A world-renowned doctor, speaker and best-selling author is making his way to Athabasca next week to host an interactive workshop on attachment, healing and intergenerational trauma. Dr.
A world-renowned doctor, speaker and best-selling author is making his way to Athabasca next week to host an interactive workshop on attachment, healing and intergenerational trauma.
Dr. Gabor Mat é, known best for youth development and helping his patients understand and overcome addiction, will be speaking at the Nancy Appleby Theatre from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 20 in a session hosted by the Athabasca Community Health and Wellness Coalition. Tickets are $50 each, and available at Eventbrite.ca.
“He relates intuitively with people and articulates his work in a way that makes sense, ” said Rhonda deLorme, coalition co-chair. “He is able to create a safe container for people to explore whatever it is that brings them to his workshops, whether it's addiction, whether it's physical illness, whether it's mental illness, whether it's a desire to support people in the caregiving role. Whatever the reason that somebody comes to his workshop, he's just able to facilitate a personally meaningful process for them. ”
The workshop is geared towards those working with youth, with the goal of helping the next generation better connect to “key influencers ” like schools' community groups. It is also open to caregivers and the general public.
“He is going to be talking about how we understand trauma, what trauma is and what it isn't, ” deLorme said. “Trauma is not a difficult life event, but it's the disconnect from self and other. He's going to talk about how trauma manifests in families across generations, how it's experienced in the life of the individual, and also how to recognize our trauma through interaction with the people that we work with and who we're in a relationship with. ”
deLorme first came across Mat é's work in 2014 and almost a year later, she had the opportunity to attend one of his workshops while working with the local Parent Child Assistance Program.
After experiencing one of Mat é's workshops, she became an eager student. She eventually introduced the idea of bringing Mat é to town.
The coalition opened in 2014, deLorme said, adding that Mat é's work meshes well with their mission to “enhance protective factors that allow youth to thrive in their environment and support them to avoid risky behaviours. ”
“Dr. Mat é's work involves looking at how individuals relate to their environment and seeing what is needed to support youth in their development and resiliency into adulthood, ” deLorme said.
She hopes that community groups, organizations like the coalition and parents can learn lessons from the workshop that will help youth connect to the community and take advantage of the assets it has to offer.
“We know that across the country, youth typically experience a lack of connection to their external support, ” deLorme said. “A local Athabasca study in 2011 showed that we fit into that generalized pattern. Gabor's workshop will explore the importance of youth connections to their environment. ”
