This was released as Episode 374 of Counselor Toolbox Podcast. You can find specific episodes and CEU courses based on the podcasts at https://allceus.com/counselortoolbox You can also subscribe on your favorite podcast app like Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Castbox.

1. Enhancing Trauma
Resiliency
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP
Executive Director: AllCEUs Counselor Education
Host: Counselor Toolbox Podcast
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2. Objectives
 Learn about the effects of acute and
intergenerational trauma
 Review risk and protective factors for PTSD
 Identify strategies to enhance resiliency in
persons who have experienced past trauma
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3. Effects of Lack of Resilience from
Primary and Intergenerational Trauma
 Anxiety and Depression
 PTSD
 Addictions
 Personality Disorders
 Relationship Issues
 Poverty / Reduced Success
 Stress Related Physical
Health Problems
 Intergenerational Trauma
 Attachment Issues
 Pessimism
 Rigid Thinking
 Lack of Psychological
Flexibility
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3

4. Signs of Resilience
 Optimism / Pessimism
 Empowerment / Helplessness
 Flexibility / Rigidity
 Confidence / Meekness/Anxiety
 Competence / Incompetence
 Insightfulness / Lack of Insight
 Perseverance / Gives Up Easily
 Perspective / Lack of Perspective
 Self Control / Dysregulation
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5. PTSD Risk Factors
 Age
 Developmental level
 Prior history of trauma
 Prior history of mental health or substance abuse issues
(including autism and FASD)
 Number of stressors in the prior 6 months
 Availability of social support within 4/24/72 hours
 Effective problem solving & coping skills
 Effective distress tolerance skills
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6. Protective Factors
 Psychological Flexibility
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Here and
Now
Away Behaviors
Hypervigilance
Irritability/aggression
Addictive behaviors
Withdrawal/isolation
Gives up easily
Away Thoughts/Feelings
Anxiety
Anger
Pessimism
Distrust
Guilt
Loneliness
Lack of perspective
Toward Behaviors
Mindfulness
Patience
Vulnerability prevention
Seeking social support
Problem solving skills
Toward Thoughts/Feelings
Optimism
Curiosity/Perspective/Insight
Flexibility
Empowerment
Confidence
Trust
Competence
Self-Control

7. Protective Factors
 Mindfulness
 The awareness of the present moment and ones needs
in the moment without judgement
 Activities
5-4-3-2-1
What’s in the Room
 Word’s in a Word
 Scavenger Hunt – (i.e. All things green)
Noticing Log
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8. Protective Factors
 Mindfulness/Vulnerability Prevention
 Morning/Evening (Whiteboard) Mindfulness
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8
Morning
• How did I sleep?
• Do I feel rested?
• Do I feel healthy?
• Do I have pain anywhere?
• What am I thinking about the most?
• How do I feel emotionally?
• What am I looking forward to?
• What am I dreading?
• What is one thing I am grateful for?
• What can I do to get energized for
the day?
Afterschool/Work Mindfulness
• How do I feel physically?
• How do I feel emotionally?
• What was the worst thing that
happened today?
• What was the best thing that
happened today?
• What do I want/need right now to
help me finish the day?
• Distress Tolerance Activities?
• Social Support?
• Food?

9. Protective Factors
 Mindfulness
 Evening
 How do I feel physically?
 Do I have pain anywhere?
 What am I thinking about the most?
 How do I feel emotionally?
 What is one thing I am grateful for today?
 What do I need to do so I can get relaxed enough to go to sleep?
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9

10. Distress Tolerance / Self Control
 Activities
 Contribute
 Comparisons (to when
you were in a worse
state, to how things
could be worse)
 Emotions
 Push Away
 Thoughts
 Sensations
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 Imagery
 Meaning
 Prayer
 Relaxation
 One at a time
 Vacation
 Encouragement

11. Framing/Perspective Skills
 What is the evidence for and against that fear or
belief?
 Am I considering the big picture (all the factors)
 My active part
 My current situation and vulnerabilities that contributed
 Other people’s active part in it
 Transference issues
 Am I catastrophizing/confusing high and low
probability events
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• Complaint
• Roof Damage
• Divorce
• Relationship Issues
• Team tryouts
• Grades

12. Problem Solving Skills
 Brainstorming– (Hand drawing for children, mind-
map for adults)
 Ask someone who has been through it
 How does this keep me from moving closer to my
goals and what can I do about it?
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13. Flexibility
 Helps people learn that things won’t always go the way they
want, BUT it doesn’t mean it will be awful.
 Does not come easy to those with a “J” personality
 Identify things we need to be flexible in (vacations,
workouts, job duties, relationships, time management)
 Activities
 Choices Hat (meals, vacations, television programs)
 Schedule a spontaneous day
 How many uses game (Duct tape, coconut oil, plastic shopping
bags, cardboard boxes, wire coat hangers…)
 How are you like a…. game
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14. Optimism
 Learned Optimism (Martin Seligman)
 The traumatized brain stays on alert and notices the dangers
or potential threats
 Teaching people to identify the good things as well can be
helpful (Hardiness, Kobasa 1979; ACT Russ Harries, Steven
Hayes; DBT Marsh Linehan)
 Commitment – The current situation is unfortunate AND what
other aspects of your life are you committed to which are
going okay? (Dialectics, Living in the AND)
 Control—What parts of this situation can you control? What
aspects of the other parts of your life are in your control?
 Challenge—In what ways can the current situation be viewed as
a challenge or obstacle instead of a barrier?
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15. Optimism
 Learned Optimism (Martin Seligman)
 Activities
Positive journaling
Gratitude (wall, tree, branch)
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16. Empowerment
 Activities
 Learn about others like you who have overcome
challenges
 Break big tasks into small steps
 Give credit where credit is due. “I did that” wall
 Make a “My support” list
 Make sure not to put all your eggs in one basket.
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17. Confidence and Competence
 When people feel incompetent and lack confidence, the
world seems much more threatening and they can feel
more helpless.
 Signature strengths
 Ad campaign
 Body Poster / Collage
 “Biography”
 Who I look up to…
 Personal scrapbook of accomplishments
 Emotional/Courage/Perseverance/Dedication
 Physical
 Mental/Occupational/Creativity/Hobbies
 Interpersonal/Friendship/Patience/Advocacy
 Spiritual
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17

18. Confidence and Competence
 Signature strengths
 Goals Workbook
My Goal
 Why I want it
 What could stand in my way
 How I can deal with that
 The steps to get it
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19. Perseverance
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19
 From a young age it can be difficult to keep going in the
face of adversity, especially if you are already stressed
and feeling disempowered.
 Activities
 Scaffolding (Tying shoes, doing laundry, reading a book)
 For adults--Mentorship
 Chunk It
 Decisional Balance
Quitting Keeping On
Benefits
Drawbacks

20. Social Support and Connectedness
 Social support is a great resource when trauma
knocks people off balance
 Developing Connectedness
 Participate in hobby groups
 Join clubs, faith organizations
 Put effort into developing relationships
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21. Prevention and Preparedness
 Have a plan
 Finances or resources
 Housing
 Medical
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22. Summary
 Trauma can enhance feelings of disconnectedness,
helplessness and anxiety.
 Trauma impacts people emotionally, mentally,
physically, interpersonally, occupationally
 By helping people develop trauma resiliency we
can assist them in preventing PTSD after a trauma
and breaking the cycle of intergenerational
trauma
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