My workshops and trainings are developed based on an understanding of psychological, social and neuropsychological sciences, just like traditional and evidence-based therapy services are. However, these training and educational services are not the same as engaging in therapy.

Therapy involves us entering into a personal, patient-provider relationship during which we build a treatment plan together and help you to heal and grow. In our therapy relationship we are engaged in care related to experiences you are having in your life to reduce impacts of stress, trauma and burnout. I do also offer trainings and workshops to both organizations and individuals who are interested in learning skills and strategies that you can then apply to liberating yourself from stress, trauma and burnout. However, these workshops and speaking engagements online an in the community are educational only. This differs from therapy in that you are able to learn skills in an educational format on your own time and independently put these into practice rather than doing so with the support of a therapist. I am not able to check in with or know personally the folks who take an on-demand workshop training on their own time, and purchasing a workshop or course does not establish a therapeutic relationship between us. For trainings provided to organizations where we may be interacting personally, therapy services and mental health treatment for individuals members of that organization are outside of the scope of training programs offered.

I have been asked to offer a number of different workshops in the past including offering trainings to teams about offering trauma-informed care.

For instance, I offered a training to front desk and scheduling staff at the Fargo VA Medical Center that offered information about stress and trauma relevant to their specific work. For instance, I provided insights into how a veteran with PTSD may experience coming into this particular VA location, navigating halls, interacting with staff, and sitting in this specific lobby area. I helped them understand signs that a person coming in or sitting in the lobby was experiencing potential distress or anxiety and ways to offer help or support so that the VA, waiting room and scheduling process did not have to feel as stressful. I also taught them skills and specific communication strategies for trauma-informed communication and scheduling with Veterans, and skills for emotional de-escalation if a patient was feeling frustrated. The staff shared that they found this combination of insights and concrete strategies (e.g., specific examples of how to work or address common situations) to be helpful, applicable and that they noticed positive results right away after implementing these at work. It allowed Veterans to feel more supported, staff to have a more peaceful and solution-focused workday, and smoother communications between Veterans and schedulers.

I have also offered trainings and insights for integrating trauma-informed care in University, healthcare (including reproductive health care) and Cancer Center settings. There are many ways in which this can be helpful for making a more welcoming and supportive atmosphere for both patients and provider teams.

I have also offered trainings about collective trauma, including a large training at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center during the 2020 Pandemic. I provided a variety of medical staff across the hospital information about collective trauma, signs and symptoms of stress and trauma in themselves and their teams and patients, and strategies for stress reduction and connectedness. These trainings are particularly helpful for staff and organizations facing collective and community trauma together such as organizations that provide care or support to survivors of crime or violence, activist organizations that collectively experience major stress such as climate anxiety in their work and awareness, and organizations where members often witness trauma such as first responders and law enforcement. I have engaged in extensive and meaningful work with fellow healthcare providers, fire service and law enforcement members and community advocacy organizations for sexual assault and interpersonal violence. We all are trying to make important and positive changes in the world, but our work can be challenging and emotionally painful at times. I offer both brief single trainings for organizations seeking to build base level awareness of collective trauma and strategies for combating stress as an organization as well as more intensive programs of education and training. We can customize the level and depth of trainings and involvement to fit your organization's needs.

I have also offered trainings and consultations to organizations related to multicultural inclusion in the workplace and concrete strategies for addressing microaggressions among team members, treating and understanding moral injury and distress, sexual violence and healing, interpersonal violence, stalking, and strategies for coping with stress and burnout in University and community settings.

Trauma-informed care and communication (personalized for the specific roles and experiences of health care providers, support staff, and other team members)

Trainings to support mental wellness, sustainability and burnout prevention for activist organizations and nonprofits

Trainings and support for finding balance, preventing burnout, supporting mental wellness and encouraging creativity among artists, writers, creatives, creators or creative entrepreneurs.

Workshops for reproductive health providers (e.g., OBGYNs, midwives, our lovely doula community, lactation consultants, physical therapists and other supporters and providers for pregnant and postpartum folks and their partners) that provide information about how trauma impacts pregnancy, trauma considerations related to birth and bodily changes in pregnancy, and trauma and stress surrounding the transition into parenthood and breast/bottle feeding. I also can provide trainings and support for secondary trauma and stress experienced by folks caring for parents (e.g., doulas wanting to process self-care and process secondary trauma from others' birth experiences).

Trainings to support mental health and wellness among first responders, law enforcement and military servicemembers

Educational trainings and workshops about trauma or specific types of trauma (e.g., collective trauma, generational trauma, childhood trauma)

Applying psychological research and understanding in creating a more welcoming environment for team members, improving communication and boundaries among team members, etc.

Team, systemic and individual strategies for reducing stress and burnout.

Offering care or support to others while also coping with your own stress and trauma (e.g., parenting when you have experienced your own trauma, working with children and schools when you yourself have experienced poverty or bullying or pains in your own journey)

Organizational training programs focus on your wellness and strategies as a team or organization. Individual therapy is not included in those trainings. However, individuals seeking individual therapy through myself or our clinic can learn more about our services by visiting our individual therapy page directly.

I offer both. I can develop trainings and programs that are all virtual and on-demand for your organization members to sign into and watch live or on their own time. I can also potentially offer trainings in person at your organization. However, travel fees may apply in those cases. We can discuss your specific needs together and include those costs in your personalized proposal.

Because each training or workshop can be customized to fit the scope and needs of your organization, you and I will meet to discuss your training needs. For some, my free 15-minute consultation will be enough time to discuss the training you need. After that I will send you a proposal with options and prices for you to choose from. For others who are looking for custom trainings and programs, we will have a more in-depth initial meeting ($200 for a 60-minute meeting discussing your organizations needs and goals) after which I will craft a more detailed and personalized proposal that covers the development of your particular desired trainings or training program.

I love offering different workshops and trainings, so I will be offering a wide variety as part of our mission at Mockingbird Therapy of spreading helpful information and support to communities of people healing from trauma, stress and burnout.

Dr. Layton has recently started several new resources for access to free resources, insights and educational content. You can find these in our new Boldly Grow blog and Boldly Grow Newsletter.

Local workshops will be posted through our blog, newsletter and social media channels (e.g., local speaking events or workshops at venues in the Georgetown and Austin area in Texas as well as occasional events in the Minneapolis area).
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