Crisis & Trauma Response Training

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This training is primarily geared for mission member care personnel or mission executives to understand the dynamics of helping their staff to process a crisis. If you are not already trained and/or working in basic counselling techniques, then we require attendance at a Basic Debriefing Training prior to attending this training.

You will gain an awareness of:

The bigger picture of crisis intervention and contingency management, planning for crises, etc.
Individual responses to trauma and stress
Handouts and information available regarding wider planning and management for organizations facing potential critical events or emergencies

You will gain a basic understanding of:

What comprises stress
How stress operates
Cumulative stress
Traumatic stress
The process of grief
How the key scriptures relate to one’s experiences of loss and grief

You will gain a basic knowledge of:

The definition of stress, trauma, critical incidents, types of crisis, critical incident debriefing
Classical trauma and loss reactions
The stages of grief
Post-traumatic stress (disorder) – international diagnostic criteria from the American Psychiatric Association
Secondary characteristics of traumatic stress, acute stress syndrome
Where to find key scriptures with regard to loss, grief, the work of Christ on the cross, and theology of suffering
Special needs of children in trauma, related to their developmental stage
Sexual assault, rape, and associated trauma

You will be able to:

Recognize stress symptoms and traumatic stress symptoms in an individual
Distribute resource materials and handouts on trauma reactions to client groups appropriately
Identify a critical incident
Recognize or identify secondary symptoms, referral characteristics and DSM IV criteria (from the American Psychiatric Association) and know when to refer appropriately
Recognize and refer PTSD
Identify personal skills and limitations
Apply the scriptural understanding of loss and grief to the practical experience of loss and grief
Minister to people in loss and grief using the principles of the cross workshop

At Le Rucher

10 – 15 November 2024

Application Form

Prices

Frequently Asked Questions

I need training sooner than you are offering it. Is there anyone else offering training in this area?

While we hear of one-off seminars being held from time to time at various places, we don’t know of anyone who routinely offers this training. If you know of someone (or offer it yourself), please let us know and we will gladly put a link to your program on our website.

What is the nearest airport?

Fly into Geneva, Switzerland. We are only 20 minutes from the airport. Paris is a very, very long way away! Switzerland is a Schengen country so if you have a visa for France or another “Schengen country” you do not need one for Switzerland. Please do NOT take the French exit from the airport. We expect everyone to “follow the crowd” and meet us on the Swiss side of the airport. For driving instructions click here.

Should I arrange to take a taxi from the airport?

Not a good idea. Last we heard, it cost 1 guest nearly 100 Euros for a taxi for the 20-minute drive to Le Rucher (crossing the border automatically raises the price). We are more than glad to pick you up. Just be sure we know when you are arriving.

Is it possible for me to stay extra nights at Le Rucher when I come for the seminar?

Sorry, we are unable to host you for extra nights and everyone should plan to arrive Sunday afternoon and leave Friday afternoon or evening). We realize this may not be practical for some flights so we would suggest you make arrangements to stay in a hotel near the airport. There are plenty of hotels on either the French or Swiss side of the border that will provide you with a lift to the airport (even for those very early flights). On the French side, search the internet for hotels in the vicinity of Ferney Voltaire.

I'm arriving early, how do I get to Le Rucher?

We will arrange to meet you at the airport on Sunday afternoon. If you are renting a vehicle, check out the directions to our location here.

Do you offer discount prices for missionaries?

These are the discounted prices. We endeavor to keep our prices as low as possible for everything in order to serve the mission community. We are also volunteer workers, raising our own support. The fees are only to cover the cost of running the facilities and to provide the syllabus for you. All the teaching is offered to you free of charge.

What about my diet preferences?

We seek to serve healthy, delicious, Mediterranean-style meals. Normally, we have enough choice on the table that anyone can find enough to eat. There’s always lots of vegetables in case you prefer not to eat whatever main course is being served. (It’s easy to avoid carbohydrates or cheeses because there are so many options and fresh fruit is available all day long.) Unless you have a serious allergy (like nuts) that the kitchen needs to avoid, you don’t need to let us know about your diet preferences ahead of time. We are confident you will be satisfied with our menus.

Are there shops within walking distance?

That all depends on your definition of walking distance! We are on the edge of a residential district with homes on one side and farmland on the other 3 sides. The nearest shops (a few very small ones) are about half an hour walk. A large supermarket is about a 10-minute drive away (6.5 km).

Can my spouse come and be at Le Rucher while I am attending the seminar?

Probably not. We have a limited number of rooms and beds and most of our training programs are completely full. If you are willing to wait and make last-minute plans, it may become possible.