Navigating sensitive and traumatic content in unscripted TV

As part of the Your life at work strand, we're offering training aimed at sharing workplace best practice as well as how you and your teams can stay healthy, happy, and productive at work. 

This training session is for those working behind the scenes in unscripted TV on programmes dealing with sensitive or traumatic themes.

The session is run by industry coach Camilla Wells (Catch Yourself and Trauma Informed Law), with her business partner and fellow coach, Rebecca Norris (Trauma Informed Law).

Drawing on their extensive experience supporting the wellbeing of those exposed to challenging content, including talks and training delivered across the industry, this session draws on insights and reflections from all levels of TV Production across true crime, blue light programmes, films and documentaries.

When work involves trauma/distress, this is not the same as stress. This training is unique in that it focuses on when stress tips into distress. Why? Because distress impacts the mind and body in a different way to stress and understanding this is crucial to effective self-care.

The training is designed for fast-paced, (sometimes) high-pressured work environments. The self-care techniques shared are based on science and designed to be woven into busy days.

Who it's for

This training is suitable for all members of unscripted TV teams who may be exposed to distressing or sensitive content. Whether this exposure is brief or long-term, the impact may arise at any time - even years later. Understanding the effects of trauma on the mind and body can help you better support yourself and those around you.

The majority of the USF online short course offering is for those at early career stage and above. As a result, we generally require applicants to have at least 3 credits (unless working in a traditionally uncredited role). If you strongly feel you would still benefit from the training, please email USF@screenskills.com so we can assess if an exception should be made.

We are committed to ensuring all our courses are accessible to everyone. This course is designed to be as interactive as possible. Please email the above address if you have any access requirements and we will be delighted to help, be that clarifying the form such interaction is likely to take or discussing reasonable adjustments.

What it covers

The training session equips participants with strategies to exercise effective self-care and the confidence to offer appropriate support when working with trauma/distress.

• Neuroscience of distress: An overview of how trauma impacts the brain and nervous system differently from stress, along with strategies for self-regulation.
• Recognising symptoms: How to identify signs of trauma and distress in oneself and others.
• Integrative self-care techniques: Evidence-based tools to build resilience, designed to fit into busy schedules.
• Developing a shared language: Practical tools for openly discussing trauma and distress, reducing stigma, and enhancing team communication.
• Real-life examples: Scenarios illustrating effective ways to address trauma responses, with guidance on when to seek further support.

The training session is interactive, educational and experiential, incorporating small-group work. All exercises are optional.

Recognising that these are sensitive subjects, the training is designed with safety, regulation and empowerment at its core.

Trainer:

Camilla Wells (Industry coach, trainer and consultant) founded Catch Yourself and co-founded Trauma Informed Law - offering specialist support in TV and Legal Industries to teams and individuals encountering trauma in their work. She is proud to have rolled out her training programmes extensively across the Industry with clients including major broadcasters, networks, production companies and freelancers. From the creation of bespoke one off training sessions for a particularly traumatic project to training entire production companies, Camilla has experience of training across several roles in TV. Prior to setting up Catch Yourself, Camilla was a barrister, specialising in family law and crime. Her cases involved trauma, including: drug trafficking, sexual assaults, violence, domestic violence, child abuse, abduction.

Camilla regularly trains with Rebecca Norris and they have a team of psychologists, coaches and a neuroscientist supporting their work.

She is passionate about safeguarding the well-being of those who work hard to tackle the most challenging aspects of human nature. She is proud to be one of the first to bring awareness to this extremely important subject.

Rebecca Norris (barrister, coach and consultant) co-founded Trauma Informed Law and specialises in supporting teams and individuals navigating trauma-based content and responses. Rebecca integrates her extensive legal experience with specialised training in trauma and somatic practices. She is familiar with the complexities of diverse settings and needs including working in prisons, navigating court proceedings, the dynamics of corporate environments and supporting individuals affected by domestic abuse and addiction. She has particular expertise in trauma-informed communication and interviewing techniques, equipping both interviewers and interviewees to handle sensitive material with confidence and compassion. She provides targeted training, consultancy and coaching for high-stakes, high-stress environments where exposure to distressing content is routine.

How to apply

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘apply now’ at the top of the page and follow the instructions to apply for your place: you must login or register before you are able to complete your application.

If you need additional support to complete your application or require the application form in an alternative format please contact USF@screenskills.com

Places on these free online courses are limited and applications are often highly competitive. To stand the best chance of securing a place, please be sure to consider the following:

• When asked to list your three most recent credits, please include the programme title and your job role.
• When asked what you hope to gain from the course, please be concise but ensure you cover the specific elements of the topic you would like to gain knowledge of and what gaps in your skillset you believe the course may address. A rewording of the course title or a general comment on career progression does not tell us much about how this course would benefit you.

If you are no longer able to attend, we ask you to please use the “decline ticket” function on the right hand side of the page so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.

This course is supported by ScreenSkills, by the Unscripted TV Skills Fund thanks to contributions from broadcasters, SVoDs and production companies.

This course would normally cost participants to attend, but thanks to this support, we are able to offer it to you for free. If you fail to attend, we reserve the right to request reimbursement of costs, unless your place can be taken by someone else.