Podcasts - Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute

Aug 08, 2024

Episode 28: Practice Deep Listening Like a Clown

Vicki dives into the unique world of therapeutic clowning with Angola Murdoch. As an aerialist, circus performer, and theatre director of Lookup Theatre, Angola describes her passion for creativity, movement, and serving people through therapeutic clowning. Together they explore the unique client-led process that unfolds in a hospice setting, where “Mabel” the clown connects, sings, and explores emotions with clients who are dying. Angola shares the wisdom of deep listening that we can all learn from a clown.

Connecting with other counsellors is one of the most important pieces of ongoing professional development and self-care for anyone in a helping role.

Tune in once a month for authentic and insightful conversations on a variety of counselling topics. Subscribe to our newsletter or wherever you get your podcasts to listen to new episodes.

About the Host

Vicki (she/her) is a writer, trainer, and podcast host specializing in supporting counsellors and helping professionals, and she is the former Clinical Director of CTRI. Vicki has a private practice where she specializes in trauma healing for individuals, couples, and families. She holds a Master of Marriage and Family Therapy degree and is an Approved Supervisor with AAMFT and CAMFT. Vicki is also the editor and a contributing author of two CTRI books: Counselling Insights, Counselling in Relationships, and is a co-author of CTRI’s A Little Book about Trauma Informed Workplaces.

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Vicki Enns, MSW, RSW

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Aug 08, 2024

Episode 28: Practice Deep Listening Like a Clown

Jul 15, 2024

Episode 27: Building a Foundation of Multicultural Competence

Vicki and Clinical Psychologist Krystel Salandanan explore a multicultural approach to mental health counselling. Together they explore ways to build a strong multicultural foundation into any counsellor’s practice, emphasizing the ethical importance of making this an everyday and ongoing part of learning. And they discuss concrete strategies linked to cultural humility and intersectionality that will get you started. … Read More

Jun 12, 2024

Episode 26: Staying Steady While Supporting People With BPD

Vicki and Therapist Emily Bushell explore borderline personality traits – both the experience of living with them, and what it’s like to be a support. Emily describes foundational strategies for getting started on building stability for those with borderline traits, and offers her two favourite strategies for helpers to stay grounded and steady in this work. Through a healing story and a reframe of the drama triangle, Emily describes the power of shifting the dynamic from victim and rescuer to an empowered and compassionate coach. Find out more about Emily’s resources here. Read More

May 09, 2024

Episode 25: Co-creating Trauma-Informed Spaces

Vicki sits down with CTRI Owner and Managing Director Nathan Gerbrandt to explore his evolving understanding of creating Trauma-Informed spaces and practices. They discuss moving beyond awareness in order to co-create safety with individuals and organizations. Nathan shares practical suggestions for seeing strengths and success as part of trauma awareness. And he highlights the influence of this model on upcoming CTRI trainings.

Apr 04, 2024

Episode 24: Supporting First Responders Through Traumatic Injury

Vicki sits down with CTRI Clinical Director Joddie Walker to get an inside look at how first responders can be impacted by traumatic injury. Joddie describes common themes as well as unique impacts for first responders, such as moral injury and sanctuary trauma. She explains the importance of creating a safe space to unpack the stigma around needing help and the key step of broadening the story to include adverse childhood experiences.

Jan 24, 2024

Episode 23: Becoming a Trauma-Informed Leader

Vicki and former corporate leader and author Carolyn Swora discuss what it means to become a trauma-informed leader and how to apply this awareness to workplace interactions. Carolyn describes key skills toward self-awareness, including understanding the three centres of intelligence, and the seven guarded archetypes of how we protect against vulnerability. She gives clear examples of using the three steps of her model to evolve, as described in her book, Evolve: The Path to Trauma-Informed Leadership. Follow Carolyn on LinkedIn and Instagram!… Read More

Dec 07, 2023

Episode 22: Therapeutic Letter Writing

Vicki and John explore the art of therapeutic letter writing as part of facilitating connection, charting progress, and supporting the client’s strengths. John shares examples of successes as well as missteps that have helped him learn the best ways to introduce this concept to people. He also provides tips and strategies for counsellors to make a habit of using letters to support counselling work – from before you meet the client to creating lasting impact after you end.

Nov 08, 2023

Episode 21: High Intensity Self-Care

Vicki and Tom Walker dig into the connection between adverse childhood experiences and long-term patterns of holding stress. Tom shares his lifelong journey of understanding the impact of his own early life experiences of violence and substance abuse in his family, and his own deeply compassionate approach to supporting other first responders and helpers. Vicki and Tom explore what high intensity self-care can look like for any helper – an approach that can move us into releasing trauma and absorbed stress toward greater freedom and compassion.

Oct 11, 2023

Episode 20: Self-Care Transformed

Vicki and Marwa Fadol share stories and excerpts from their upcoming book, Self-Care Transformed. They discuss their hope to bring new life to the concepts of self-care, wellness, and resilience. Going deeper into greater self-awareness, courage to acknowledge systemic stressors, and feel the deeper feelings, they share excerpts from their new book, along with personal experiences that have shaped their own journeys. Everyone is invited to the free book launch on November 27, noon-1PM CT! … Read More

Sep 07, 2023

Episode 19: Land-Based Wellness Practices

Vicki and Melanie Bazin explore land-based wellness practices – a wholistic approach to healing and self-awareness. Melanie describes how to prepare ourselves as helpers to engage in these practices authentically and she gives examples of sessions such as work with youth she does at L’il Steps Wellness Farm. And they discuss how connecting with the land opens a reciprocal relationship of care and responsibility between ourselves and nature.

Aug 09, 2023

Episode 18: Seriously Therapeutic Play – Listening With More Than Our Ears

Vicki and Kristen Klassen discuss Seriously Therapeutic Play – using LEGO® bricks to build metaphorical models. They explore how this process helps us to think and listen differently and provides unique communication and problem-solving opportunities. Kristen gives examples of simple strategies any counsellor can use with a few toys to bring this process into the therapy room or a group conversation.

Jul 12, 2023

Episode 17: Illustrating Vicarious Trauma – The Importance of Art and Play

Vicki and Rebecca Bloom explore vicarious trauma and why it’s become more intense for helpers since the pandemic. Rebecca delves into her book, Vicarious Trauma Illustrated, to provide a process for curiosity, reflection, awareness, and discovery about our own experiences of vicarious trauma. She also reminds us that our way out of stress and overwhelm is to dance and play with each other.