Healing the Healer:

Transforming Secondary Traumatic Stress with Intentional Creativity™

Description: This half or full-day experiential training offers participants an engaging opportunity to use mindfulness and creative expression practices to relax, manage workplace stress and design unique self-care plans. The focus will be on honoring the important work staff does to support their well-being, along with supporting healing from stress and burnout to build personal resiliency and improve outcomes for clients.

Training Objectives: (knowledge, ideas, or skills participants will explore, learn, and practice)

During these trainings, participants will:

1. Utilize mindfulness and self-care practices, such as creative expression and journaling, to support rejuvenation and identify and address any secondary traumatic stress symptoms on cognitive, emotional, and nervous system levels.

2. Use a self-care assessment tool and art materials to design creative self-care plans to support and enhance work-life resilience.

3. Use a goal setting process to follow through with identified strategies to maintain self-care.

Transfer of Learning: All attendees will be provided with resources that incorporate self-care strategies to alleviate and manage workplace stress. A training document will be provided to all attendees and will include examples of how to apply these methods during their daily work and throughout their careers.

No painting experience is required. All supplies are provided for in-person trainings. For online sessions, participants will use their own supplies, or organization may opt to purchase supplies. Participants leave the training with a painting and personalized tools for self-care.

For in person or online trainings, booking, and rates, please contact me at rachelbavis@gmail.com or 949-872-7200. 

“Secondary Trauma is an occupational hazard for child welfare workers who are exposed to survivors of traumatic events as part of their everyday work. Helping staff establish coping strategies can reduce staff burnout and turnover. Rachel Bavis’ “Healing The Healer” workshop offers child welfare social workers a therapeutic, interactive environment to address and develop such coping skills. As a deputy director for Children and Family Services, I believe Ms. Bavis has a unique approach- focusing on creativity and mindfulness to help staff develop tools to remain emotionally healthy. Her prior experience as an attorney working in the juvenile system gives her an empathic perspective in understanding the traumatic nature of the stressors in our work.  I highly recommend this training opportunity as many of our staff have attended and returned to work with a renewed enthusiasm and passion for their work. Ms. Bavis is an outstanding and dynamic facilitator and her workshop is not to be missed!” –Dr. Joanne Munro, Former Deputy Director, OC Children and Family Services

 “This is an excellent workshop for relaxation and awakening one’s creative spirit.  Fun and empowering!” –Wendy E., teacher, Riverside, CA

Renewing Staff Retreats: 

Sparking Creativity & Innovation

Designed for organizations.   In this full-day experiential training, leadership will be led in a step-by-step process incorporating painting, mindfulness, and writing to provide a unique, shared experience. The first part of the training will allow leadership to focus on individual Healing the Healer paintings, as described above. The last part of the training will shift to a collective focus on visioning for the future. The vision will be captured in a shared painting that can be displayed at work. By taking the time to foster unity and inspiration, the organization has the opportunity to flourish and further its mission while participants return to work with renewed energy, commitment, and focus.

The training requires no prior painting experience and includes all painting supplies.  Participants leave the training with a painting, journal and ideas for creativity to thrive at home and in the workplace.

For training proposal, booking, and rates, please contact me at rachelbavis@gmail.com or 949-872-7200. 

 “During our staff retreat, Rachel created a safe, soothing and nurturing space that invited creativity, connection, and growth.  I felt so held and taken care of and was able to tap into parts of myself I would not have been able to reach on my own.” –Rudi Price-Waldrip, Tribal Ground Staff Retreat Participant, Aptos, California