Trauma-Informed Practices with María José Sotomayor-Giacomucci

Trauma-Informed Practices for Working with Immigrant and Refugee Communities

This workshop is designed for professionals working or interested in working with immigrant and refugee communities. This workshop will explore trauma-informed approaches to enhance culturally sensitive care, support resilience, and address the unique challenges these populations face. Participants will gain actionable strategies to integrate into their practice while staying informed about the rights of immigrants and refugees and the impact of current policies.

Excellent

Grounding

Informative

Valuable

Two Workshop Options

1-Hour Overview on rights, trauma-informed practices, and current policies.

  1. Identify at least one trauma-informed practice to implement when working with immigrant and refugee communities.
  2. Describe the fundamental rights of immigrants and refugees in the U.S.
  3. Assess the impact of current policies on the well-being of the immigrant and refugee communities they serve.

Half-Day Comprehensive Workshop on Trauma-Informed Care

  • National policies impacting immigrant and refugee communities​​  ​​
    • Understanding the difference between refugee, asylee, undocumented, documented, DACA, and other statuses
    • Explore changing policies, rights, and procedures
  • State and local policies impacting immigrant and refugee communities
    • ​Driver’s License
    • Tuition equity
    • Language access
  • Immigrant and refugee mental health
    • ​What is the impact of policies on mental health of communities?
    • What is the impact of individual migratiopn stories and histories?
    • Looking at generational trauma, ambiguous loss, PTSD, and other factors impacting mental health
    • What is the impact of immigration status on the individual and family system?
    • Risks and strengths
  • ​Using SAMHSA 4 R’s of trauma-informed care to learn and support immigrant and refugee communities
    • ​​​Impact of trauma
    • Recognize how trauma shows up for individuals, family system, group and team
    • Respond to policies guided by trauma-informed principles
    • Resist retraumatization when working with this population
    • Case study examples: Welcoming Environments & Therapeutic environment
  • ​​​Community support and resources
    • Referrals to community-based organizations supporting immigrant and refugee families across the state   
    • Navigating changes to immigration and refugee policies
Programs Who Have Received Our Trainings

Dr. Scott has provided training to thousands of professionals around the world including various programs in the Philadelphia area such as:

  • Mirmont Treatment Center
  • Mainline Health Systems
  • Caron Treatment Center
  • Pinelands Recovery Center
  • Banyan Treatment Center
  • Maryland Addiction Recovery Center
  • Chester County Department of Human Services
  • Women Organized Against Rape
  • Spilove Psychotherapy
  • Espenshade Counseling
  • Manor of Hope
  • Bryn Mawr College
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • West Chester University
  • Denver University
  • New Mexico State University
  • Columbia University
  • Neumann University
  • Antioch University
  • Widener University
  • Penn State University
  • International Universities
Additional Training Topics Provided:
  • Introduction to Sociometry, Psychodrama, and Experiential Trauma Therapy
  • PTSD, CPTSD, Trauma-Informed Principles, and Post-Traumatic Growth
  • The Intersection of Addiction and Trauma
  • Experiential Group Treatment: Sociometry and Safety Structures
  • An Experiential Trauma Therapy Clinical Map: Neurobiology and Safety
  • Using Experiential Work to Transform Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, & Vicarious Trauma
  • Working Experientially with Defenses in Addiction & Trauma Work
  • Relational Trauma Repair: Psychosocial Metrics & Psychodrama-like Interventions
  • Experiential Therapy Supervised Practice
  • Psychodrama and Empty Chair Work in Individual Sessions
  • Sociatry & Spirituality in Trauma and Addiction Work
  • Strengths-based Experiential Work and the Empty Chair
  • Role Theory, Doubling, and Attachment Theory
  • Experiential Work with Loss, Ambiguous Loss, Traumatic Loss, and Resilience
  • Group Work, Group Therapy, Mutual Aid, and the 12-steps
  • Grief and Loss: Impacts on Clients and Staff
  • Integrating Gender-Affirming Care into Trauma-Informed Care
  • Introduction to Expressive Arts Therapies
  • Healers’ Haven: Addressing Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
  • Bringing IFS into Practice
  • Supporting Survivors of Religious and Spiritual Harm
  • Other topics available upon request, including our Wednesday Webinar topics
Continuing Education Hours

The Phoenix Center is a pre-approved provider of CE Hours for National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), American Psychological Association (APA), and the Pennsylvania boards of Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, and Psychology. Any in-services trainings by Phoenix Center staff can provide these CEs plus training hours towards certifications in experiential therapy and psychodrama.

Cost and Rates

Our fee for organizational consultation or clinical training varies based on the nature of the organization, travel distance, number of participants, type of training, and workshop content. Workshops are individualized to meet your organizational needs/preferences and include the provision of CE hours and certificates. See fee schedule below: 

  • Small group workshops (under 35 people)
    • $550/hr or $2750/day
  • Large group workshops (35-75 people)
    • $1000/hr or $4800/day

*Reduced cost offerings are provided to non-profit organizations and international communities on a limited basis. Write to us if cost is the only thing holding you back from working together!

The Facilitator

Maria Jose Sotomayor-Giacomucci, Experiential Trauma Therapist and Director of Operations at The Phoenix Center

María José Sotomayor-Giacomucci, MSS, LCSW obtained her master’s in social services (equivalent to Social Work) with a clinical concentration from Bryn Mawr College and earned a B.A in Psychology and Minor in Communications from Neumann University. María José has completed advanced trauma therapy training in EMDR, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with couples. She specializes in working with community activists, children 8 +, adolescents, adults, families and couples.

María José has offers both workshops and consultation regarding trauma-informed practices for working with immigrant and refugee communities, along with education on culture, race, and diversity.

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Interested in Bringing this Training to Your Team?

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We can provide CE Hours for NBCC, PA SW, PA LPC, PA LMFT, and PA Psychologists.