This workshop for LINKS grant holders, in November 2021, was aimed at restorative reflection, an opportunity to consider the learning from lockdown, and how we can improve features of professional self-care practice in challenging contexts.
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all aspects of functioning at individual, community, and societal levels. The impact of the pandemic is far-reaching and youth workers have been responding and adapting to meet the needs of young people, groups, and communities since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
Engaging with complex needs, people in crisis, those who feel anxious, facing illness, and loss during lockdown has been challenging. Practitioners are impacted at multiple levels and continuous professional development incorporating self-care training has emerged as a priority.
Dr. Breda Friel delivered this workshop on behalf of LINKS. Breda is Course Director for Community Youth Work in Ulster University Magee. She is an IACP and BACP accredited therapist. As a Critical Incident trauma specialist, she offers debriefing and critical incident response to several statutory and C&V agencies and manages community-based initiatives in the wake of critical events. Breda is a founding member of a suicide prevention C&V organisation in Donegal and director of the Inishowen Mindfulness Centre. Her research and practice is in the area of trauma recovery, mental health, and suicide prevention.
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