As part of the ADRIC diversity series last November, Karen Snowshoe provided ideas for ADRIC members and other interested professionals about how to take A Trauma-Informed Approach to Managing ADR.

Karen returns with mental health professional Vicki Enns, MMFT, RMFT to dig deeper into this subject.

Greater knowledge of how trauma affects our brain and body functions enables us to better meet our clients’ needs and respond constructively, whether we serve as legal counsel, human resources professionals, mediators, arbitrators or other ADR practitioners. Awareness of how working with clients impacted by trauma can also affect us allows us to implement strategies for our own wellbeing.  Topics include:

-The physiology of trauma (i.e. what happens to the brain)

-Examples of situations that cause trauma – it can come from places we may not expect

-How trauma can show up – especially when resolving conflict

-Strategies to heighten our awareness of those who may be triggered by trauma and practical tools to support them

-Strategies to support ourselves: vicarious trauma/vicarious resilience

-Why investing time in developing a trauma-informed practice and early intervention can be beneficial – for you, your clients and the organizations you work with

-What skills sets are important to be able take a trauma-informed and culturally competent approach and what are our ethical responsibilities to ensure our clients remain safe?

-What resources can help practitioners expand their knowledge in this area?

 

The Facilitators:

Karen Snowshoe is a Lawyer, Arbitrator, Mediator and Workplace Investigator. Since 2009, Ms. Snowshoe has provided Adjudication services (claims of first instance and appeals) and Mediation services across Canada. Her main clients have included the Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat, the Northwest Territories Human Rights Adjudication Panel and the Workers’ Compensation Tribunal of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. She has chaired two Federal Land Claim Arbitration Panels and maintains membership in numerous professional organizations dedicated to the administration of justice. She has held over 150 hearings across Canada and written 100+ well-reasoned decisions involving claims of first instance and appeal.

Ms. Snowshoe is passionate about providing trauma-informed and culturally sensitive investigations. As senior counsel with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG), Ms. Snowshoe built, trained and led a national team of statement gatherers who conducted trauma-informed interviews across Canada, on a confidential basis. Ms. Snowshoe has also facilitated agreements between a variety of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations.

In 2018, Ms. Snowshoe was elected as a Bencher (Governor) of the Law Society of British Columbia. Ms. Snowshoe’s brings a unique perspective to the governance of the Law Society. She has made valuable contributions in the following areas: Access to Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Credentials, Practice Standards, Truth & Reconciliation, Mental Health Task Force and the Disciplinary process. Ms. Snowshoe is the first Indigenous woman to be elected as a Bencher in the B.C. Law Society’s history. Ms. Snowshoe has been a long-time resident of Vancouver. She also lived and worked in Canada’s north (the Yukon and the Northwest Territories) for 14 years.

Ms. Snowshoe is also a part-time member of the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.

 

Vicki Enns is the Clinical Director of the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute, and an Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is the editor and co-author of two books Counselling Insights and Cousnelling in Relationships. In her private practice, she specializes in the area of trauma recovery across the lifespan, and she helps individuals, couples, and families build positive mental health and relational skills across developmental stages. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness that applies to both clients and helpers. Vicki also believes that it is essential for helpers to continue learning and developing their self-awareness alongside evolving clinical skills. As a trainer, she is particularly gifted at creating a learning atmosphere that is collaborative and respectful, and which embraces diversity in personal identity, skills, and cultural perspectives.

Professional Development Accreditation:

• ADRIC Continuing Education & Engagement (CEE) points: 4
• Law Society of British Columbia: 2 hours
• Law Society of Saskatchewan: 2 hours
• Law Society of New Brunswick: 2 hours
• Law Society of Ontario: 2 hours of Professionalism Content
• CPD accreditation pending from all Law Societies across Canada

 

To access the webinar recording, click here. We regret this recording is no longer available.