FOCUS Conference

Healing the Wounded Healer

Do you struggle with taking care of yourself? Do you deny or minimize your own pain and suffering? Do you frequently smile in the light, but suffer in the dark? Would like to learn solutions for preventing and managing burnout, compassion fatigue and depression? If you answered yes to either one of the aforementioned questions, this workshop was designed specifically for you. In this engaging and interactive workshop participants will receive an overview of what it means to be a wounded healer and learn the importance of engaging in self-care.

Wounded healers are often compelled to serve others because they are wounded. In the process of helping and healing others Wounded Healers often activate their own wounds and find themselves struggling, especially in situations where they are helping individuals who have similar wounds. Recognizing and seeking professional help to cope with the reception and transferance of suffering is critical to taking care of yourself and helping others.

Unforunately, thousands of pastors and mental health professionals view help seeking as a weakness and are fearful of letting others know that they are in pain. Dr. Buckingham will share stories with participants to help them understand that the choices they fail to make in order to take care of themselves can be life threatening. Participants will share personal stories as well and identify self-care strategies.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

At the end of the workshop participants will be able to…

• Identify characteristics of Wounded Healers
• Define Psychological Wounds and the Top Three Wounds experienced by Healers
• Describe Where Psychological Wounds Develop and How They are Sustained
• Articulate 3 Fs that Prevent Healers from Seeking Professional Help
• Express benefits of enrolling in the Academy for Pastoral Psychological Care (APPC) or the Academy for Social Worker Development (ASWD)