Beatha Coaching

I was recently invited to give a seminar to research postgraduates of history at the University of Edinburgh on the subject of trauma. As a trauma researcher and historian, I was delighted to have this opportunity to bring some mental health awareness into the research space. I’m very pleased that they have allowed me to share the recording here and make this content available as a resource, and I’m also happy for fellow practitioners and history lecturers to share it on.

Although this workshop focuses on how historians might encounter trauma when studying the past, it is also a mental health seminar relevant to anyone experiencing unexpected traumatic responses to triggers. In the seminar I cover:

• What is trauma?
• What are ‘big t’ and ‘little t’ traumas?
• Generational trauma
• Vicarious trauma
• Why historians might be susceptible to trauma during research
• What actually happens when we have a trauma reaction?
• Fight/flight; freeze; and fawn
• Assessing our state and noticing our reactions
• Returning to regulation

To access the recording of the seminar, which lasts around one hour and includes some reflective exercises and somatic practices (workshop starts at 4 mins in), please follow the link below:

If you have been affected by any of the content in this seminar and would like to reach out for mental health support, or advice about where to access therapeutic support, please do get in contact with me. You can also follow me for regular content on the nervous system and managing mental health through social media. I run regular workshops aimed at academics, and also offer a weekly mental health support class for anyone who wants to improve their relationship with with their own wellbeing called Hour of Calm. I look forward to hearing from you.