FSW 268 - Reframing Anxiety: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Understanding and Healing
Course Description
Discover how to approach anxiety through a trauma-informed lens in this engaging workshop!
Explore the neurobiology of anxiety, holistic strategies for healing, and the deep connections between trauma and anxiety. Through interactive discussions and practical tools, you'll learn how to create safe, empowering relationships, apply culturally relevant interventions, and prioritize self-care to enhance your professional resilience. Leave equipped with innovative strategies to support individuals navigating anxiety in a compassionate and impactful way.
Presenter Bibliography:
Krista Osborne RCSW, MSW
Assistant Professor (Teaching), Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary
Krista Osborne is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work. At the University, Krista teaches clinical courses in the BSW and MSW programs. She also serves as the Team Lead for the Trauma Informed Practice MSW specialization. She is a Registered Clinical Social Worker with a small private practice in St. Albert, AB. There she focuses her work on grief, loss and trauma recovery. She has a particular love of working with youth and emerging adults. Krista also works with first responders and their families around trauma recovery.
Krista has extensive experience in front line social work practice. She has worked a variety of roles such as group care, crisis intervention, health, mental health and clinical supervision. Krista has been in adult education since she was barely an adult herself. She has recently taken the leap back into being a student to explore deeper her role as an educator. She is currently taking her Doctorate in Education.
Course Details
Outcomes/Learning Objectives:
Neurobiology of Anxiety
- Explore current research on the neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety, including the roles of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex in the stress response.
- Understand the impact of trauma on nervous system dysregulation and how neuroplasticity informs healing approaches for anxiety.
Holistic and Strength-Based Approaches to Anxiety
- Apply person-centered strategies that prioritize safety, trust, and collaboration when working with individuals experiencing anxiety.
- Integrate strength-based practices, such as mindfulness, somatic regulation, and culturally specific healing methods, to empower individuals in managing anxiety.
Understanding Anxiety Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
- Examine how trauma contributes to the development and persistence of anxiety symptoms across emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual domains.
- Recognize the influence of systemic and environmental factors, such as oppression, poverty, and discrimination, on the experience and expression of anxiety.
Ethical and Relational Practices for Managing Anxiety
- Build empathetic and trauma-sensitive relationships that prioritize consent, avoid re-traumatization, and support emotional regulation.
- Address power dynamics and foster collaboration to help individuals regain control over their anxiety and healing process.
Practitioner Resilience
- Develop reflective practices to understand the emotional impact of working with anxiety and trauma, including recognizing signs of vicarious anxiety or compassion fatigue.
- Prioritize personal self-care strategies to sustain well-being and effectiveness in delivering trauma-informed care for anxiety.