Care for students, patients, and clients in a way they can experience as caring
Based on my own research, the evidence shows that people experience care and support in the context of mattering.
In other words, people only experience behaviours intended to be caring and supportive, as caring and supportive, when those behaviours reinforce to them that they matter.
The role of mattering in care and support
Do you work in the education, health, counselling, grief-support or aged care sector? If so, I wonder if your experience (or that of your staff) is like that of the caring professionals I have met recently. They are passionate about, and good at, the work they do. And, they are are exhausted and time poor. Increasingly, they find themselves wanting to do more to meet the increasingly complex needs of those they support, yet they’re unsure what that ‘more’ looks like. They’re doing their absolute best, and yet at the end of the day, their best, never feels like enough. They care deeply for those in their care, sometimes wondering if they care a little too much.
I support huge-hearted caring professionals by offering an alternative lens to their work. Mattering-reinforcing care is a new approach to caring and supporting others that recognises the critical role of mattering. I developed this approach based on my research exploring the care and support experiences of children affected by suicide-loss.
A key finding of my research is that people can only experience care and support in the context of mattering. In other words, behaviours intended to be caring and supportive, are only experienced as caring and supportive, if those behaviours reinforce a sense of mattering. My research findings have gone on to inform the development of programmes and approaches, globally, in a range of contexts.
This new knowledge, new approach, has significant implications for practice for anyone working in the care, support and social service sector.
When we flick that switch – adopt a mattering-reinforcing approach to care - two things happen.
1) Work becomes less stressful and more satisfying, with professionals knowing that they’re making the difference they’re so desperately wanting to make. Adopting a mattering-reinforcing approach takes the guess work out of providing care.
2) Those being cared for and supported – students, clients, patients –receive care that is based on their actual, rather than assumed needs. They feel seen, heard, and cared for at a whole new level.
Mattering-reinforcing care is transforming care and support.
Recognised as a global authority on children’s postvention and grief support, I invite you to watch my TEDx talk. Here I share the findings of my PhD research that lead me to develop the approach, mattering-reinforcing care.
From Invisibility to Mattering: rethinking care and support for grieving children
Workshops
Learn how to care for and support people - adults and children - in a way that they will experience as caring and supportive.
I offer a range of half-day workshops. These can be standalone sessions, integrated into your next team development or offsite day, or combined to make a full-day experience.
Included with each workshop are briefing calls to understand your specific context and needs, and customisation of the content, as required.
Workshop Topics
Here are some of my most requested workshops:
Supporting Students When Life Gets Messy and Hard
Rethinking Care and Support
Rethinking Care and Support of Grieving Children
Rethinking Care and Support of Children Affected by Suicide-loss
Supporting the Elderly and Those in Aged Care
Masterclass feedback
“Just amazing - research, knowledge, practical, passionate, authentic. Thank you Shelley.”
“Brilliant. Please present to the Government to help shape policy.”
“Articulate, informative and highly practical. Thank you!”
“Shelley radiated such a ‘heart’ for the subject matter. I came in with very little knowledge about supporting children and now feel equipped.”
“A quality workshop; the information was invaluable; the authentic delivery with passion and no apology was amazing….would definitely encourage others to attend.”
“All teachers and school counsellors need to attend this. I wish I’d known, what I do now, years ago!”