This will be an interactive workshop that covers basic theory, relevant techniques and resources related to addressing behavioral incidents in a field setting.
Course length: Four hours; in-person
Some of the topics to be covered include:
• Holding Space for Others
• Limbic System and Stress Reactions
• Grounding Techniques
• Building a Support Plan
As a participant, you will be given the insight to understand your own mental health needs as well as build skillful empathy for others involved in behavioral incidents in the field. Future sessions will be offered to expand on the knowledge gained in this introductory workshop.
Meet your instructor:
Shannon Anderson, Ph.D., NR-EMT, WEMT
I am the Field Safety Officer/Friend with UCSC EH&S. I have been offering these workshops over the past year to faculty, staff and students in multiple departments. I am currently certified as a National Registry EMT and an American Red Cross First Aid/CPR and WFA Instructor. Before this position, I was a National Park Service wilderness ranger for three years involved in Search and Rescue operations and an EMT First Responder. I have 20+ years experience in wilderness settings as well as 20+ years of Peer Counseling experience, where I led weekly classes based on systemic oppressions and healing from the hurts caused by them. I am currently certified as a Behavioral First Responder (Alpenglow Ed.) and Adult Mental Health First Aider USA. I also had an academic career as a biomedical researcher, a lecturer in the biological sciences and as a director of a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Program at SFSU. I took a break from academic work in 2015 to practice Buddhist Mindfulness meditation and lived in a monastery for five years, at times as a monastic trainee.
