WHAT IS GROWING THROUGH?
GROWING THROUGH IS: *STRENGTHS-BASED *TRAUMA-INFORMED *CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE ,
PEER CRISIS SUPPORT SKILLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION.
GROWING THROUGH SKILLS INTENSIVES HAVE TRAINED INDIVIDUALS, PEER SPECIALISTS, CRISIS COUNSELORS AND COMMUNITIES TO PROVIDE RECOVERY-DRIVEN, PEER-BASED CRISIS SUPPORTS IN: CALIFORNIA, OREGON, GEORGIA, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, OKLAHOMA, NEBRASKA, MICHIGAN AND NEW HAMPSHIRE, ARIZONA and more.
OUR HYBRID WORKSHOPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE 100% ONLINE VIA LMS AND ZOOM
CONTACT US FOR WORKSHOP INFORMATION info@humannovations.net
INNOVATIVE TRAINING
Utilizing non-clinical language, best practices for suicide prevention, and the experience of those ‘who have been there,’ Growing Through provides innovative training for assisting others as a ‘Growth Ally,’ including effectively sharing one’s own experience. Growing Through skills courses are available for professionals, paraprofessionals, peer specialists, crisis counselors, college students and faculty, and the general public.
FOUNDING PHILOSOPHY
Growing Through is founded on the philosophy that every individual’s life journey is unique and valuable. For some people, the most significant moments of that journey include intense difficulty, distress and/or pain, including despair and thoughts of death. By approaching struggle and crisis, including suicidal intensity, as parts of personal growth, Growing Through Allies help people find value and meaning in the midst of pain, and maximize their own resources for recovery.
GROWING THROUGH TRAINING SEMINARS
Growing Through (GT) training experiences provide participants with the skills and confidence to be effective “Peer Allies” in a variety of scenarios, including those where issues of violence, self-harm and suicide may be present. Through focused experiential exercises grounded in the Growing Through values and practices, participants learn to identify and reframe unhelpful terminology, develop positive listening skills and be authentically, helpfully present even in the most intense of moments. GT Intensives and module-based trainings are available for professionals, leadership, paraprofessionals, peer specialists, community crisis counselors, college counselors and the general public.
GROWING THROUGH TRAININGS PROVIDE:
◊ Skills and confidence for connecting with others at times of distress and intensity
◊ A growth & dignity perspective on struggle that is respectful of identity and culture
◊ Practice on difficult situations where violence, trauma or suicide risk are a factor
◊ Structured approach to using personal shared/lived experience for support
◊ A safe learning atmosphere keyed to participant experience and needs
Growing Through is compatible and fully complementary with a variety of training modalities including ASIST, Intentional Peer Support, QPR, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, Motivational Interviewing, Mental Health First Aid Peer Support, and Peer Specialist trainings and more.
CEUs, CMEs available.
Peer Support for Life's Most Difficult Moments
Growing Through Introduction Webinar
AVAILABLE GROWING THROUGH TRAININGS
OFFERING PRESENCE- One Day Introduction
CRISIS PEER ALLY – 2-Day Professional Intensive
COMMUNITY ALLY SEMINARS- Two or Three Days
Growing Through 1: Offering Presence (Full-day; 6 hour Intro)
Class Size: up to 40
Duration: 1 Day, 8 Hours; OR 10 hours 100% remote online including 6 hours Zoom Skills Sessions
Instructor: Eduardo Vega (usually)
Description
This experiential session introduces the Growing Through philosophy and core practices including authentic presence and positive inhibition. It provides simple steps for keeping the focus on the ‘peer in pain’ and avoiding the impulse to advise while sharing personal lived experience in a helping context. Using real play and role play scenarios participants gain skill in the Growing Through approach to ensure that what they have to ‘offer’ is timely and truly helpful.
Participants
Offering Presence is appropriate to anyone in a helping role, and/or support service providers, particularly those with related lived experience of suicide, stress, addictions and/or trauma recovery. Previous training in active listening or related communication techniques such as phone counselor, motivational interviewing, ASIST and/or peer specialist training is recommended but not required.
CRISIS PEER ALLY (INTENSITY ALLY) (2-day Professional Intensive)
Class Size: Up to 35
Duration: 12 Hours, 2 or 3 Days; 20 hours online with Zoom Skills (in combination with GT1)
Instructors: Eduardo Vega and Lisa Goodale
Description
CRISIS PEER ALLY (INTENSITY ALLY) in a special intensive for social service and healthcare staff, volunteers, outreach, public safety and mobile crisis workers. Designed to provide confidence in engagement, critical incident management, prevention of violence and support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings in the spirit of growth and compassion, Intensity Ally brings a unique focus to skills that make a difference at tough moments.
Growing Through Community Ally Training
Class Size: Up to 35
Duration: 18 Hours, 3 six-hour sessions; 2 or 3 Days; OR 20 hours online with Zoom Skills
Instructors: Humanovations-U Faculty
Description
GT Community Ally Training is a unique learning experience for community members, college students, non-profit staff, security officers, or virtually anyone. It provides an introduction to Peer Ally Skills through Peer SPACES with GT Crisis Support Practices for in-depth skills development , based proven techniques for active listening and peer alliance. GT Community Allies develop confidence in supporting others through experiential exercises that focus on connecting, effective self-management, and enlisting help, all from the perspective of growth and hope.
Growing Through Pro
Class Size: Up to 25
Duration: Ally/ Professional Intensive (5 days, 40 hours)
Instructors: (2)
See FAQ
Description
Growing Through Pro (GTP) is an advanced skills training designed for community-based counselors, crisis support clinicians, Certified Peer Specialists or others who have: 1) grounding in the fundamentals of active listening/coaching, recovery model services and support skills, 2) personal lived experience with mental ill-health and/or suicide, and 3) professional (including volunteer) experience providing support services to people in distress. Successful completion of GTP is recognized by Growing Through Peer Ally Certificate and lifetime GT Community Circle membership.
As a unique skills-training experience enrollment in GTP builds productively on prior training in ASIST, Intentional Peer Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Wellness Recovery Action Planning, DBT coach and related programs internationally. GTP is highly effective training for support counselors in settings such as community crisis residential programs, peer respite, helpline/crisis contact services, shelter and outreach programs, youth and other specialty support services. Due to its subject matter and advanced techniques, admission into Growing Through Pro training requires an individual application and interview process. People with lived experience of crisis, disability and/or suicide are prioritized for admission.
The Growing Through Professional Training Journey
Day 1 - Grounding in Growth
Day 2 - Being There
Day 3 - Finding Safety
Day 4 - The Heart of Suicide
Day 5 - Connecting to Hope
Growing Through Pro Peer Ally Graduates Oakland, CA (2018)
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.” ~Abraham Maslow