VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND THE WORKER (March 2008, Glasgow).

This training day examined the impact on staff of working with a traumatised client group. Based on research which has examined the effect of trauma on survivor's underlying schemata, this workshop applied the theory to workers. Taking ideas from resilience and recovery literature, the workshop sought to assist staff to develop supervisory and teamworking structures to increase the worker's resilience to deal with traumatised service-users. It helped staff understand and recognise vicarious (or secondary) traumatisation and develop strategies for addressing it.

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND RECOVERY: LEARNING FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE (Thursday 25th October 2007, Edinburgh).

This event, jointly run by the Scottish Recovery Network and Health in Mind and organised by myself, provided an opportunity to begin conversations about meaningful recovery in the context of child sexual abuse trauma, to encourage new constructive dialogues and to stimulate thoughtful practice.

Timed to coincide with the visit to Scotland of US based author and independent consultant and trainer, Shery Mead, the event considered some key questions: What does ‘recovery’ mean when we are talking about child sexual abuse? What is it that we are working towards? How do we find a way forward from childhood trauma? 

Speakers and facilitators included:

• Shery Mead (Independent consultant, trainer and author) 
• Fiona Macdonald (Scottish Recovery Network member)
• Craig Hutchison (Beyond Trauma, Health in Mind)
• Sarah Nelson (University of Edinburgh)
• Presentations by survivors

Topics included: Trauma-informed approaches to recovery; Research on recovery and resilience; Learning from experience; Narrative and recovery: the role of story-telling; Vicarious trauma and reflective supervision; Recovery and justice; The Scottish Government's National Strategy.

USING CONTACT REFLECTIONS WITH PSYCHOTIC AND DISSOCIATIVE CLIENTS (Wednesday 21st February 2007, Edinburgh)

This workshop on using pre-therapy contact reflections to work with severely traumatised clients experiencing dissociative and/or psychotic episodes was delivered to mental health support workers and trauma therapists.

BACP EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY MATTERS CONFERENCE: FACING THE SELF

Workshop: Disorienting Sex and Gender (Thursday 1st February 2007, Coventry)

ABSTRACT: "One is not born, but is made a woman." Simone de Beauvoir. Many of us take for granted the idea that there are ‘natural’ and ‘normal’ forms of gender and sexual identity – forms so obvious that they are thought to be beyond question. Such identities are assumed to require to explanation or exploration, in contrast to those identities which are marked as sexually ‘different’, such as homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender.

Participants in this workshop will be encouraged to reflect on their sexual orientation and gender in relation to therapeutic work with clients and colleagues. The workshop will assist exploration through dialogue, debate, and small and large groupwork. Some key concepts relating to sexual orientation and gender identity will be presented for discussion and exploration (eg essentialism, determinism, constructionism).

Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the natural diversity of human sexual identities and to consider the relevance of this for their therapeutic work.

Download advertising brochure for the event here (465KB Adobe Acrobat pdf file).

 CHILD PROTECTION TRAINING FOR THERAPISTS (2005 - 2006, Edinburgh)

This workshop was delivered to counsellors, psychotherapists and mental health support workers at different agencies between 2005 and 2006. It aimed to help workers identify situations of potential risk to children and young people, and to enable them to take appropriate professional action to protect children and young people from harm.

Training objectives:

• To identify different forms of child abuse which may prompt concern.
• To have clear agreements with service-users which include appropriate limits to confidentiality.
• To identify situations where they would consider taking action to protect a child or young person.
• To follow a clear procedure regarding what they should do and who they should contact should significant risks be identified for a child or young person.

CRUSE BEREAVEMENT CARE SCOTLAND CONFERENCE - BEREAVEMENT IN THE WORKPLACE

Workshop: Hidden Grief and Loss (Tuesday 24th October 2006, Perth)

ABSTRACT: Public recognition following a loss or bereavement is vitally important.  Such recognition confirms the validity of our grief, and can welcome us into a shared social world where our feelings are, however uncomfortably, known by others.  These moments can remind us that we are not alone during desperately lonely times.  However, some forms of loss or bereavement are not as publicly recognised or appreciated as others, and people who experience such losses may experience a 'disenfranchised grief' which lacks social recognition.  The widower whose beloved dog dies; the mistress who loses her married lover; the nurse who misses a favourite patient; the fan who loses their idol; the partner who grieves for a relationship which has ended - these people may feel that they don't have the right or the opportunity to share their feelings of loss or grief, or to have their feelings taken seriously.

This workshop will give participants the opportunity to explore some of the myriad types of hidden grief, and the complications which can accompany them.  Using group discussion, case studies and personal reflection, participants will be encouraged to reflect on the importance of recognition, and to provide facilitative therapeutic relationships to people experiencing hidden or disenfranchised grief.

Download advertising brochure for the event here (1017KB Adobe Acrobat pdf file)

YOUNG PEOPLE AND SEXUALITY (Wednesday 27th September 2006, Glasgow)

Workshop: The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young LGBT People.

This brief workshop presented findings from international research on the mental health and wellbeing of young LGBT people and assisted participants to consider how they could improve services for this vulnerable group. 

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE COPE WITH SUICIDAL FEELINGS AND BEHAVIOURS

Presentation: Live to Tell... Research on suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours amongst young gay and bisexual men in Edinburgh. (Thursday 30th June 2005, Glasgow)

Presentated findings from my research into suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours amongst young gay and bisexual men to a national audience of practitioners and policy makers, particularly those working with young people.

Download my Powerpoint presentation here (169KB Powerpoint file). Download the original research document here (656KB Adobe Acrobat pdf file).

XXIII WORLD CONGRESS: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION. SCALING THE SUMMIT - PREVENTING SUICIDAL BEHAVIOUR IN DIVERSE CULTURES

Presentation: Live to Tell... Findings from a study of suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours amongst young gay and bisexual men in Edinburgh (Thursday 15th September 2005, Durban, South Africa)

ABSTRACT: Research has consistently demonstrated that gay and bisexual men are at higher risk of suicide than the general population (cf Bagley & Tremblay 1997, Hershberger, Pilkington & D'Augelli 1997, Waldo, Hesson-McInnes & D'Augelli 1998, Cochrane & Mays 2000, Remafedi 2002, Paul, Catania, Pollock, Moscowitz, Canchola, Mills, Bin & Stall 2002, Skagg, Nada-Raja, Dickson, Paul & Williams 2003). However, many research studies have been conducted in America and the findings may not generalise to other countries, or else the findings are now out of date (such as the 1978 Bell & Weinberg study). This research utilised anonymous self-completion questionnaires to investigate suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours amongst 95 young gay and bisexual men living and socialising in Edinburgh, Scotland. The study found a disturbingly high level of suicidal thought, feeling and behaviour amongst the sample, along with some dissatisfaction about the sources of available support. The proportion of respondents who reported suicidal thoughts and who had attempted suicide was significantly higher than that found in the general population in the UK (27% attempted suicide compared to 4% of the general population). This paper will summarise the findings from the research study and highlight recommendations for future research with LGBT populations.

Download my Powerpoint presentation here (169KB Powerpoint file). Download the original research document here (656KB Adobe Acrobat pdf file).

Funded by the Department for International Development, I providing training and consultancy to local non-government organisations in the Sverdlovsk Oblast, to assist in the prevention of HIV transmission and to improve care and support services for people living with HIV.

WORKING THERAPEUTICALLY WITH SAME-SEX COUPLES (Saturday 6th May 2000, Saturday 28th October 2000, Edinburgh)

This workshop was delivered to therapists at Couple Counselling Scotland and Couple Counselling Lothian on working therapeutically with same-sex couples.

OUT OF MIND CONFERENCE (Saturday 8th July 2000, Edinburgh)

Out of Mind was a conference for counsellors and counselling supervisors who wanted to learn more about sexuality and its impact on counselling and supervision. The conference gave participants the opportunity to examine their own attitudes and beliefs, to look at some of the different models of sexuality, and to develop best practice.

WORKSHOPS PROVIDED BY CRAIG HUTCHISON:   

Gay Affirmative Therapy. Topics covered in this workshop included: models of sexuality; historical approaches to sexuality in psychology; recent research; issues commonly faced by LGBT people; internalised homophobia and self esteem; projection and transference working with this group, and best practice.

Working with HIV+ People. This workshop included: information about HIV and combination therapies; issues commonly faced by people living with HIV; the psychological impact of a positive diagnosis; ethical dilemmas; available resources, and best practice.