This training is not a trauma resolution training for participants – we expect participants to have a strong sense of self and an ability to self-regulate. Do you feel you have the inner resources and have come far enough along in your own journey that you are able to let go of your personal narrative? Answering "yes" to any of the bullets listed below may be indicative that your journey may interfere with someone else's healing process within a therapeutic relationship. Please know there is NO judgement, it is a Yogic tradition to ask ourselves hard questions. Do you educate or “help” others unsolicited? Are you uncertain of how to let go of your personal narrative when working in a therapeutic relationship? Do you feel you have more knowledge than others? Is it important to you that others know your story or how much you know? Do you gravitate to (or create) divisions within groups?

This field draws empathic people who want to help make a difference in other people’s lives; empathic people are vulnerable to secondary and vicarious trauma and may end up carrying an emotional burden instead of helping guide another person to work through their own journey. Do you have a clear understanding of why you want to work with people who have experienced trauma? Some hard questions to ask yourself: Do you relate to wanting to stop someone’s pain and feel a sense of responsibility for “fixing” someone’s problems/issues? Do you do things for people that they should be doing themselves? Have you explored your boundaries in personal and professional life? Enmeshment adds more levels of injury to both the client and the facilitator. It is important to do some self-inquiry on boundaries and enmeshment.

Privilege and power differentials are a major source of trauma for others around a person expressing one or both. Do you understand privilege from a social equity perspective? Some hard questions to consider: Do you expect exceptions to be made for you and your circumstance regardless of agreeing to boundaries and guidelines established prior to any arrangement? Do you get frustrated when listening to a differing opinion, or if you aren’t able to give your opinion on all topics discussed in groups? Do you feel that you do not need to do self-reflection which is required to uncover racial inequity in our social structures and institutions?