Full Course Description

First Nations Approaches to Healing Trauma: Ancestral Wisdom and Soul Retrieval

Colonization has had a lasting impact on the field of mental health, shaping cultural biases and perpetuating trauma that continues to affect communities today. In this session, Dr. Patricia Vickers explores the intersection of neuroscience with ancestral healing practices such as neurofeedback and ceremony. After this session, you'll walk away with tangible tools to address assessment and intergenerational trauma within First Nations communities.

Program Information

Objectives

The primary objective for this course is to support understanding of fundamental resources available to clinicians who work with First Nations clients.

Outline

Assessment and intergenerational trauma in First Nations Communities
Interconnectedness of neuroscience and ancestral healing ways
Altered state of consciousness, once known as inner child work and two chair work and ceremony
Case examples of a ceremonial approach to healing

Target Audience

Any and all who are interested in First Nations ancestral law and current social and public services

Copyright : 06/12/2024

Forgiveness: The Double-Edged Sword of Trauma Therapy

Forgiveness has become a topic of interest in mental health writing, particularly in trauma therapy. But in practice, when people have suffered from interpersonal trauma, frequently from those they trusted most, forgiveness can be easier said than done. This session focuses on forgiveness in trauma therapy and examines the ways it is often a double-edged sword. Sometimes helpful and sometimes not. We’ll look at topics such as rushed forgiveness and how it affects trauma clients. We’ll look at apologies and their helpful role in authentic forgiveness. We’ll look at how it can be useful for trauma survivors to view forgiveness as a process, and how to help them do that. Last, the workshop will consider self-forgiveness, and how often in trauma therapy, therapists and clients struggle to forgive themselves. In this session, clinical material will be used to illustrate concepts, and listeners will be invited to participate.

This session is geared toward mental health students and practitioners with an interest in trauma, complex trauma, psychotherapy, and counseling.

Program Information

Objectives

To distinguish between authentic forgiveness and rushed forgiveness.
To consider the process of forgiveness in trauma therapy.
To appreciate the role of apology in the forgiveness process.
To understand the role of self-forgiveness in trauma work.
To put concepts learned into practice.

Outline

Main theme: In trauma therapy forgiveness is a double-edged sword

Detailed case example
When is forgiveness helpful/harmful?
How does apology fit in?

How to explore apologies

The good apology
Case example
How to unpack feelings around apologies

What is pressured or premature forgiveness

e.g., family pressure
Helping clients who feel pressured to forgive
How to work with forgiveness as a process

Forgiveness when there are mixed feelings about the perpetrator

Case example
Working with therapist feelings in the treatment

Forgiveness toward the non-offending caregiver

Working with ambivalence in therapy
Case example

Helping the client forgive themselves

When the client feels shame
When the client feels blame
When the client believes they made bad choices

Target Audience

Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Psychotherapists
Psychologists
Social Workers

Copyright : 06/12/2024

DBT Interventions for High-Risk Clients: Ensuring Safety and Effectiveness in Trauma Treatment

Clinicians often shy away from targeting/treating trauma and PTSD when clients present with high risk behaviours including non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviours. This is often true even for clinicians with significant expertise in treating trauma. Unfortunately, a majority of clients who engage in high risk behaviors have also experienced significant trauma or meet criteria for PTSD and their trauma related symptoms often prompt suicidal and self-injurious behaviours.

Many clients find themselves stuck in a catch-22; their trauma related symptoms cause severe emotional distress that makes NSSI and suicidal behaviours more likely to occur and these behaviours in turn render them ineligible for many treatments that would address their trauma.

On the other hand, clients without the ability to regulate and tolerate intense emotions and distress can be overwhelmed by trauma treatment and treatment can actually be harmful or dangerous to them.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, a treatment approach that was initially developed to help people with frequent and intense suicidal behavior who often had histories of trauma, offers tools and structures that help to resolve these very conundrums.

In this talk, attendees can expect to get a brief overview of strategies, tools and lessons learned in the context of DBT that will help them support clients who engage in suicidal behaviours. Clinicians will leave this talk with a few helpful guidelines and tools from DBT that may change their approach and comfort level working with trauma in a safe and effective manner when high risk behaviours are a consideration.

Program Information

Objectives

Understand the relationship between trauma and suicidal/high risk behaviours.
Be able to assess readiness for trauma treatment in clients who engage in suicidal behaviours or experience suicidal ideation.
Understand ways to prepare high risk clients for trauma treatment and ways to safely treat trauma in this population.

Outline

Research and Treatment Approaches

Overview of research on trauma, suicide risk and other high risk behaviours

Current research findings
Limitations of current research
Approaches to treating trauma in high risk client populations

Standard DBT
DBT-PE
DBT-PTSD
CPT

Assessing readiness for trauma processing in clients with high risk behaviours

Stages of Treatment
Requirements for stability – lessons for DBT-PE
Tolerating difficult emotions – ways to assess and build
Risks of trauma treatment in high risk clients

When clients are not ready for trauma processing

Options for stabilisation
Trauma-informed treatment modifications
Residential and inpatient treatments

Target Audience

Addiction Professionals
Case Managers
Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Psychotherapists
Psychologists
Social Workers

Copyright : 06/12/2024

From Bias to Bond: Using Polyvagal Theory to Cultivate an Effective Therapeutic Alliance With Racialized Clients

The training highlights the importance of an integrated and holistic approach in creating the therapeutic alliance by therapists to work effectively with racialized clients, taking into account neurophysiological, community, and personal liberation dynamics.

Program Information

Objectives

Explore the application of polyvagal theory in the context of racialized therapist-client dynamics.
Integrate learnings from collective care circles in the Black community to strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
Understand and apply the concept of liberation in an individual therapeutic setting with racialized clients.

Outline

Introduction to Polyvagal Theory

Overview of polyvagal theory and its importance in understanding physiological responses to stress and safety (Dana 2018)
Application of theory to recognize and modulate unconscious biases in the therapeutic relationship (Dana 2018; Daly 2022; Ogden 2021)

Learnings from Black Community Collective Care Circles

Case study: Sharing experiences and practices of collective circles of care that promote healing and resilience within the Black Community (https://www.blackhealingcentre.com/bwcc)
Discussion of how to integrate these principles and practices into the individual therapeutic relationship to cultivate an alliance based on trust and authenticity (Martin, n.d.)
The concept of liberation in individual therapy (Burton and Ordóñez 2025; Afuape 2012; Afaupe and Hughes 2015)

Exploration of the concept of liberation as a therapeutic objective, aimed at overcoming the impacts of racism and discrimination

Strategies to support clients of color on their journey of personal and collective liberation, with a focus on empowerment and validation of their experiences (Ivey 1995)

Discussion

Interactive question-and-answer session to deepen your understanding of the topics covered
Encouragement to share personal reflections and challenges encountered in clinical practice, in connection with the training themes

Copyright : 06/12/2024

Minding the Body: Somatic Interventions for Enhancing EMDR Effectiveness

Most clients respond to EMDR treatments with ease and surprising success, while others inexplicably become flooded, numb, sleepy, or blocked. Still others have symptoms that contraindicate the use of EMDR trauma processing, such as active addiction, recent sobriety, or self-destructive behavior. Faced with the EMDR client who cannot tolerate affect, who becomes overwhelmed by traumatic targets, who cannot stay grounded, manage self-destructive impulses, differentiate past and present experience, or create a Safe Place inside – is there any way that EMDR can be helpful?

The answer is “Yes.” Fortunately, the use of simple body-centered interventions drawn from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy that modulate autonomic arousal and address somatically-driven trauma responses can often make EMDR treatments accessible even for blocked, de-stabilized and dissociative clients.

This presentation will introduce a conceptual model for understanding how and when EMDR treatments can be effective even with dysregulated clients. Participants will be taught simple, body-centered interventions that can be woven into both trauma processing and Resource Development protocols.

Program Information

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Identify dysregulation-related blocks to effective EMDR treatment.
Integrate body-centered strategies into EMDR trauma processing.
Utilize body-centered strategies as cognitive interweaves.
Increase effectiveness of resource development strategies in preparation for EMDR trauma processing.

Outline

Challenges to EMDR Processing

Effects of traumatic experience on autonomic nervous system
Biased neuroception and triggering
Phobias of memory and/or emotion
Limitations of the research and potential risk

Increasing EMDR Effectiveness

Observing autonomic effects of remembering the past
Integrating grounding and centering techniques into EMDR processing
Capitalizing on information obtained through the body
Limitations of the research and potential risk

Somatic Interweaves

When cognitive interweaves don’t work
Mindfulness-based interweaves
Somatic interweaves incorporated into EMDR processing
EMDR resource development
Traumatic activation and prefrontal shutdown
Challenges of resource development
Using somatic resources in place of positive experiences
Limitations of the research and potential risk

Copyright : 06/12/2024

Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD: Innovations in Implementation

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT: Resick, Monson, & Chard, 2017) is one of the front-line recommended therapies for PTSD recommended in multiple treatment guidelines globally. CPT is a short-term, trauma-focused therapy that is comprised predominantly of cognitive interventions. CPT has four primary phases, including: 1) Providing psychoeducation about PTSD from a cognitive perspective; 2) engaging in cognitive-behavioral self-monitoring; 3) implementing cognitive interventions that target trauma appraisals; and 4) addressing overgeneralized beliefs stemming from traumatic experience.

In this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to explore various aspects of CPT and the data that supports its effectiveness. The theoretical foundations that inform personalized case conceptualization for individuals with a range of multiple traumas and diagnoses will be presented. A demonstration of Socratic dialogue using video-recorded materials from a real case will be shown, and major updates included in the new edition of the manual to be released April 2024 will be reviewed. Innovations in the delivery of CPT, including intense dosing, personalized length, MDMA-and psilocybin-assisted CPT, and delivery to individuals with comorbid PTSD-BPD will be described for discussion.

Copyright : 06/13/2024

Key Tasks of Trauma Recovery: The Use of Attachment Science in Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) to Foster Mastery, Cohesion, and Resilience

Difficulty with painful emotions is at the heart of posttraumatic problems, and without attending to your clients’ intense feelings of fear, disgust, anger, and helplessness, you can’t heal their heartbreak. In this keynote session, you’ll learn directly from Dr. Sue Johnson, whose emotionally-focused therapy model offers you a simple, proven 5-step attachment-informed process to create predictable, repeatable, and lasting transformation for your clients.

Program Information

Objectives

Identify the key components and goals of the EFIT model.
Identify emotional handles for the purpose of planning interventions.
Adapt attachment science to the psychotherapy setting.

Outline

Essential nature of the EFIT model
Goals of EFIT
5 tasks of recovering from trauma
How to listen for “emotional handles”
Restructuring no-solution vulnerability
Ten ways EFIT brings attachment science into every session
Case study
Limitations of the research and potential risks

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Marriage & Family Therapists
Addiction Counselors
Other mental health professionals

Copyright : 06/13/2024

What You Need to Know About Sleep and Trauma: Tools for Better Outcomes and Lasting Insomnia Relief

From the initial development of PTSD to its treatment, sleep disturbance plays a huge role in how clients recover from trauma. And while most therapists recognize that their clients aren’t sleeping well, few understand that sleep hygiene strategies alone are insufficient and ineffective. In this session, Dr. Colleen Carney will show you simple, evidence-based tools you can use to both improve the effectiveness of your trauma treatment and help your clients get the rest they need.

Program Information

Objectives

Understand the significance of insomnia in clients with trauma.
Explain the three causal factors of chronic insomnia in clients with trauma.
Distinguish between effective and ineffective strategies in clients with trauma.

Outline

The Significance of Sleep Problems in Those with Trauma
Causes of Chronic Sleep Problems

Low deep sleep drive

Body clock input
Conditional arousal
Cognitive Behavioral Insomnia Therapy in those with Trauma

Stimulus Control
Sleep Scheduling
Cognitive Therapy

Limitations of the research and potential risks

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Marriage & Family Therapists
Addiction Counselors
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 06/13/2024

Internal Family Systems (IFS) for the Treatment of Addictions

Therapists frequently encounter clients grappling with various forms of addiction, whether rooted in substances, food, gambling, or sex. However, the treatment process itself can sometimes trigger deep-seated traumatic experiences, particularly connected to feelings of guilt and shame. Integrating an awareness of trauma into the therapeutic approach of addictions, Internal Family Systems (IFS) emerges as a non-pathologizing treatment modality. It facilities a profound exploration wherein clients can “befriend” their addictive parts, fostering understanding of their positive protective intentions. This discussion will delve into the intersection of addiction and trauma, elucidating how to navigate associated beliefs, behaviors, and biological conditions prevalent in addictive behaviors. Moreover, it will illuminate strategies to guide clients towards healing the underlying traumatic wounds beneath their addictions.

This product is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the IFS Institute and does not qualify for IFS Institute credits or certification.

Program Information

Objectives

Participants will gain an overall understanding of the IFS model and how it applies to clients.
Learn the roles of emotions, pain & trauma within a person to begin to understand common client reactions such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, obsessing, conflict avoidance, binging, cutting and more.
Learn how to assess a client’s diagnosis and symptoms through IFS.
Understanding the process of befriending addictive parts.
Learn how to deal with the conflicts (Polarizations) in relation to addictions.
Gain an understanding of Healing the Wound and the steps towards healing.

Outline

Understanding the Complex Interplay of Addiction and Trauma

Introduction to Addiction as a Coping Mechanism for Trauma
Exploring the Relationship between Trauma, Shame, and Guilt in Addiction
Recognizing How Trauma Manifests in Addictive Behaviors

Internal Family Systems (IFS): A Trauma-Informed Approach to Addiction Treatment

Overview of IFS as a Non-Pathologizing Modality
Integrating Trauma-Informed Principles into IFS
Navigating Trauma Triggers and Emotional Flashbacks within the IFS Framework

Befriending Addictive Parts: Healing Through Compassionate Exploration

Identifying and Understanding Protective Roles of Addictive Parts
Cultivating Self-Compassion and Curiosity Towards Addictive Parts
Healing Trauma Through the Unburdening Process in IFS

Addressing Beliefs, Behaviors, and Biological Conditions in Addiction Recovery

Challenging Negative Beliefs and Core Wounds Underlying Addiction
Implementing Coping Strategies for Managing Triggers and Urges
Utilizing Mindfulness and Somatic Techniques to Regulate the Nervous System

Facilitating Lasting Healing and Integration

Fostering Connection with Self and Other Parts Beyond Addiction
Supporting Relapse Prevention Through Continued Trauma-Informed Care
Celebrating Milestones and Cultivating Resilience in Recovery

Grief & Trauma in the Bones: Mindfulness & Indigenous ways of healing

Experience Dr. Marianela Medrano, Ph.D., LPC, CPT, a writer and mindfulness teacher, as she walks you through innovative interventions that you can use to help your clients move from mourning into the spiritual experience of grieving and healing from Historical Trauma and Grief. Drawing on her expertise as a scholar, researcher, and psychotherapist, Dr. Medrano blends case studies with creative strategies for long-lasting transformation in your client's lives. Explore the interfacing relationship between historical/contemporary events, the ensuing trauma, and the impact that the erasure of indigenous ways of grieving via rituals has had on many peoples, and how to creatively and culturally appropriately facilitate the mourning process aborted for some. Unresolved Historical Grief is pernicious and travels intergenerationally; learn the power of ancient wisdom to heal personally and collectively. In other words, the long-range impact of unresolved grief among the BIPOC populations is a must-focus for consciously aware clinicians.

Program Information

Objectives

Investigate traditional healing practices suitable for individuals, groups, and families coping with grief and loss.
Develop strategies to counter narratives of extinction, erasure, and cultural/religious/racial superiority that contribute to historical grief and trauma.
Implement interventions aligned with the collective mindset of individuals and groups affected by historical grief and trauma, fostering a sense of empowerment and cultural affirmation.

Outline

I. Understanding the Spiritual Nature of Grief and Mourning

A. Definition of grief as a spiritual outcome of mourning

B. Importance of mourning in ritualizing feelings

C. Risks and Limitations

II. The Consequences of Restricted Mourning

A. Explanation of how restricted mourning stifles grief

B. Discussion on how unresolved grief can manifest as illness

III. Integrating Compassion-Based Rituals into Grief Work

A. Introduction to the concept of Karuna (compassion/mercy)

B. Exploration of different compassion-based rituals

C. How Karuna guides individuals through the process of loss and grief

IV. Conclusion

A. Recap of the significance of mourning in spiritual grief work

B. Emphasis on the importance of compassion-based rituals in facilitating the grieving process

C. Encouragement to embrace the wisdom of grief as guided compassion practices

Target Audience

Addiction Professionals
Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors
Marriage & Family Therapists
Psychologists
Social Workers

When Past Wounds Show Up in Present Relationship: The Latest Strategies to Foster Resilience in Couples With Childhood Relational Trauma

Due of the prevalence of interpersonal trauma, couple therapists will be called upon to intervene with survivors. Whether it’s physical, psychological, sexual or parental neglect, Interpersonal trauma experienced in childhood can have deleterious effects on survivors’ marital relationships. Thus several couples, in spite of love shared, find themselves stuck in relational and conflictual impasses tinged with past traumas. How can therapists help them break this cycle without retraumatization?

Program Information

Objectives

Develop an in-depth understanding of the impacts of trauma on couple relationships.
Identify the Signs of Interpersonal Trauma in the Interaction dyadic.
Acquire effective strategies to provide compassionate support to Couples Facing Trauma-Related Marital Difficulties Interpersonal.

Outline

Understanding Childhood Interpersonal Trauma (Côté, 2016; Dye 2012; Godbout, 2013; Lussier et al, 2017; Taylor, 2018)

What is Interpersonal Trauma in Childhood
Prevalence of Interpersonal Traum in Childhood
The Two Categories of Interpersonal Trauma in Childhood
Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Relationships
Risk and Protective Factors

Manifestations of Past Wounds in Relationship (Dugal, et al, 2016; Godbout, Hecker, 2007; et al., 2013)

Explanatory theories (Lussier et al, 2017)
Signs and Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma in Couples
Triggers and Responsiveness in the Context of Past Trauma
Communication on Patterns Influenced by Childhood trauma

Strategies to Foster Resiliency in Couples (Dana, 2020; 2023; Fisher, 2021; Kepner, 1995; Hecker, 2007; Macintosh, 2019; Nichols, 2021; Sofer, 2018)

Building security and trust in the therapeutic relationship
Psychoeducation (impact of trauma; triggers and what is triggered; cycle vulnerability)
Mindfulness: recognizing the wounded child within oneself and getting out of the “behavioural trap”
Improve emotional regulation (grounding techniques to manage triggers; self-compassion exercises; window of tolerance; co-regulation)
Cultivate empathy and understanding between partners
Strengthen communication skills

Conclusion

Target Audience

All those involved in a helping relationship

SELF-STUDY | Mapping the Dance of Emotions: Creating Lasting Change with Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy

When clients become overwhelmed with strong emotions, it’s critical that we can sit with what’s happening and help them find a way through. But that’s often easier said than done. Fortunately, attachment science offers a clear understanding of what’s really going on under the surface of the emotions that can keep us stuck. Based on this science, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) provides a clinically useful way for therapists to practice that’s centered on the idea that the emotions that create so much suffering are the very doorway to recovery. In this session, you’ll learn:

How to tune in and understand the emotions you’re seeing in sessions in a way that doesn’t further overwhelm clients
The 5 macro-interventions of EFIT that provide a useful roadmap for nearly every client when working from an attachment-based lens
How to construct corrective emotional experiences that stick and create forward progress in every session

Program Information

Objectives

Implement evidence-based stages to increase closeness, safe attachment, and connection.
Investigate how EFIT explores and deepens emotions with clients in a way that maintains safety.
Construct corrective emotional experiences for the individual client that create real forward movement in a single session.
Develop client interactions that expand the client’s sense of self and open engagement with others.
Articulate the five stages of EFIT based on attachment research.
Construct corrective emotional experiences to resolve traumatic blocks to growth.

Outline

Updates to patterns of attachment based on the new science of attachment
Key goals and stages of Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)
Dancing the EFIT Tango – the five basic moves
Case conceptualization and treatment planning
Shifting world view as treatment progresses
Consolidation and integration
Risks and limitations of the approach

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Marriage & Family Therapists
Addiction Counselors
Physicians
Physician Assistants
Nurses
Nurse Practitioners
Other Mental Health Professionals