Trauma & Shame in Recovery: Building Resilience Through Connection
Shamin Brown, BSW, RSW | September 21 | 1:30-2:30 PM | Room 2592
Topic: Experience | Knowledge Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Shamin, an exited sex worker, registered social worker, and activist in Manitoba uses her story and spoken word to explore the impacts of trauma on the healing process that takes place after involvement in the sex trade. She talks about the realities of the sex trade and barriers to healing with youth, their communities, and the staff of survivor-serving organizations. Additionally, she has both worked with, and healed alongside, a full spectrum of sexually exploited youth and adults (at-risk, emerging, entrenched, transitioning and exited). Shamin will draw from her experiences as well as from the work of Shame and Empathy Researcher Brene Brown, who has spent over sixteen years studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Brene Brown's TED talk, The Power of Vulnerability, is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world. Through her healing journey and experiences with youth and adult survivors, Shamin has observed shame to be a primary barrier to developing the kinds of relationships necessary to foster healing. She will explore what her recovery has taught her about the relationship between trauma, shame, and trust as well as share what she believes are the keys to creating a foundation of safety within which trusting relationships with survivors can grow from.
Presentation Objectives:
· Explore the developmental impacts of trauma in her own life.
· Illustrate the relationship between shame and trauma in her life.
· Examine ways to demonstrate unconditional support and build trust with survivors like herself.