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We want the information and skills offered in our courses to reach the people who need it. We believe these courses are valuable in many workplaces and community settings.

If these prices pose a barrier, please let us know and we will be happy to work with your budget.

Listening Rather than Force: Techniques in De-Escalation

Full or Half Day Options

Course Description

Our natural tendency when someone is getting angry at us is often to try and dominate them or to run away. What if there is another way? This course offers techniques that can be used to de-escalate situations that could become violent, in a way that instead builds connection.

Objectives

Review different understandings of the causes of violence, and how violence works
Be able to identify different styles of addressing conflicts
Learn techniques for centering oneself
Learn what to be aware of when entering into conflict
Learn techniques to use when engaging with someone who may become violent

Application

Aimed at helpers who are seeking more tools to engage in de-escalation
*This course does not cover restraints

Nonviolent Communication Basics

Full Day

Course Description

Nonviolent communication is an approach that looks to move past the defensiveness that so often divides us to a place of connection where we can share our feelings and needs and be open with each other on how we would like those needs to be met. The purpose of this workshop is to learn a way of communication that can assist in our ability to listen and share with one another. It's a form of communication that seeks to move from domination to connection. This is useful in deescalation, support relationships and personal relationships.

This workshop is aimed at volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone looking for a different way to communicate.

Objectives

Familiarize ourselves with the history and structure of Nonviolent Communication.
Identify types of communication that lead to defensiveness and disconnection.
Be able to identify the difference between observation and evaluation.
Be able to identify the difference between a thought and feeling and to increase our vocabulary around our feelings.
Be able to identify our needs and the needs of others in connection to feelings.
Be able to hear and make requests in connection to needs.

Application

This workshop is great for individuals looking to expand their language in order to have productive conversations amidst conflict in both personal and professional settings.
Recommended for people in helping or supportive roles.

Self-Regulation in the Prescence of Stress and Trauma

Full Day

Course Description

In this workshop you will learn how trauma and stress affect our brains and bodies, and how regulation can help us prevent trauma, heal trauma, and work towards living a life with integrity. This workshop focuses primarily on doing this work within ourselves, and how being in a state of regulation can assist when we are supporting others who are experiencing distressing events. This training has been adapted from Eric Gentry’s Forward Facing Trauma Therapy Course to fit our needs as non therapists.

This workshop is aimed at volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone interested in exploring what it can mean to live with intention and alignment to your principles.

Objectives

To understand what trauma is, how it affects us in our personal and work lives
To understand what is happening in our brains and bodies in response to distressing events
How we can use self-regulation in order to live our lives with purpose and integrity
How we can bring these learnings to those around us

Application

Aimed at helping professionals and volunteers who want to avoid burning out
Will resonate with parent-child and other personal relationships
For those wanting to live with intention and alignment to your principles, this workshop involves a significant amount of self-reflection
In-the-moment self-regulation techniques that can help us stay present in stressful situations

Transforming my Community: Using Kingian Nonviolence as a Framework for Social Change

Full Day

Course Description

Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most famous activists of the past 100 years. He used nonviolent direct action, adapted from people like Gandhi, to bring about major change in the United States. Do these techniques work today? This workshop studies the principles and practices of Kingian Nonviolence, and imagines how they might be used to make change in our own communities.

This workshop is aimed at advocates, activists, volunteers, helping professionals, and anyone looking to make change in their community.

Objectives

Familiarize ourselves with the history of Kingian Nonviolence.
Learn the 6 principles of Kingian Nonviolence.
Learn the 6 practices or steps of Kingian Nonviolence.
Apply the principles and practices to an issue the learner feels called to address.

5 Myths about Homelessness

Special Interest - 2hrs

Course Description

We know that perspectives on homelessness and housing crises are communicated in the media, in conversation with friends, neighbours, and family, and are often conflicting with one another or with what feels right to us as individuals. How do we know what to believe and what to question? Furthermore, how do we approach conversations with people we know who hold opposing views? How can we create opportunities for open, honest discourse where true change can happen?

This workshop will walk you through 5 myths that are often held by people, even well-meaning and concerned people, simply because they haven't heard stories, experiences, and facts that tell them otherwise. The facilitator, Christian Harvey, has worked in the homelessness and housing sector for 15 years and brings a current and realistic explanation of why the following are indeed myths, and why they keep us from engaging compassionately with this very visible and urgent issue in our community.

This event will have time for discussion and questions, and we welcome people with their varying perspectives, experiences, and concerns to a respectful and judgement-free space where we can listen and learn together.

Objectives

Discuss the following 5 Myths:
1. "Homeless people are from somewhere else."
2. "Homeless people are lazy and don't want to work."
3. "Harm Reduction makes things worse for people experiencing homelessness"
4. "Homeless people can't handle their money."
5. "People choose to be homeless."
Reflect on the reasons it is difficult to have these conversations with others
Determine what the goal of difficult interactions really is and how to approach with nonjudgement

Application

Aimed at all who want to inform themselves about homelessness by dispelling some of the assumptions and biases we take in from the world around us
Having difficult conversations with others where opposing views on this issue can hinder connection, compassion, and understanding

Bedbug Prevention Training

Special Interest - 1.5 - 2hrs

Course Description

This is a 1.5-2 hour training that covers how to identify, prevent, and mitigate bed bugs, from the perspective of a support worker. The first 1.5 hours are focused on helping workers feel more prepared to work in spaces with possible bed bugs. The optional additional 30 minutes are recommended for individuals who work in shelter and housing programs and who will engage in setting up and/or inspecting sleeping spaces.

Objectives

Increase participants confidence in their ability to identify and prevent bed bugs
Discuss different products and tools and their efficacy regarding bed bug mitigation
Provide strategies for mitigation and prevention during shift and at home
(extended version) Practice bed inspection techniques

Application

This is for anyone looking to increase their knowledge around bed bug safety.
Recommended for anyone working in housing, shelter, residential maintenance/custodial work, personal support work, and any work environment where people’s clothing, furniture, and/or belongings are stored or handled.

Pricing

Full day course (6hrs plus lunch break): $1,200.00

Half day course (3hrs): $600.00

Special interest courses (1-2hrs): $200/hr

*For course facilitation outside of the Peterborough area, a mileage and travel time rate will apply.

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