Understanding Vicarious Trauma & Strategies for Coping for Frontline Workers

November 21, 2024 @ ONLINE

Stronger Than You Think Webinar Series Presents: Understanding Vicarious Trauma & Strategies for Coping for Frontline Workers
PLEASE REGISTER HERE: Eventbrite Registration

Date: November 21st, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM

In today’s high-stress environments, frontline workers often bear the weight of others’ pain and distress, putting them at risk for vicarious trauma—an emotional toll that can impact their mental and physical well-being. This webinar explores the nature of vicarious trauma, a form of trauma that arises not from direct experiences but from empathic engagement with those affected by crisis, hardship, or trauma.

Through expert insights and evidence-based strategies, this session equips participants with practical tools to recognize and respond to vicarious trauma effectively. Attendees will learn to identify early warning signs, build personal resilience, and establish coping mechanisms designed specifically for frontline roles. Join us to gain essential skills that help create a healthier, more sustainable approach to care and support for those who give so much.

About our Facilitator:
Ana Mercedes Guerra, MSW, RSW, is a seasoned social worker and counselor with over 30 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds. Based in Ottawa, she excels in clinical supervision, intake coordination, and group facilitation, with specialized expertise in trauma-informed practice and support for immigrant communities. Ana is committed to fostering social change through culturally sensitive counseling and advocacy, and she is adept at training future social workers. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she is a dedicated member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and holds advanced credentials in social work and trauma counselling.

About Stronger Than You Think

The #Strongerthanyouthink Series aims at providing capacity building workshops for service providers, faith-based groups and employers to be better equipped to respond to disclosures of gender-based violence in the newcomer community. While gender-based violence happens to all communities at a similar rate, we recognize that refugee and immigrant women face particular barriers that make it more difficult for them to get support. It is our aim that this webinar series update the sector on the changing landscape and better equip attendants on how to deal with disclosures of gender-based violence for newcomer communities.