About:
MAHCOP TRAUMA COUNSELLING TRAINING OVERVIEW
The most expressive and simple definition of Trauma is “when our ability to respond to threat is overwhelmed” as a result of “experiencing or witnessing an event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of oneself or others”. When these things happen and our bodies react or carry out normal reactions – responding to these abnormal situations with symptoms like restlessness, flashbacks, hyper-alertness to similar sounds, unusual quick movements etc; and these reactions continue for long period of time, one is said to be traumatized.
The
trauma counselling project takes six months to complete the theory and practical
training. The training is done in four residential phases, which takes fourteen
days. Depending on when the teacher trainees
are less busy, one of the phases is carried out within five consecutive days and
the rest of the phases are three days each. The trainees present six cases every
fortnight.Visit
our Trauma strategy
The Trauma Counselling Project started in 2002 as a pilot project when the counsellors of MACHOP could no longer cope with the increased demand for counselling services. The general idea at the time was to train parents/guardians in basic counselling skills to be able to help the traumatized children in their homes. However, after discussion with parents/guardians it was finally agreed that since children spend most of their time with teachers in schools, it was most appropriate to train the teachers in the skills needed to help these children.
On the basis of the experiences gained, the Ireland Aid supported trauma programme started in 2003 and a training package was developed (still in draft form) for the general training of teachers in Basic Counselling Skills which focuses on introduction to trauma, self-awareness, building a helping relationship, communication skills and introduction to a counselling model.
The idea of trauma counselling was developed to help the children express their emotional pain as a result of the effects of HIV/AIDS. The trauma counselling has four main phases which runs for six months and focuses on three major themes: Trauma, Basic Counselling Skills and other child – related issues. So far the project operates in two districts of Masaka and Rakai in two selected sub-counties each year. Since 2002, 1,065 teachers have been trained in basic counselling skills and out of this, 156 have been trained intensively and 89 teachers are still under intensive training.
After the teachers have completed the third phase of the training, case presentation is carried out and this helps the teachers to effectively put into practice all the theories they have been learning and to refer the most challenging cases to MAHCOP counsellors/trainers.
Sensitisation of parents/guardians is a continuous process as well as Education for Life for the in- school- youth. This programme helps the in-school-youth to learn more about HIV/AIDS and to acquire life skills for effective living.
The final stage of the project is the follow- up exercise, which also helps the MACHOP staff to monitor the progress of the project. Visit our Trauma strategy