How can you effectively mentor people who have experienced trauma?

As the President of a student organization during my undergraduate, I coached, mentored, assisted, and offered a range of different selfless services to the students often outside my department and faculty. I came in contact with a student whom I noticed that she loved to be isolated from others and was not friendly After different encounters with her, she was very resistive and unreceptive but I kept showing up to her more frequently in a very social and friendly manner I must say that the experience wasn't sweet at all because I got lots of No, get out, let be, get loss name them. I got hit more than once due to her anger, but with patience, I discovered she was depressed due to happenings in her family and her life.

In my experience, traumatic experiences trigger grief, loss, denial, anger, shame, and guilt which need to be processed slowly. Giving yourself space is very important. Keeping away from people triggering fear, and guilt, can be detrimental to your confidence along with addictions, pleasures, and negative emotions is obvious. *Set your pace *saying no to temporary pleasures/ addictions/ people draining/ belittling you *regular exercise and meditation calm the amygdala - fight, flight, response. * Reading personal development books *Trust yourself and your small decisions/ steps *finding your passion *Setting goals *Give small rewards to yourself. Leaning upon your inner strength is important for trauma victims.

Trust must be earned by living an open and sincere life. Using my experience with a depressed student during undergraduate. understanding the Do's and Don'ts is very important because that will eradicate anger and mistrust. So while coming to her, I built a friendship first which made her first accept me, and while we got talking, she began to open up little by little to me. To build trust with someone with trauma takes a lot of patience. For this to be achieved, you must build a sincere relationship with the person, and the ability for him/her to see through you is key. Boundaries help to ignite respect which is in acceptance.

Building trust and rapport with individuals who have experienced critical events and trauma is vital. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, take concrete steps to create a secure and supportive environment. As a law enforcement field training officer, my experience attests that in high-stress situations, your ability to instill trust profoundly impacts individuals' willingness to seek help. By applying principles of trust and rapport, a foundation is laid for a more effective and empathetic response to managing traumatic events and assisting those who are affected by them.

Dynamic mentorship practices are vital to helping individuals deal with critical events. As a seasoned law enforcement training officer, I prioritized trust-building, active listening, and targeted communication. Active listening, demonstrated by giving full attention, paraphrasing, and validating feelings, not only enhances crisis management but is crucial for de-escalation. By actually listening to people's concerns, we can meet their immediate needs, reduce tension, and guide them to a stable emotional state. Understanding potential triggers, awareness of mental health, and adopting a trauma-informed approach all contribute to an empathic and effective strategy that creates a safe environment and support for those involved.

In my experience, paying attention to every word and detail is very important in helping a traumatized individual because repetition causes more grievances and makes the person not continue or be interested in the conversation. Speak less because the person doesn't have the whole time to conceptualize what you are saying. Engage the person in meaningful conversions that will be exciting and take them out of the event they are suffering from show an interesting face/mood and be fully participating in all the communication.

One of the things I used as a servant leader as a student president during my undergraduate to encourage one of the students out of depression that led her to attempt suicide was myself. As a child, while growing up, I went through a lot of tough times. So, the ability for me to relate to her pains and knowing how she is feeling gave me a clear ability to talk her out of it by using myself and I wasn't cooking up anything, so she saw my pains too and we became like pairs but the difference was why I am not depressed and wanting to take my own life was her courity. After telling my story, I check on her, call her, support her academically and we hang out which eventually she started socializing with others and now she depression free.

In my experience, Respecting one's boundaries is not debatable. Respect as it said that reciprocal. knowing your limits and boundaries to the extent of interfering in someone's life is crucial. For instance, while still talking with the depressed student, I asked her if it was okay for her to call and check up on her and she said yes. Though is after which trust and friendship have been built. No one has the right to intrude in someone's affairs or life unless he/she is invited and it must be clearly stated which is why there is a "Job description" that tells one his/her duties and limits. Failure to know the limits and boundaries of those servant leader mentors will worsen the situation and might not result in any positive outcome.

I think practicing self care is really important when someone talks to you about trauma. Sometimes when someone leans on you too hard it can be toxic for your mental health. Sometimes empowering them and encouraging them toward healthy goals can take time. Setting your own boundaries and practicing self care can really help.

Prioritizing self-care in the aftermath of traumatic situations is essential for our long-term mental health and personal success. Recognizing one's own limitations is an important skill for anyone who manages critical events or assists those who have encountered a traumatic situation. Understanding the emotional toll allows us to acknowledge reality, accept limitations, and seek help when necessary. Acknowledging limitations is not a sign of inadequacy but rather of honesty. Regular self-assessment and seeking help preserve mental health and reinforce our ability to provide empathetic assistance. In essence, proactive self-care is a powerful strategy for sustaining resilience and promoting well-being in roles involving trauma.