70 Stabilising. Introducing the toolbox.
TO THE TRAINER
PART II: THE TRAINING
Stabilising. Introducing the toolbox.
Aim. To teach the participants some recovery skills and stabilising tools that will strengthen and stabilise survivors of trauma.
‘ Stabilising’ refers to techniques for handling trauma-related reactions. It refers both to ways of animating and ways of calming a survivor.
Summarise the helpers’ qualities, using Figure 1 and referring back to Exercise 3 on pages 34-35. Remind the participants that they all have a tool box, and that – with their skills and good qualities – they are the best tools. Draw a tool box on the board and indicate that the Butterfly Woman story is one tool in this box. Emphasise that the participants have many other skills that they have acquired during their life, through work and experience. This section will concentrate on practising additional tools and skills that they can add to their toolbox.
Explain again how important the senses are. Fear is triggered by the senses and the senses can also be used to control it.
If you desire, and feel comfortable, go back to the drawing of the brain on pages 38-39( What are trauma reactions?) to show that our brains can be divided into three parts. Try to explain the main differences.
• The‘ new brain’ –‘ the thinking brain’.
• The mid-brain( implicit memory) –‘ the emotional brain’.
• The old(‘ reptile’) brain – reflexes.
TEACHING INSTRUCTION. POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU PRACTISE EXERCISES AND TECHNIQUES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO STABILISE A SURVIVOR.
• Pick a time and place that are peaceful and safe.
• Make sure you are calm and able to learn something new.
• Practise over and over again every day, for some time.
• A survivor who follows these principles will eventually be able to use exercises to calm herself even when she is stressed and experiencing flashbacks.