GP shares benefits of trauma informed care training

When Dr Land Phan of Eagle Vale Medical Centre signed up for the trauma informed care training on offer by SWSPHN she had no idea of the impact it would have on her professional and personal knowledge.

The training, provided by the Blue Knot Foundation, equips GPs and other primary care providers in South Western Sydney with the tools to better recognise complex trauma and possible health presentations in their patients, while also supporting the clinician’s ability to cope with what comes as a result of such care.

Dr Phan said she had known about the Blue Knot Foundation but had not had the opportunity to attend their courses due to cost and time constraints.

“I expressed my interest to SWSPHN when they offered to cover the training course because even though I do not seek it, trauma finds me,” Dr Phan said. “I was also worried that I was starting to experience symptoms of burnout and possibly vicarious trauma from my work as a GP.”

The two courses she chose were “Managing Wellbeing and Recognising Vicarious Trauma” and “Trauma Sensitive Practice – Working with Complex Trauma”.

On the day of the first course Dr Phan said it didn’t take her long “to realise the breadth and wealth of experience and wisdom in the room”.

“It was overwhelming and so humbling to listen to everyone’s experiences in their work,” she said.

“I was also surprised to learn this was not just a course for doctors: this ended up being one of the best things about the course. I sat next to an interpreter, an ICU nurse and a counsellor working in Family and Community Services.”

Although at first Dr Phan wondered whether the material would be relevant for her it didn’t take long to realise just how useful such training can be.

“As a GP, I understand the barriers to attending – time and cost just being two among them. But to my colleagues I would say this: the lessons I took away from these courses will not only allow me to be a better doctor, but also a better human being in general,” she said.

“New concepts and those I only knew of in passing were fleshed out for us, and guidance given for further learning about topics such as Vicarious Resilience, Self-Compassion, Polyvagal Theory, Safety and Stabilisation, Internal Family Systems therapy and staying in the window of tolerance.

“Hearing from clinicians with deep expertise in working with people with trauma helped remind me how positive relational experiences can heal – including the therapeutic doctor-patient relationship.

“In the midst of a mental health crisis in NSW – with access to psychiatrists even scarcer now – GPs remain at the forefront of helping people to stay well mentally. Our work is more important than ever – and this is one of the tools which will enable me to keep doing what I love.”

However, Dr Phan was surprised to hear from one of the instructors she was the first GP who had ever attended one of their trauma informed care training sessions.

“That saddens me,” she said. “I have already begun encouraging other GPs and nursing staff in the region to attend and I am so thankful for the amazing learning opportunity.

“I would like to share a quote which reminds us to not lose sight of our humanity in the midst of doctoring.”

‘Self-compassion entails seeing one’s own experiences in light of the common human experience, acknowledging that failure, suffering and inadequacies are part of the human condition, and that all people – oneself included are worthy of compassion.’ – Kristen Neff

The trauma informed care training courses aim to teach primary care providers about well-being and self-care when working with clients who have complex trauma.

They offer knowledge, skills and tools to better recognise early signs of various stress outcomes as well as information about trauma, the impacts of trauma and the neurobiological responses which occur in order to offer understanding about the key features of complex trauma which can present in your working relationships, and the resourcing and regulation available to support you in your practice.

Explore trauma informed care training course options here