CWWPP
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who are we?
    • Mission and Vision
    • The Region
    • Profile of Psychological Trauma
    • History
    • Partners
    • Get Involved
    • Reports >
      • Monthly Reports
      • Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
  • Our Work
    • Philosophy
    • Social Inclusion
    • Community-based Training
    • Groups with which We Work
    • Peer Counseling and Self-Help Groups
    • Education >
      • Onsite Education
      • Online Education
      • "Blended" Education in Croatia and Other Regions
      • How You Can Request a Course or Counseling
      • Internships, The Summer Program, and Other Possibilities for Students
    • Supervision
    • Work with people
    • Sensitization
    • The Migrant Project
  • PET (Pragmatic Empowerment Training)
    • Pragmatic Empowerment Training (PET)
    • Course 1-The Caregiver-Client Relationship >
      • 1 Introduction >
        • 1 Introduction to the PET
        • 2 The CWWPP >
          • Introduction to the CWWPP - Comments
        • 3 PET
        • 4 Facilitation
        • 5 Additional Remarks on the Course >
          • Inventarization
      • 2 The Caregiver-Client Relationship >
        • 1 Introduction and the Caregiver Client Relationship as the Basis of Everything
        • 2 Some First Principles >
          • Taking an Interest In and Concentrating on the Client
          • Taking An Attitude of Humanity and Compassion
          • Listening and Responding to the Total Person
        • 3 Some Points About Language and Getting to Know the Client >
          • Activities - Using Language That the Person Can Understand
          • Activities - Taking the Time and Getting As Much Information as Possible
          • Activities - Feelings
          • Activities - Motives
          • Activities - Interests
          • Activities - Content and Its Interpretation
          • Activities - Assumptions
          • Activities - Prejudices
          • Activities - Expectations
          • Activities - Generalizations
          • Activities -Final Remarks
        • 4 Creating the Right Atmosphere >
          • Activities - The Physical Environment
          • Activities - Formality
          • The Theme of the Session
          • Activities - The Presence of Other People in the Session
          • Activities - The Pressure on the Caregiver and the Client
          • Activities - Final Activities
        • 5 Persistence Patience Insistence Discipline >
          • Activities - Persistence
          • Activities - Patience
          • Activities - Insistence
          • Activities - Discipline
          • Activities - Final Comments
        • 6 Identification and Maintaining Self-Identity >
          • Activities - Identification of the Caregiver with the Client and of the Client with the Caregiver
          • Activities - Maintaining Your Own Identity
          • Activities - Final Comments
          • Education
        • 7 Tolerance and Individualization >
          • Activities - Tolerance and Taking a Non-Judgmental Approach
          • Activities - Individualization
          • Activities - Final Comments
        • 8 Responsibility, Control, and Giving Permission >
          • Activities - Getting the Client to Take Control of His or Her Own Life
          • Activities - Giving the Client Control
          • Activities - Giving the Client Permission
          • Activities - Final comments
        • 9 Giving Time and Space; Listening vs. Preaching >
          • Activities - Giving Time and Space
          • Activities - Listening vs. Preaching
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 10 Gaining and Maintaining Trust >
          • Activities - Honesty
          • Activities- Openness
          • Activities - Directness
          • Activities - Keeping Promises
          • Activities - Humanity
          • Activities - Final Activities
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 11 Ethics >
          • Activities - Do No Harm
          • Activities - Privacy
          • Activities - The Relationship Between the Caregiver and the Client Outside of the Caregiving Situation
          • Activities - Professionalism
          • Activities - Payment and Gifts
          • Activities - Conventions and Codes
          • Activities - Final Activities
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 12 Preparation, Flexibility, and Adaptation >
          • Activities - Preparation
          • Activities - Flexibility and Adaptation
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 13 Religion, Belief, and Hope >
          • Activities - The Role of Belief and Religion
          • Activities - Hope
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 14 Time and Closeness Revisited >
          • Activities - Time
          • Activities - Closeness
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 15 Final Remarks and Activities for this Section >
          • Activities - Final Activities
      • 3 Self-Care >
        • 1 Introduction to this Section >
          • Activities - Introduction
        • 2 Limits >
          • Activities - Time
          • Activities - Physical and Emotional Energy
          • Activities - Acceptance of What We Can and Cannot Do
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 3 Burnout >
          • Activities - Introduction and Definition of Burnout
          • Activities - The Causes of Burnout
          • Activities - Symptoms and Signs of Burnout
          • Activities - Dealing with Burnout
          • Activities - Prevention of Burnout
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 4 Self-Reflection and Self-Criticism >
          • Activity - Self-Reflection and Self-Criticism
        • 5 The Balance Between Professional and Private Life >
          • Activities - Th Balance Between Professional and Personal Life
        • 6 Supervision and Intervision >
          • Activities - Supervision and Intervision
        • 7 Factors Promoting and Detracting from Self-Care
        • 8 Final Remarks and Activities for this Section >
          • Activities - Factors Promoting and Detracting from Self-Care
          • Activities - Final Remarks
      • 4 Final Remarks and Activities for the Course >
        • Activities - Final Remarks for the Course
    • Miscellaneous Educational Documents
  • Library
    • Learning Materials and Course Summaries
    • Brochures and Briefing Papers
    • Conference and Scientific Papers
    • Conference Trauma and Mental Heal in Conflict and Migration >
      • Kanda
      • Young
      • Shrusti
      • Dougherty
      • Yoder-Lopez
      • Tauber
      • Sillett
      • Niconchuk
    • Osijek Seminar 7 May 2019
    • InPact Conference May 2019
    • Articles about and by CWWPP
    • Artwork By A Refugee
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • Donate
  • Koalicija za rad sa psihotraumom i za mir Vukovar
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    • Godisnja financijska i opisna izvjesca
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    • Živa knjižnica
    • Aktivnosti
    • Naš rad >
      • Naša filozofija
      • Socijalna uključenost
      • Obuka u zajednici
      • Skupine s kojima radimo
      • Peer savjetovanje/Grupe za samopomoć
      • Edukacija
      • Supervizija/Intervizija
      • Senzibilizacija društva/Brošure
      • Projekt Migranti
    • Profil psihološke traume
    • PET Program >
      • Tečaj 1- Odnos pomagača i korisnika >
        • 1. Uvodni dio tečaja >
          • 1.1. Uvod
          • 1.2. O CWWPP-u i početcima PET-a
          • 1.3. Trening pragmatičnog osnaživanja (PET)
          • 1.4. Uvod u facilitiranje
          • 1.5. Završne napomene o načinu funkcioniranja tečaja
        • 2. Odnos pomagača i korisnika >
          • 2.1. Odnos kao osnova svega
          • 2.2. Osnovna načela
          • 2.3. O jeziku sporazumijevanja i o upoznavanju korisnika
          • 2.4. Stvaranje ugodaja
          • 2.5. Ustrajnost, strpljivost, upornost i disciplina
          • 2.6. Identificiranje s drugima i čuvanje vlastitog identiteta
          • 2.7. Tolerancija, ne osuđujući pristup i individualizacija
          • 2.8. Odgovornost, kontrola, davanje dozvole za izražavanje osjećaja
          • 2.9. Davanje vremena i prostora; slušanje umjesto moraliziranja
          • 2.10. Stjecanje i održavanje povjerenja
          • 2.11. Etika
          • 2.12. Priprema, fleksibilnost i prilagodba
          • 2.13. Vjera, religija i nada
          • 2.14. Ponovimo: Vremenska posvećenost i prisnost s korisnikom
          • 2.15. Završne napomene i aktivnosti
        • 3. Self-Care >
          • 3.1. Uvod
          • 3.2. Ograničenja
          • 3.3. Burnout
          • 3.4. Samopromatranje i samokritika
          • 3.5. Ravnoteža između poslovnog i privatnog života
          • 3.6. Supervizija i intervizija
          • 3.7. Čimbenici i aktivnosti koji potiču ili ometaju Self-care
          • 3.8. Završne napomene i aktivnosti za ovo poglavlje
        • 4. Završne napomene i aktivnosti za ovaj tečaj
    • Donirajte
  • Podcast

CREATING THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE

Introduction
Creating a good atmosphere in which people can work is extremely important for the success of the processes of dealing with traumatic reactions and for education. The physical environment, the tension between people, the tension on the caregiver and the client, the theme of the discussion, and many other factors can contribute positively or negatively. The main point here is that the caregiver is responsible for creating an atmosphere in which the client feels safe and can work through his or her issues in a productive way.
 
Again, we strongly urge you to carry out the activities suggested. If you post any of your answers, please never give details such that other people can be identified. This is highly unethical.
 
The Physical Environment
The physical environment for the work is important. In our view, in working with traumatized clients, it should be as informal as possible so as to make the client as relaxed as possible. Medical settings may remind the client of torture or of medical procedures. Formal offices with desks may remind the client of interrogation. Light and temperature also are important. It should be the client who determines these. Doors should not be locked and the exit route should be clear, as locked doors may remind the client of imprisonment. Sound levels should be low. We recommend against music, as various clients may like various sorts of music and, again, it can bring up a variety of memories, good and bad. Music also may distract the caregiver and the client.
 
As we have said before, interruptions should be avoided except in emergencies. In this direction, the mobile telephones of the client and the caregiver should be turned off. There may be circumstances, however, in which the client feels safer with the mobile telephone turned on, this as a means of escape. The caregiver needs to be sensitive to this.
 
We have held individual and group sessions, that is, therapeutic and educational sessions, in virtually every setting imaginable. We also have had the client suggest where the session should be held. Flexibility is important.
 
Activity
Describe the physical environments under which you have held sessions and the challenges that you have faced.
 
To make a comment, click here.


Formality
Opinions differ on the level of formality that should be observed between the client and the caregiver. In general, we maintain a fairly high level of formality. In languages in which there is a formal “you” (German: Sie; French: Vous; Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian: Vi), we use that form. During the first conversation, we use the form Mr./Ms. X, perhaps later switching to the first name and allowing the client to use our first names if the client feels comfortable with that. This also will be dependent on culture. We never talk down to the client. Thus, if the client calls us Mr./Ms./Dr. X, we use the same form of address with the client. Our points here are to maintain a relationship of objectivity and to see the client as a valuable person who is determining the course of the work. Later in this course, we will deal with the question of closeness to the client and the possible loss of objectivity in a number of contexts, including ethical ones. It is important for both the client and the caregiver that the caregiver maintains that objectivity.
 
Activities
  • What level of formality do you use with clients? 
  • What are the cultural aspects of your use of formality with clients?
  • Do you have different levels of formality with different clients? Why or why not?
  • Describe a situation, if you have had one, in which you used an inappropriate level of formality, either too formal or too informal.

To make a comment, click here.
 
 
The Theme of the Session
The theme of the session may be an easy one or may lead to a high level of tension. We don’t believe in avoiding difficult topics, and there are many such topics that are important to work with. The point is to handle them in as relaxed a way as possible and in a way in which the client feels safe in dealing with them. This comes down to a non-judgmental and accepting approach in which the caregiver is attentive and listening. It may be necessary to leave a given topic and come back to it later if the level of tension gets too high. However, sometimes, high levels of tension may stimulate the client to deal with the issues and sometimes are necessary to do so. Experience is key here.
 
Activities
  • Describe a situation in which the topic of the session created a tense atmosphere.
  • Describe a situation in which the tension of the topic was useful to the client.
  • Describe difficulties that you have had with the topics of sessions.

To make a comment, click here.


The Presence of Other People in the Session
We strongly discourage the presence of people other than those directly involved in the session. Thus, in an individual session, only the client and the caregiver should be present and, in a group session, only the members of the group should be there. This is a matter of the privacy of the client. The presence of a spouse, a parent, or anyone else can inhibit the client and can strongly influence the relationship between the caregiver and the client and what the client is prepared to talk about. This also applies to educational sessions where personal material is dealt with. In our view, this is a matter of ethics. We also must note that, sometimes, donors, students, or others wish to attend sessions. We have a blanket rule that we do not allow the presence of anyone except the client(s). Very occasionally, we will ask a client or a group if someone else could be permitted to sit in. If there is agreement, the client or group or the caregiver may ask the person to leave at any moment.  We will discuss this in greater detail in the section on ethics.
 
Another point here is the recording of sessions. We will get into that extensively later in this course. In brief, we tell the client why we want to make the recording and who will see or hear it. We will not make the recording if the client doesn’t agree. This, again, is a very important ethical point.
 
Activities
  • Describe a situation in which the presence of another person disturbed the session and the relationship between you and the client or the group.
  • Are there any circumstances under which it is useful or even required to have another person present in the session or to record the session?

To make a comment, click here.
 
 
The Pressure on the Caregiver and the Client
Both the client and the caregiver can be subject to internal and external pressures. Each of these pressures separately as well as the combination of them can contribute to make the atmosphere more difficult.
 
One frequent issue is the time available for the session. In general, we allow about an hour for individual sessions and an hour and a half to two hours with a break at about the half-way point for group sessions. Also, we allow time for ourselves to prepare for the session and to depressurize after the session has finished. We find this critical for ourselves. We will discuss this in greater detail in the section of this course on self-care.
 
There may be personal pressures on both the caregiver and on the client. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to be aware of these on both sides. The caregiver also is responsible to keep the influence of his or her own personal pressures to the absolute minimum during the session. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. If the caregiver feels that the internal pressures on him or her are too great, the session should be canceled. The internal pressures of the client should come out during the session. This frequently will make the atmosphere easier, as the client will find a place to express them. That opportunity may not be available elsewhere. This also will be part of the therapeutic process.
 
The same is true of external pressures. Again, it is the responsibility of the caregiver to be aware of such pressures and to minimize these for himself or herself to the greatest degree possible and to bring the external pressures of the client into the open. Again, if the pressures are too great, the session should be canceled.
 
Activities
  • Describe a situation in which the internal pressures on the caregiver influenced the atmosphere.
  • Describe a situation in which the external pressures on the caregiver influenced the atmosphere.
  • Describe a situation in which the internal pressures on the client influenced the atmosphere.
  • Describe a situation in which the external pressures on the client influenced the atmosphere.
  • Are there situations in which internal and external pressures on the caregiver or the client are not relevant?
 
To make a comment, click here.

Final Activity
We have tried to be fairly inclusive in describing the influences on the atmosphere of a session. Are there things that we have left out? Do you have any further comments?

To make a comment, click here.
 
Final Remarks
The point that we want to make here is that the creation of a safe place is essential if the therapeutic and educational processes are to succeed. It takes thought, time, and experience to get it right. Each individual and each group is specific.


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Go to next: 5. Persistance, Patience, Insistence, Discipline
Go to previous: 3. Some Points about language and getting to know the client
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COPYRIGHT © cwwpp 2019

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who are we?
    • Mission and Vision
    • The Region
    • Profile of Psychological Trauma
    • History
    • Partners
    • Get Involved
    • Reports >
      • Monthly Reports
      • Annual and Semi-Annual Reports
  • Our Work
    • Philosophy
    • Social Inclusion
    • Community-based Training
    • Groups with which We Work
    • Peer Counseling and Self-Help Groups
    • Education >
      • Onsite Education
      • Online Education
      • "Blended" Education in Croatia and Other Regions
      • How You Can Request a Course or Counseling
      • Internships, The Summer Program, and Other Possibilities for Students
    • Supervision
    • Work with people
    • Sensitization
    • The Migrant Project
  • PET (Pragmatic Empowerment Training)
    • Pragmatic Empowerment Training (PET)
    • Course 1-The Caregiver-Client Relationship >
      • 1 Introduction >
        • 1 Introduction to the PET
        • 2 The CWWPP >
          • Introduction to the CWWPP - Comments
        • 3 PET
        • 4 Facilitation
        • 5 Additional Remarks on the Course >
          • Inventarization
      • 2 The Caregiver-Client Relationship >
        • 1 Introduction and the Caregiver Client Relationship as the Basis of Everything
        • 2 Some First Principles >
          • Taking an Interest In and Concentrating on the Client
          • Taking An Attitude of Humanity and Compassion
          • Listening and Responding to the Total Person
        • 3 Some Points About Language and Getting to Know the Client >
          • Activities - Using Language That the Person Can Understand
          • Activities - Taking the Time and Getting As Much Information as Possible
          • Activities - Feelings
          • Activities - Motives
          • Activities - Interests
          • Activities - Content and Its Interpretation
          • Activities - Assumptions
          • Activities - Prejudices
          • Activities - Expectations
          • Activities - Generalizations
          • Activities -Final Remarks
        • 4 Creating the Right Atmosphere >
          • Activities - The Physical Environment
          • Activities - Formality
          • The Theme of the Session
          • Activities - The Presence of Other People in the Session
          • Activities - The Pressure on the Caregiver and the Client
          • Activities - Final Activities
        • 5 Persistence Patience Insistence Discipline >
          • Activities - Persistence
          • Activities - Patience
          • Activities - Insistence
          • Activities - Discipline
          • Activities - Final Comments
        • 6 Identification and Maintaining Self-Identity >
          • Activities - Identification of the Caregiver with the Client and of the Client with the Caregiver
          • Activities - Maintaining Your Own Identity
          • Activities - Final Comments
          • Education
        • 7 Tolerance and Individualization >
          • Activities - Tolerance and Taking a Non-Judgmental Approach
          • Activities - Individualization
          • Activities - Final Comments
        • 8 Responsibility, Control, and Giving Permission >
          • Activities - Getting the Client to Take Control of His or Her Own Life
          • Activities - Giving the Client Control
          • Activities - Giving the Client Permission
          • Activities - Final comments
        • 9 Giving Time and Space; Listening vs. Preaching >
          • Activities - Giving Time and Space
          • Activities - Listening vs. Preaching
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 10 Gaining and Maintaining Trust >
          • Activities - Honesty
          • Activities- Openness
          • Activities - Directness
          • Activities - Keeping Promises
          • Activities - Humanity
          • Activities - Final Activities
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 11 Ethics >
          • Activities - Do No Harm
          • Activities - Privacy
          • Activities - The Relationship Between the Caregiver and the Client Outside of the Caregiving Situation
          • Activities - Professionalism
          • Activities - Payment and Gifts
          • Activities - Conventions and Codes
          • Activities - Final Activities
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 12 Preparation, Flexibility, and Adaptation >
          • Activities - Preparation
          • Activities - Flexibility and Adaptation
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 13 Religion, Belief, and Hope >
          • Activities - The Role of Belief and Religion
          • Activities - Hope
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 14 Time and Closeness Revisited >
          • Activities - Time
          • Activities - Closeness
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 15 Final Remarks and Activities for this Section >
          • Activities - Final Activities
      • 3 Self-Care >
        • 1 Introduction to this Section >
          • Activities - Introduction
        • 2 Limits >
          • Activities - Time
          • Activities - Physical and Emotional Energy
          • Activities - Acceptance of What We Can and Cannot Do
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 3 Burnout >
          • Activities - Introduction and Definition of Burnout
          • Activities - The Causes of Burnout
          • Activities - Symptoms and Signs of Burnout
          • Activities - Dealing with Burnout
          • Activities - Prevention of Burnout
          • Activities - Final Remarks
        • 4 Self-Reflection and Self-Criticism >
          • Activity - Self-Reflection and Self-Criticism
        • 5 The Balance Between Professional and Private Life >
          • Activities - Th Balance Between Professional and Personal Life
        • 6 Supervision and Intervision >
          • Activities - Supervision and Intervision
        • 7 Factors Promoting and Detracting from Self-Care
        • 8 Final Remarks and Activities for this Section >
          • Activities - Factors Promoting and Detracting from Self-Care
          • Activities - Final Remarks
      • 4 Final Remarks and Activities for the Course >
        • Activities - Final Remarks for the Course
    • Miscellaneous Educational Documents
  • Library
    • Learning Materials and Course Summaries
    • Brochures and Briefing Papers
    • Conference and Scientific Papers
    • Conference Trauma and Mental Heal in Conflict and Migration >
      • Kanda
      • Young
      • Shrusti
      • Dougherty
      • Yoder-Lopez
      • Tauber
      • Sillett
      • Niconchuk
    • Osijek Seminar 7 May 2019
    • InPact Conference May 2019
    • Articles about and by CWWPP
    • Artwork By A Refugee
  • Contact Us
  • Links
  • Donate
  • Koalicija za rad sa psihotraumom i za mir Vukovar
    • O nama
    • Misija i vizija
    • Godisnja financijska i opisna izvjesca
    • Kontakt
    • Živa knjižnica
    • Aktivnosti
    • Naš rad >
      • Naša filozofija
      • Socijalna uključenost
      • Obuka u zajednici
      • Skupine s kojima radimo
      • Peer savjetovanje/Grupe za samopomoć
      • Edukacija
      • Supervizija/Intervizija
      • Senzibilizacija društva/Brošure
      • Projekt Migranti
    • Profil psihološke traume
    • PET Program >
      • Tečaj 1- Odnos pomagača i korisnika >
        • 1. Uvodni dio tečaja >
          • 1.1. Uvod
          • 1.2. O CWWPP-u i početcima PET-a
          • 1.3. Trening pragmatičnog osnaživanja (PET)
          • 1.4. Uvod u facilitiranje
          • 1.5. Završne napomene o načinu funkcioniranja tečaja
        • 2. Odnos pomagača i korisnika >
          • 2.1. Odnos kao osnova svega
          • 2.2. Osnovna načela
          • 2.3. O jeziku sporazumijevanja i o upoznavanju korisnika
          • 2.4. Stvaranje ugodaja
          • 2.5. Ustrajnost, strpljivost, upornost i disciplina
          • 2.6. Identificiranje s drugima i čuvanje vlastitog identiteta
          • 2.7. Tolerancija, ne osuđujući pristup i individualizacija
          • 2.8. Odgovornost, kontrola, davanje dozvole za izražavanje osjećaja
          • 2.9. Davanje vremena i prostora; slušanje umjesto moraliziranja
          • 2.10. Stjecanje i održavanje povjerenja
          • 2.11. Etika
          • 2.12. Priprema, fleksibilnost i prilagodba
          • 2.13. Vjera, religija i nada
          • 2.14. Ponovimo: Vremenska posvećenost i prisnost s korisnikom
          • 2.15. Završne napomene i aktivnosti
        • 3. Self-Care >
          • 3.1. Uvod
          • 3.2. Ograničenja
          • 3.3. Burnout
          • 3.4. Samopromatranje i samokritika
          • 3.5. Ravnoteža između poslovnog i privatnog života
          • 3.6. Supervizija i intervizija
          • 3.7. Čimbenici i aktivnosti koji potiču ili ometaju Self-care
          • 3.8. Završne napomene i aktivnosti za ovo poglavlje
        • 4. Završne napomene i aktivnosti za ovaj tečaj
    • Donirajte
  • Podcast