238 | Discomfort as Opportunity: Pathways Vermont’s Relationship-First Practice
Tracks
Workshop
| Wednesday, April 10, 2024 |
| 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Room 208-209 |
Session Overview
Discomfort is inevitable. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore ways to tolerate and embrace discomfort in their relationships with service recipients, while learning about the values of Pathways Vermont’s Relationship-First Practice: humanity, authenticity, collaboration, humility, curiosity, and hope. Through this practice, service providers vulnerably embrace and investigate their discomfort, deepen their practice of empathy, and build powerful, meaningful connections. This workshop will include an overview of how we implement our Relationship-First Practice across our programs at Pathways Vermont.
Description
Discomfort is inevitable. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore ways to tolerate and embrace discomfort in their relationships with service recipients, while learning about the values of Pathways Vermont’s Relationship-First Practice: humanity, authenticity, collaboration, humility, curiosity, and hope. Through this practice, service providers vulnerably embrace and investigate their discomfort, deepen their practice of empathy, and build powerful, meaningful connections. This workshop will include an overview of how we implement our Relationship-First Practice across our programs at Pathways Vermont.
J Helms
Director Of Training & Advocacy
Pathways Vermont
Presenter
J Helms (they/them) has worked for Pathways Vermont since 2019. They began as a Service Coordinator on one of Pathways’ Housing First ACT teams, supporting service participants with experiences related to anxiety, sadness, extreme states, self-harm, suicide, and trauma. J is currently Pathways Vermont’s Director of Training & Advocacy, developing and facilitating various trainings for Pathways Vermont’s Training Institute and Vermont’s Peer Workforce Development Initiative, including Intentional Peer Support, Harm Reduction, Relationship-First Practice, and Conversations About Suicide.
Alexander Ferguson
Training Specialist
Pathways Vermont
Presenter
Alexander Ferguson (he/him/his) is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. He has worked in Vermont’s peer support and community-based services for ten years. Previously he was Team Lead for Pathways Vermont Community Center & Pathways Vermont’s Support Line. Alexander facilitates a weekly BIPOC affinity space & Hearing Voices support group. He is currently Pathways Vermont’s Training Coordinator, developing and facilitating various trainings for Pathways Vermont’s Training Institute and Vermont’s Peer Workforce Development Initiative, including Intentional Peer Support, Harm Reduction, Relationship-First Approach to Extreme States, and Decolonizing Conversations About Death and Suicide.
