The Unfinished Business of Childhood: Healing the Social Worker's Childhood Trauma Wounds
Elizabeth Szpilka
This workshop explores how unresolved childhood trauma and adaptations impact the professional lives of social workers, shaping their relationships, decision-making, and emotional well-being. Participants will examine the adaptive behaviors developed in childhood, such as people-pleasing, over-functioning, or hypervigilance, and their connection to professional challenges like burnout, secondary trauma, and boundary difficulties. The session incorporates interactive activities and self-reflective exercises to uncover how personal histories influence professional roles and caregiving dynamics. Special attention will be given to the tension between attachment and authenticity, helping participants identify patterns that may hinder their ability to practice with alignment and integrity.
Through a strengths-based lens, attendees will explore the role of identity—such as race, gender, and sexual orientation—in shaping trauma adaptations and professional experiences. The workshop also highlights the impact of emotional contagion in client interactions and offers strategies for maintaining emotional boundaries while fostering therapeutic connections. Participants will leave equipped with practical, neuroscience-informed strategies for sustainable self-care and emotional regulation. Designed for social workers at all levels, this workshop provides a safe and inclusive space to foster self-awareness, resilience, and a renewed commitment to trauma-informed practice.
Skills / Knowledge
- social work
- unfinished business
- childhood trauma