MB is recognized as a skilled and innovative trainer in the mental health field, renowned for his practical approach to emotional stabilization and trauma processing. His career is highlighted by the synthesis of advanced techniques that are both accessible and effective. Matthias has a strong track record of leading successful training programs across the globe, focusing on a system that integrates a range of psychological concepts and evidence-based methods. This system, tailored for both self-care and caring for others, demonstrates his commitment to holistic well-being. His expertise, particularly in teaching techniques for Emotional Stabilization and Trauma Processing is grounded in extensive hands-on experience. Matthias' role as a dynamic educator in mental health equips professionals with practical skills and insights, crucial for those seeking to enhance their abilities in this vital area.

Deep Emotional Work Academy (DEWA) is run by Emotion Coaching gUG (est. 2015). Some of the events, activities, and pictures mentioned in this list were taken during Matthias Behrends' work with Healing Souls International gUG (est. 2015), a Germany-based nonprofit he co-founded with Dr. Charlotte Baltrusch which ended its operations in 2021. Additionally, some activities and events took place before the establishment of both organizations.

This list is a selection of non-confidential activities. Country list starting with Germany, then in alphabetical order.

Germany

• Between 2016 and 2019, MB conducted several on-site trainings on Emotional Stabilization for the City of Mannheim, the City of Müllheim (i. Br.), the Netzwerk Chancen gestalten (Heidelberg), Mosaik Deutschland e.V. (Heidelberg), the District Office Hohenlohekreis, the Administration of the Evangelical Church Kassel.

• Accompanied several multi-day trainings on psychological trauma by his teacher Dr. med. Charlotte Baltrusch for the Diakonisches Werk, Schwäbisch-Hall, a major provider of psychosocial services in the region (2016⁠–2017).

• Training at KIRON for the organization's psychologists on how to effectively assist traumatized students, Berlin (01.10.2016).

• Workshop on "Caring for Emotionally Distressed Migrants and Refugees" for Ankommer.eu, Frankfurt a.M. (18.02.2016).

• Keynote "Caring for Emotionally Distressed People under Difficult Circumstances", University of Erlangen, Institute for Medical Ethics (28.04.2015).

• Presentation on emotional distress among migrants and refugees at a cultural festival in Mannheim (17.01.2015).

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Bangladesh

• Pro bono supervision for staff of select hospitals and institutions (2023).

• Open access to our self-help tool in Bengali (2023).

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Colombia

• Matthias Behrends was invited as international speaker for the World Suicide Prevention Day event at Technological University of Bolivar (UTB) on September 10, 2024. He presented a workshop titled ➡️ "Techniques to Improve Emotional Wellbeing" (Taller: Técnicas para mejorar el bienestar emocional).

• Demonstration of Guided Affective Imagination Techniques (GAIT) for psychology students at the Psychology Department of the Technological University of Bolivar (UTB) in Cartagena on August 23, 2024.

• Special Guest of Laura Martinez at the Innovative Event "Senderos al Ser" in Cartagena - A Service to the Community (07.07.2024, Bicentenario, Cartagena).

• Training for social workers of the Chambacú Foundation (8 hours in total, June 2024, Cartagena).

• Training for psychologists of San Bartolomé - Comunidad Terapeutica S.A.S., Rionegro (2018).

• A free introduction to psychological first aid, including demonstrations in Medellín (2018).

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India

• 2 full-day introductory training sessions on "Evidence-Based Techniques for Emotional Stabilization and Trauma Processing" at Krishna Institute Of Medical Sciences, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-be-University), Karad, Department Of Psychiatry (Dec, 2023).

• Introduction to "Emotional Care for Vulnerable Populations in Distress" at All Bengal Women's Union (ABWU), Kolkata (2009).

• Provided emotional stabilization to survivors of human trafficking and forced prostitution at an NGO in Mumbai (2009).

• Facilitated on-site trainings by Dr. Baltrusch in collaboration with All Bengal Women's Union (ABWU) and Indian Psychoanalytical Society, Kolkata (2009-2012) and at King Edwards Memorial Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Mumbai (2009).

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Nepal

• Online consultation on psychological first aid and emotional stabilization for the Nepal Red Cross Society in the aftermath of the April 2015 earthquake.

• Awarded honorary membership of the Dalit Human Rights Organization, Pokhara (2009).

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Peru

• Workshop on Communication Strategies with Persons Affected by Gender Violence for Psychology Students at the Institute of Psychology, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima (2009).

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Romania

• Organized and assisted 3-day seminar with Dr. Baltrusch for local social workers and orphanage staff in Arad, in cooperation with Arad County Administration and Kinderhilfe Rumänien e.V. [Germany] (2011).

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Russia

• Training on "Emotional Stabilization of at-risk Youth and Children" for caregivers at the Faculty of Pedagogy, Moscow University (Oct 2018).

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Spain

• Psychological first aid for survivors of the criminal mass casualty event of August 17, 2017 and their relatives in collaboration with the German Consulate General and the Hospital de Mar, Barcelona.

• Demonstration of techniques for emotional stabilization and processing of traumatic events for the president of the Asociación EQUIS-MGF, Barcelona (Aug 2016).

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Ukraine

• Published an online self-help tool for emotional stabilization in the Ukrainian language (2021).

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One who has a lot to say, but knows when to listen.
"Einer, der viel zu sagen hat, aber trotzdem nicht verlernt hat, zuzuhören."

—As featured in DIE ZEIT Studienführer

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You can't just dig up the trauma and say, "There it is." You have to look for stabilizing relationships and memories at the same time and reinforce them with specific techniques.
"Man kann das Trauma nicht einfach ausgraben und sagen: So, da ist es. Man muss gleichzeitig nach kraftgebenden Beziehungen und Erinnerungen suchen, und diese mit speziellen Methoden verstärken."

—Ofenloch, Rüdiger (2014): Hilfe für die Seele

Authored or Co-authored:

Behrends, Matthias (2015): Courageous "Dots". Matthias Behrends - EMSA Medical Ethics Director 2005-2006. In Euromeds (SA Poland Edition), p. 77.

“[…] taking risks and being honest to yourself is scary sometimes, needs incredible courage. [...] It is the same courage you need to touch other people's lives.”

"I was disillusioned and frustrated by medical education. I was constantly wondering if I was wrong or the others, as most fellow students could not understand that I was - among other things - suffering from lacking contact to patients. And I doubted myself."

"Taking responsibility for [my] education in [my] own hands was a motto I lived up to my entire life."

"Search those who see and nourish the talents you hold deep inside of you."

Behrends, Matthias (2012): Studentisches Besuchsprojekt für PflegeheimbewohnerInnen. Vom Besuchen zur Sterbebegleitung [Visiting till the end of life. The story of a student-led visiting service for residents of a nursing home]. In Wolfgang U Eckart (Ed.): Handbuch Sterben und Menschenwürde [Handbook on Dying and Human Dignity]. Berlin: De Gruyter, pp. 1979–1988.

ℹ️ This paper presents a pilot project organized on the initiative of students in a nursing home in Heidelberg. The project consisted of voluntary, regular, individual visits by students to residents of the nursing home. The basic concept, including goals, organization, and feedback mechanisms, was further developed in cooperation with the nursing home management and implemented from 2006 to 2008. Some of the relationships created by the visits intensified and, in the case of the resident Mrs. D.S., led to a period of intensive care by several volunteers, including the author, until her death.

"The most frequent topic [during the intervision sessions] was the conflict between ideal and reality of institutionalized care the volunteers had to endure. Two volunteers almost quit their activities. The death of one visitee led to the need for reflecting about the resulting grief in the visiting volunteer."

"The project ended with the death of D. S. This was probably because of the time before bound a lot of resources from everybody involved and the experiences of this very intense time needed to be processed. Like most people who actively care for others we had the privilege to experience how death can make relationships and experiences much deeper and meaningful - far beyond the scope that would be expected form any voluneering activity."

"For myself, this was the limit of what was possible for me. We also communicated with D. S. about our individual and personal limits of the effort that was possible for us to accompany her. What I personally found remarkable was the deep respect D. S. showed towards me and us regarding these very limits. The necessary weighing of one's own commitment against other obligations and rest breaks led to an important maturing process, which we reflected among ourselves in informal rounds of talks".

Lauber, Heike; Behrends, Matthias (2009): Fall-Vignetten "Häusliche Gewalt" für das Kommunikationstraining von Ärzten und Medizinstudierenden [Case vignettes "Domestic violence" for communication training of physicians and medical students]. Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg [Heidelberg University Hospital].

Behrends, Matthias (2004): Conflicts of Interest - General Reflections and Ethical Implications. In Euromeds 2 (11), p. 7.

"Medical practice and research are embedded in an economic environment which evidently is oriented towards economic goals. By way of no incrimination one has to accept this as perhaps the most important structural cause of conflicts of interest." (p. 7)

MB had a role in the creation other than authorship:

Savidaki, M., Demirtoka, S. & Rodríguez-Jiménez, RM. Re-inhabiting one’s body: A pilot study on the effects of dance movement therapy on body image and alexithymia in eating disorders. J Eat Disord 8, 22 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-020-00296-2

Bobbert, Brückner, Lilie (2004) Gutachten "Probanden- und Patientenschutz in der medizinischen Forschung“ erstellt im Auftrag der Enquete-Kommission "Ethik und Recht der modernen Medizin“ des Deutschen Bundestages. Deutscher Ethikrat.
Report on "Protection of Subjects and Patients in Medical Research" prepared on behalf of the Enquete Commission on "Ethics and the Law of Modern Medicine" of the German Bundestag