Creating A Trauma Informed CampusDivision MeetingNovember 3, 2017

Practice Flu Prevention

Flu shots are free for students

No-cost* for faculty/staff

Just walk in to the Center

for Health and Well-

Being!

*Student Health Services will provide the flu vaccine for faculty and staff whose primary insurance is the BlueCross BlueShield state health plan for a $0 co-payment. Please bring your insurance card to get the vaccine at no cost to you. If you are not covered by the state health plan, you can get the flu vaccine for $20.sa.sc.edu/shs/flu

Move More Carolina

The American Heart Association recommends

2½ hours of moderate physical activity per

week.

Physical Activity is anything that makes you

move your body and burn calories.

Being active can fit into any schedule and

lifestyle!

sa.sc.edu/shs/movemore

Become a USC Wellness Ambassador!

Wellness Ambassadors are university faculty and

staff members committed to health who serve as

champions for employee wellness.

Your role as a wellness ambassador includes: • Onboard training with wellness resources provided

• At least one year of commitment

• Dedicated time to serve in your role

• Ability to partner with the Gamecocks LiveWell office to bring

wellness events to your department

• Be an active part of Gamecocks LiveWell programs and events

• Positive attitude and willingness to learn

• Being passionate about health and wellness

Visit: sa.sc.edu/gamecockslw to sign up.

For questions, email livewell@mailbox.sc.edu or call 803-777-6518.

Healthy Carolina Farmers Market

Upcoming Dates: (Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Greene

Street in front of the Russell House)

Nov. 7 – Hunger and

Homelessness Week

C.A.L.M. Oasis meditation space

Open Practice – patrons can practice in the space silently or use ear buds

to listen to guided meditations

Open Learning – structured mindfulness and meditation offerings

coordinated by trained facilitators

Midday Meditation: Monday/Wednesday/Friday – 11:20-11:40 a.m. and

Tuesday/Thursday – 12:30-12:50 p.m.

Mindful U: Intro to Mindfulness: October 27, November

17 and November 27 – 10-10:30 a.m.

Recovery Meditation: Every Thursday – 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Pet a Pup

Come pet a pup, take a break from your

stress and enjoy some time with these

wonderful listeners!

Upcoming Dates:(Center for Health and Well-Being Patio)

November 14

December 5

Food Insecurity Needs Assessment

• Please share this Food Insecurity Needs Assessment with your students

http://bit.ly/USCNeeds

November PD Workshop

Stress Management & Wellness with Marguerite O’Brien

PLAN provides resources and professional development for supervisors/advisors to advance peer leader programs.

Questions? Contact us at UofSC.PLAN@sc.edu or 7-9188

November 7th

11am-12pm

Center for Health & Wellbeing • Room 217

2018 MLK Social Justice Awards

• Recognizing individuals who have exemplified the philosophies of Dr. King through random or ongoing acts of community service, social justice, and/or racial reconciliation

• Visit the Office of Diversity & Inclusion website for more information

GEMS!

Gamecocks who Excel at Magnificent Service

Nominate a colleague in your department or across the Division

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November GEMS Winners

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• Colleen Kelly, Russell House

• Don Mills, Campus Recreation

• LaToya Atkinson, Undergraduate Admisisons

• Mike Dial, University 101 Programs

• Tecola Jones, Student Life

• Tabitha Epperson, Student Life

• Chelsea Scott, Campus Recreation

• Kelsey Sopko, Campus Recreation

• Tad Derrick, Fraternity and Sorority Life

Nominators Have a Chance to WIN!!!

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When you nominate a colleague you will be entered in the monthly drawings and you

have an opportunity to win a $25 gift card.

November Nominator Winner

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Kristin Freestate, Undergraduate Admissions

Have an Announcement for the Division?

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Let us know at sastayin@mailbox.sc.edu to get it featured in the weekly Stay Informed email!

E-mail Pre-Division Meeting slides to

Hayley Efland at efland@sc.edu.

December Division Meeting

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Please complete the Division’s Family Feud survey for our Winter Celebration

on Friday, December 8

https://uscpdteam.wufoo.com/forms/pd-team-family-feud-questions

Creating A Trauma Informed CampusSarah E. Wright, Psy.D., CST

Shannon K. Nix, M.S., LPC

Introductions

• Who we are and what we do

• Goals/objectives

• Attendees will be able to:

1. Identify the neurobiological underpinnings of trauma

2. Understand and apply a new term for trauma

3. Describe and utilize helpful and supportive responses when working with affected people

4. Make appropriate referrals to the Trauma 101 workshop

Trauma 101

• 3 modules; 2 principles; 1 brain• Three Modules

• What is this “trauma” thing?

• Why is this so hard to talk about?

• How do people get through this?

• Two principles• Cortisoaked

• Need to redefine normal

Before We Start

• How to manage triggers or upsetting content

• Our assumptions

• People are here because they want to learn

• Mistakes will happen and aren’t intended to be malicious

• We want to answer your questions!

What is “Trauma”?

Event

Commonly considered “traumatic”

What is “Trauma”?

• Significant post-trauma symptoms do not always follow exposure to a “traumatic event”

• Significant post-trauma symptoms can follow exposure to a “life event”

Response

Cortisoaked

If the brain & body

react in a certain

identifiable way,

that is trauma.

“CORTISOAKED”

Cortisoaked

Rather than an event, trauma is

a neurobiological process that

occurs as a result of an event or

series of events.

Metaphor

Key Players

• 3-Part Brain

• Hippocampus

• Amygdala

• Cortisol & other hormones

Oh no! Science words!!!

Key Players

• Hippocampus• Memory & time

• Amygdala• Fear

• Prefrontal Cortex• Decision making

• Cortisol• Stress hormones

The Cortisoaked Brain

• Amygdala remains activated

• Cortisol levels stay high• Hippocampus not

functioning optimally• Memories are visceral• Lack accurate time stamp

• “Thinking” brain not functioning optimally

• Integration between parts of brain and between brain and body impaired

What Does ‘Cortisoaked’ Look Like?

Arousal

Thinking is difficult

Overgeneralizations

Triggers

Impaired sense of self

Strained relationships

Increased physical symptoms

Trauma is a neurobiological thing

Barriers To Talking About Trauma

Internal (within the Survivor)

• No words

• Self-blame

• Guilt and shame

• Learned responses to vulnerability

Barriers To Talking About Trauma

External (friends, family, culture)

• “Support” received is not supportive

• Stigma

• Taboo

• College culture

Less Than Ideal Responses

• Attempts to fix • “Don’t cry, it’ll be ok!” • “I promise this won’t happen to you again” • “At least…”

• Touch without consent • Questioning validity

• “Are you sure that’s what happened?”

• Sharing personal trauma stories without consent • Self-blame/taking responsibility for the person’s trauma• Threatening assailant

• “I'm going to kill him”

• Victim blaming (usually unintentional) • “Did you tell the police? “• “Were you drinking/wearing revealing clothing? “

Supportive Responses

• Listen! (#1)• “I’m here”; “I’m listening”

• Validate• Validation doesn’t have to mean ‘agreement’, it simply honors another’s reality• “I can’t imagine what it’s been like to…”• “It makes sense that…”• “You deserve to feel your feelings about…”• “Feeling [sad/angry/confused/lonely/etc.] is logical given everything that’s

happened”

• Language: avoid “YOU” as it can place blame/responsibility on the victim/survivor • (Have YOU told anyone vs. Who knows about this?)

• Ask about current safety and support• “Are thoughts of suicide an issue?”• “Are there other people we can contact?”

Supportive Responses

• Express appreciation for the trust they placed in you by sharing - it takes a lot for someone who has been assaulted/traumatized to come to you for help• “Thank you for trusting me with this”

• Give permission to not share information they are not comfortable to give• Ask what they need but remember you’re not a therapist or the police

• (provide support, when possible, with helping person find resources or go to hospital)

• Get consent for touch• “Would you like a hug?” or “Let me know if you’d like a hug”

• If you’ve been through something similar and are ok to share, get permission to disclose this and see if that would be helpful • “X happened to me, if you might want me to share sometime; I’m willing”

• Resources to encourage- hospital, police, SAVIP, CAP or other counseling provider (STSM; Sistercare)

• For responsible employees: “You’re describing sexual assault, but I recognize you may not define it that way. _______ is my obligation”

Coping Skills

• Coping Skills- Techniques used to handle difficult situations, feelings or thoughts

• Good for everyone, so this applies to all of us in the journey towards general wellness!

• Can be behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or some combination of these

• Broad categories

• Working through

• Avoidance

• Plan

• Hypothesize

• Acknowledge and pause

• Distract

• Redefine

• Tolerate

Coping Skills

• Whether dealing with something personally or being a support to others, we all need to be able to cope!

• Breathe!• Mindful Awareness- helps you know how you’re feeling/what

you’re thinking and can help you identify triggers (triggers are your friend)

• Grounding- Shades of color; Actor Alphabet Game; 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 game

• Distress Tolerance- how do you find something that raises positive emotion NOW?

• Emotion Regulation- opposite action• Exercise• Connection – Oxytocin can help

Summary

• ‘Trauma’ is best understood as a neurobiological process in which the brain becomes soaked in cortisol (Cortisoaked) and functions differently

• Both internal and external factors can make discussion of such events difficult

• Coping skills are healthy for everyone!

• Language matters

• Use supportive responses intentionally

• Practice with friends in less than loaded situations

• Remember that we are here for you!

Stacey BradleySenior Associate Vice President for Student

Affairs and Academic Support

110 Osborne BuildingColumbia, SC 29208

Office: 803-777-4172 Fax: 803-777-9354Email: sbradley@mailbox.sc.edu

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Dr. Dennis A. Pruitt, Sr.Vice President for Student Affairs,Vice Provost and Dean of Students

110 Osborne BuildingColumbia, SC 29208

Office: 803-777-4172 Fax: 803-777-9354Email: dpruitt@mailbox.sc.edu

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Next Division Meeting

Friday, December 8th

Winter Celebration!