Emotional Regulation

IfJ CPD Courses

Course Facilitator(s)

Mark Sidney and Dr Kimberly Collins

Course Facilitator(s) Bio

  • Mark Sidney, Mindfulness Teacher specializing in emotional resilience and stress reduction.
  • Dr. Kimberly Collins, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology, expert in trauma-informed practice, and a registered intermediary


Description

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Course Content:

DAY ONE

9:30am - 9:45am: Welcome and introduction

  • Introduction to the session’s goals and overview of the day.
  • Brief introduction of facilitators.
  • Brief introduction of participants.

9:45am - 10:45am: Theoretical underpinnings of emotion regulation

  • Explanation of basic emotion regulation theories, focusing on practical implications for legal settings. ((e.g., Polyvagal Theory, Paul Gilbert emotion regulation system, Bruce Perry’s NMT model, Rick Hanson’s model, Rothschild figure, window of tolerance).

10:45am - 11:00am: Comfort break

11:00am - 11:45am: Trauma and dysregulation in the criminal justice system - Kimberly

  • NB. This session will involve group work and activities.
  • Discussion of what regulation and dysregulation looks like in the context of the criminal justice system.
  • Impact of trauma on memory, communication, and executive functioning.
  • Trauma and its triggers when working with the police and in the courts system.

11:45am – 12.00pm: Comfort break

12:00pm - 12:45pm: Mindfulness techniques for stress and emotional management - Mark

  • This session includes practical mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, guided visualization, and mindfulness meditation tailored for stress-prone environments.

12:45pm – 1:15pm: Lunch break

1:15pm - 2:00pm: Sensory integration and mindfulness practices - Mark

  • Session on mindfulness techniques tailored for high-stress environments like courtrooms.
  • Practical exercises on sensory integration methods to aid self-regulation and calming.

2:00am - 2:15pm Comfort break

2:15pm - 3:15pm: Practical guidance for trauma informed communication in the CJS - Kimberly

  • Effective communication strategies to encourage the emotional regulation of traumatized individuals.
  • A focus on how to establish safety, encourage rapport, reduce dysregulation, and identify and express emotions.

3:15pm - 3:30pm: Closing remarks and feedback

  • Recap of key strategies and techniques covered.
  • Collection of feedback from participants to assess the effectiveness of the session and gather suggestions for future training.

Course Aims/Objectives:

The aims of this course are:

  1. To equip participants with the foundational knowledge of emotion regulation and the impact of trauma on regulation and communication;
  2. To introduce effective mindfulness techniques and sensory integration practices for emotional regulation in legal environments; and
  3. To practice trauma-informed communication strategies for use with vulnerable individuals participating in the criminal justice system.

Course Method:

The workshop is run in the form of a small group training. The presenters will present information and will invite high levels of participation and sharing of knowledge and ideas. Prepared slides/handouts guide the process rather than impart information.

The following materials are provided:

  • Powerpoint presentations
  • Guidance for further reading-Bibliography

- Participants to log on 15 minutes prior to start of each session.

- It is required that all participants keep their cameras on throughout the workshop.

- Participants to complete online feedback form post workshop.