TAT - Trauma Awareness Training: a compassionate toolkit for temple goers

TAT - Trauma Awareness Training: a compassionate toolkit for temple goers. Learn about the autonomic nervous system, through the lens of Polyvagal theory, and mindfully attend to your own somatic experience before bringing this awareness of trauma & triggers, to find ways to recognise and work with it for yourself and others in temple space. Everybody welcome over age 18.

• After a welcome and brief check in, I’ll offer you a definition of what trauma is, and what it is not. It’s such a well used term these days that it’s good to be clear on it, and there will be space for your questions.
• We’ll then learn a little about our nervous systems, using the principles of Polyvagal Theory, and you can start to map out your own experience. We all have our default places we go to when triggered, so it’s good to be aware of what these tendencies are and how to navigate them.
• To help take this understanding into the body, there will follow a partnered breath work exercise. This will involve lying down and could include some consensual, non-sexual touch. Please bring nesting materials, such as a yoga mat and/or blanket, so that you can be comfortable.
• We’ll then have a 90 minute lunch break, so that you have plenty of time to go out and stretch your legs, get something to eat, socialise with one another, or if you prefer you can take some time alone.
• After lunch, we'll take a look at how we tend to operate in groups, using Karpman’s Drama Triangle. This is a simple map of the unconscious behaviour patterns we can get caught in when interacting with one or more people. I’ll also show you the way out of these tendencies, so you can consciously step out of your default when you spot your patterns playing out.
• Finally we’ll look at some trauma first aid and how to help members of your community if they are having a hard time regulating their nervous system. We’ll also attempt to draw up a co-created group contract, based on what you’ve learned during the day, with the focus on self awareness, personal responsibility and care for one another.

About Sara Bhavani

Sara Bhavani is an Integrative Relational Therapist, Psychosexual Somatic Coach, Trainer and Supervisor. She runs her private practice online and in person from the Centre of the Hills in Malvern, Worcestershire, working with individuals, couples/relationships and other practitioners in the field. She is a registered member of the National Council of Integrative Psychotherapists and The Association for Coaching.

sarabhavani.com