Date: October 16, 2026
Time: 1 PM-4 PM
Modality: in person
Presenter: Jill Taylor, PhD, LCSW
This course will be in-person on the SLU Campus
$45.00 SLU Alumni and pre-registered SLU practicum instructors
$65.00 All others
Title: Holding Space for Ourselves: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Managing Anxiety and Stress in Social Work Practice
Learning Objectives:
Identify how acute and chronic stress impacts social workers' emotional, cognitive, and somatic functioning.
Apply evidence-based interventions to manage anxiety in both clinical practice and personal well-being.
Explore and practice movement-based healing strategies—such as grounding exercises, breathwork, or somatic tracking—as tools for emotional regulation and nervous system support.
Develop a personal and professional self-care framework grounded in self-awareness, evidence-based practice, and trauma-informed values.
Course Description: Social workers operate in high-stakes environments that often require them to hold space for others while neglecting their own well-being. In this CE, participants will explore the impact of acute and chronic stress on emotional, cognitive, and somatic functioning through a trauma-informed lens. The course emphasizes advanced clinical concepts in anxiety management, integrating evidence-based therapeutic approaches with embodied healing practices such as breathwork, grounding exercises, and somatic tracking. Through experiential learning, reflective activities, and skills-based exercises, participants will strengthen core competencies in reflective practice, enhance emotional regulation strategies, and co-create a personalized self-care routine grounded in trauma-informed principles and professional ethics. This CE will support participants in cultivating resilience while deepening their clinical insight and capacity for their own sustainable, compassionate practice.
Bio: Jill Taylor, PhD, LCSW, is an Adjunct Instructor in the School of Social Work at Saint Louis University. She teaches clinical electives for MSW students focused on Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Evidence-Based Practices in Community Mental Health. Dr. Taylor pursued her education at Saint Louis University, where she obtained a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 2002. She continued her studies at SLU and completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2012. Dr. Taylor started her career at Adapt of Missouri, where she worked for 14 years in various roles, including Clinical Director, Program Director, Intake Coordinator, and Community Support Worker. She also worked at Family Care Health Centers for 9 years as Community Health Director. Presently, Dr. Taylor serves as the Co-Executive Director at Healing Action Network, a non-profit organization committed to both advocating for and alongside survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, while also providing comprehensive direct care services to support their safety, healing, and empowerment. Dr. Taylor has 20 years of supervisory experience committed to fostering environments where social workers feel supported, valued, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to their work. She is also certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and earned a certificate in Trauma-Informed Weight Lifting.
Price:
$65.00