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Free all-day seminar for those affected by PTSD

Saturday seminar to define post-traumatic growth

Keith Meyer leads a training session for the Regional Education and Training Center’s Institute for Post Traumatic Growth. Photo credit Regional Education and Training Center

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On Saturday, March 31, at the Best Western Liberty Inn in DuPont, the Regional Education and Training Center's (RETC) Institute for Post Traumatic Growth will present a free all-day seminar entitled "Exploring Post Traumatic Growth: A Training for Veterans and Others Impacted by Trauma."

Sponsored by grants from the Windows of Hope Foundation: a Legacy of the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation, and the Walmart Foundation, Saturday's seminar is designed for veterans and civilians suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and those who care for and about them, including mental healthcare professionals, caregivers, nonprofit providers and family members.

The RETC's newly formed Institute for Post Traumatic Growth is the latest demonstration of the RETC's commitment to helping veterans and others transition from active-duty to civilian life.

The goal of the institute is to help people "move forward in ... life after the challenge of a trauma experience," said lead counselor Keith Meyer.

Unlike most treatment facilities for PTSD, the Institute for Post Traumatic Growth is "not focused on diagnoses and labeling," Mr. Meyer said, "but instead is focused on how to empower people to move beyond difficult situations."

In keeping with those goals, the seminar will cover:

  • The possibility of transformative growth as a result of trauma
  • Cutting-edge research on post-traumatic growth
  • Specific strategies for growth
  • Developing a "Plan of Practice"
  • Best (and worst) ways to deal with trauma
  • Self-care techniques

Known for its focus on vocational training, the Institute for Post Traumatic Growth represents a new direction for the RETC.  

"Our organization has a history of providing training for veterans," said Assistant Director Cindy Meyer. "As our work ... under another grant was coming to an end, we met to discuss work that would be meaningful in the sense that it allowed us to serve the community and (bring) about meaningful change in the lives of those we served through training opportunities. We were aware of the debilitating effects of (PTSD) and became aware of a new field of study called Post Traumatic Growth that shows that the negative effects of trauma can be transformed into opportunities for growth and a deeper sense of purpose."

Post Traumatic Growth (PTG) can be defined "(as the)" positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with a traumatic event. Key indicators of PTG include the ability to deal with problems and life, ability to maintain relationships, and a deeper sense of purpose," said Ms. Meyer. "After some research, we also learned that there was treatment available for PTSD, yet virtually no services or training offered that involved Post Traumatic Growth."

Besides presenting seminars, the institute provides training in PTG for organizations that work with veterans and/or their caregivers. Groups who are interested in this training should contact Cindy Meyer at cindyretcs@gmail.com or 360.359.3752.

Exploring Post Traumatic Growth: A Training for Veterans and Others Impacted by Trauma, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31, Best Western Liberty Inn, 1400 Wilmington Dr., DuPont, free, 360.359.3752,  (Cindy) or 360.250.0781 (Keith)

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