Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness workshop, Auckland

From elementary schools to psychotherapy offices, mindfulness meditation is an increasingly mainstream practice. At the same time, trauma remains a fact of life: the majority of us will experience a traumatic event in our lifetime, and some will develop post-traumatic stress. While this may appear to be a good thing — trauma is an extreme form of stress, and mindfulness is a proven stress-reduction tool — the reality creates a complex challenge.

Emerging research suggests that mindfulness interventions can help or hinder trauma survivors, raising a crucial question for mindfulness educators everywhere: how can you be prepared to minimise the potential dangers of mindfulness for survivors while leveraging its powerful benefits at the same time?

Designed for wellness professionals, this two-day workshop–led by author and trauma specialist, David Treleaven, PhD–will equip you with the tools you need to offer mindfulness in a safe, effective, trauma-sensitive way.

Through lecture, case study, and experiential practice, you will leave the workshop:

• Understanding why meditation can create dysregulation for people who’ve experienced trauma and specific ways you can prevent this;
• Prepared to recognise symptoms of traumatic stress while offering mindfulness interventions;
• Informed about current empirical research regarding mindfulness and trauma, including evidence-based interventions you can apply immediately to your work;
• Equipped with tools and modifications to help you work skillfully with dysregulated arousal, traumatic flashbacks, and trauma-related dissociation.

Whether you’re a beginning or veteran practitioner, anyone engaged in offering contemplative practices will bene t from this workshop, including therapists, coaches, and meditation, classroom, yoga, or religious teachers.

This event will provide 13 CPD points.