Rising from the Ashes: Overcoming Trauma

On their website the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) defines trauma as follows:
"Trauma is the lasting emotional response that often results from living through a distressing event. Experiencing a traumatic event can harm a person’s sense of safety, sense of self, and ability to regulate emotions and navigate relationships. Long after the traumatic event occurs, people with trauma can often feel shame, helplessness, powerlessness and intense fear." (https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/trauma)

This week our featured speaker, Laval Martin, will lead us in an interactive session, discussing the nature of trauma, how to recognize its presence, and how to heal and move forward. Specifically, Laval will address the following:

• Triggers and what to do if you're triggered during this talk
• What counts as trauma?
• Recognizing the trauma response
• The four stages of moving through trauma
• Tools and strategies for healing
• When to seek professional therapy
• Does the trauma go away?
• Acceptance and (maybe) forgiveness

Laval Martin is a corporate trainer on topics such as resilience, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness (lavalmartinconsulting.com). Holding a Master of Social Work degree, he also provides psychotherapy and relationship therapy (wisemindtoronto.com). Additionally, Laval has practiced various martial arts and self-defence systems since 2001, with a focus on avoiding and de-escalating conflict. He is a full-instructor of Senshido and also holds an instructor certification with Safe International. Laval has been hosting a monthly Beer and Philosophy Night for over four years.

Our guest musician will be Erik Bleich. Erik is a singer songwriter whose genre blends classic pop and folk traditions – from street lit lullabies to manic, rambling romps. It’s his vision of folk music for the Internet Age. Check out his website: www.erikbleich.com

This week Lola Bradford will do the Community Moment. The Community Moment is a chance for one of our own to share their journey, thoughts about life, or something personal about themselves. It could be light and silly or it could be emotionally heavy. Either way, you’ll learn more about a valued person in our community. Interested in presenting your own Community Moment? Contact Tania at 416oasis@gmail.com.

Every week we gather to be inspired, entertained, motivated and build our secular community in Downtown Toronto. Our core values are: People are more important than beliefs. Reality is known through reason. Meaning comes from making a difference. Human hands solve human problems. Be accepting and be accepted. Check in closer to the date of this event for more specific details of our program. Typically, we have a featured speaker and live music! Check out our website: www.torontooasis.org.