person.

Sustaining empathy: Preventing burnout

 

Course overview:

Designed specifically for supporters keen to explore their own reactions and responses, this reflective day provides participants with a safe space to consider what might be going on when people present in ways they find challenging in order to deepen empathy within the support relationship.

Providing knowledge and learning through a trauma informed lens, the course invites participants to reflect on their practice to ensure the best outcomes possible for all and to minimise the risk of vicarious trauma and burnout for staff.eeds.

 

Aim(s):

To develop participants understanding of what might be going on when people they support present in ways participants find challenging in order to deepen empathy.

To provide a safe space to reflect upon participants own responses and reactions to ensure the best outcomes possible for people with trauma backgrounds and those supporting them, minimising the risk of vicarious trauma and burnout for staff.

 

Objectives:

By the end of the course participants will have had opportunities to:

  • Share the challenges they face in the work they do in a supportive environment
  • Reflect on how personal world views are formed, and how this might impact on supporter approaches and attitudes
  • Consider how world views may develop for the people we support, and explore emerging themes and issues from a trauma-informed perspective
  • Identify the different levels of empathic responses, and recognise how empathy can be challenged in support relationships
  • Analyse the emotional demands and benefits for supporters, identifying sources of professional development and personal resilience
  • Explore personal and group qualities and strengths, and consider how to promote and develop these further, drawing on a variety of theories and approaches
  • Celebrate the work that the participants achieve!

 

Maximum group size: 12

 

In-person training - we ask you to provide a suitable venue and refreshments.

Enquire or book in a meeting with us

Your trainer(s)

Sal Ball

Sal Ball is a mental health practitioner with approaching 30 years’ experience of developing and delivering mental health projects and support groups in the voluntary sector.  She has built an expertise in training and developing good practice for volunteers, frontline staff and specialist mental health professionals in supporting individuals in distress, both remotely and in person.

 

Her areas of specific interest are around supporting those in emotionally demanding roles, including peer-led and grassroots projects, to gain resilience, confidence, and satisfaction from the challenging work they undertake. She has worked extensively in the fields of peer support, trauma, personality disorder, and self-harm.  

 

She is currently developing these skills and interests further working as a Nature Connector and Forest Therapy Practitioner.

Ben Howie

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What people say

"Learning specifics about empathy, what it is and what it’s not. Drama triangle, having frequent breaks, conversations and interactions."

CYP Worker, Barod, March 2025

"All was useful! The pace, the chats, the links and PowerPoints, but mainly Sal's wisdom, realness and enthusiasm! Sal - you really are the perfect person I'd want to train. You create a safe space and that's so refreshing!"

ISVA, Safe Link, November 2024

"Having the space to share and listen. To be thoughtful and vulnerable. To acknowledge the challenges that come with this type of work. Fantastic day, thank you Sal!"

Crisis House Day Worker, Missing Link, February 2023

"Provided a much-needed space for those in the VCSE sector to feel seen, heard and valid. The training course was very helpful."

Community Engagement Manager, Brigstowe, February 2023

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