Holding Space for the Self: Advancing Trauma-Informed Practice for Direct Support Staff: CAMFT CEUs

This course qualifies for CAMFT CEUs.

Direct support professionals are often the backbone of trauma-informed care, yet their own emotional well-being is frequently overlooked. This 2 hour training invites participants to explore the impact of unresolved personal trauma and vicarious trauma within their roles. Through critical reflection and interactive dialogue, participants will examine how their personal histories shape their professional presence, and how systems often perpetuate burnout by normalizing self-neglect among frontline staff.

This session centers the caregiver by offering tools to recognize signs of trauma within themselves, prioritize self-healing without guilt, and adopt sustainable practices for resilience. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the reciprocal nature of trauma-informed care—recognizing that to truly support others, they must first create space for their own healing. This training is a call to reimagine caregiving as a practice rooted in wholeness, visibility, and shared humanity.

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Instructor: Dr. Marya Wright, LCSW

Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally recognized social work leader, consultant, author, and educator with deep expertise in child welfare, forensic social work, and culturally responsive clinical practice. She is the Founder and CEO of Marya Wright Consulting LLC, where she designs and delivers high-impact training and consulting services to agencies that support system-involved youth and families.

Dr. Wright earned her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California, where her scholarship focused on promoting equity and justice within the child welfare system. She also holds a Master of Social Work from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University, both with specialized training in Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing.

With over a decade of clinical, academic, and courtroom experience—including her work as a qualified expert witness—Dr. Wright brings a uniquely intersectional and practice-informed perspective to continuing education. Her work emphasizes relationship-centered engagement, culturally responsive practice, and trauma-informed care. She currently teaches graduate-level social work courses at Cal State East Bay, where she focuses on generalist practice, human behavior, and advanced clinical approaches with children, youth, and families.

Dr. Wright’s research and publications center on child sexual exploitation, foster care, and the impact of algorithmic decision-making in social services. She is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Phi Alpha Honor Society. Her trainings equip licensed clinicians with evidence-informed tools and critical insights that strengthen their practice and improve outcomes for marginalized communities.

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Other Important Information:

Accommodations: To request additional assistance or accommodations, please contact Brisa Romero, Training Assistant, at bromero@catalyst-center.org.

Grievances: To obtain the grievance policy or report a grievance please email Ivon Favela, Deputy Director of Training at ifavela@catalyst-center.org

CE Certificates: Upon course survey completion, participants will be awarded CE certificates.

Refund/Cancelation Policy: All requests for cancellation and refunds must be submitted in writing to bromero@catalyst-center.org prior to the course date. Otherwise, no refunds will be allowed.