Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma
- Speaker:
- Sacha McBain, PhD
- Duration:
- 1 Hour 55 Minutes
- Language:
- Presented in EN, subtitles in EN and FR, handouts in EN and FR
- Copyright:
-
Oct 09, 2025
- Product Code:
- POS150447
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
Medical crises can have lasting psychological and physical impacts, often resulting in medical trauma—distress triggered by invasive, life-threatening, or overwhelming medical experiences. Unlike other forms of trauma, medical trauma can be ongoing, with symptoms like hypervigilance, avoidance, and emotional distress triggered by bodily sensations, medical environments, or healthcare interactions. It may arise from sudden diagnoses, painful treatments, loss of autonomy, or inadequate care, often leading to anxiety, depression, and difficulties with medical adherence.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to recognize and treat medical trauma, differentiate it from other traumas, conduct targeted assessments, and implement interventions that promote recovery. You'll also learn symptom-focused strategies, including pain management techniques, and explore systemic barriers that complicate care, leaving with practical tools to support clients in healing and navigating healthcare challenges. You’ll also learn:
- How to address trauma-related thoughts, physiological distress, and somatic symptoms
-
How to differentiate medical trauma from other forms of trauma
-
How to assess hidden medical trauma that may be driving anxiety and depression
-
Targeted care and strategies to help clients navigate healthcare barriers
Credit
Program Information
Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationshipsAll members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.
Continuing Education Information: Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your licensing board's rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval.
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.
Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.
For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
Earn up to 1.5 CE hours. Please see below, for more details, as credit amounts vary by jurisdiction and profession.
PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association to offer continuing education for counsellors and psychotherapists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This self-study activity is approved for 1.5 credit hours.

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2026 - January 27, 2029. Social workers completing this course receive 2.0 Clinical continuing education credits.
Course Level: Intermediate Format: Recorded asynchronous distance. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.
Canadian Social Workers: Canadian provinces may accept activities offered by providers approved by the ASWB ACE program for ongoing professional development.
This self-study activity qualifies for 1.5 continuing education clock hours as required by many national and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.

This self-study course has been approved by PESI, Inc., as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #77553. PESI, Inc. is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
This self-study course offers 1.5 continuing education contact hours in the Counseling Services skill group. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.
Handouts
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Recognizing and Treating Medical Trauma (195.9 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma - French (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Recognizing and Treating Medical Trauma - French (195.9 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma - Italian (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Recognizing and Treating Medical Trauma - Italian (195.9 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma - German (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Recognizing and Treating Medical Trauma - German (195.9 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Recognizing & Treating Medical Trauma - Spanish (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Transcript - Recognizing and Treating Medical Trauma - Spanish (195.9 KB) | 26 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Sacha McBain, PhD Related seminars and products
Sacha McBain, PhD is a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Rush University System for Health in Chicago, IL. A national leader in medical traumatic stress, Dr. McBain has published peer-reviewed research on the conceptualization and treatment of medical trauma, led national clinical trainings, and helped shape best practices for mental health screening and intervention after traumatic injury. She has worked alongside interdisciplinary partners to develop trauma-informed care approaches and is passionate about bringing psychological intervention to critical care and surgical settings. Through her research, education, and clinical practice, she pushes for better care systems for patients and families impacted by medical trauma. Dr. McBain contributed to the American College of Surgeons Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Best Practice Guidelines Work Group and is an active member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sacha McBain has an employment relationship with Rush University Medical Center.. She receives a grant from NIH/NIDA. Dr. McBain receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Sacha McBain is a member of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Additional Info
Program Information
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at https://www.pesicanada.ca/faq or contact us at https://www.pesicanada.ca/contact-us.
Objectives
- Differentiate the psychological and physical impact of medical trauma from other forms of trauma.
- Implement evidence-based interventions that address trauma-related thoughts, physiological distress, and somatic symptoms.
- Develop strategies to overcome systemic barriers and support patients in navigating healthcare systems.
Outline
Key Concepts in Medical Trauma
- What is Medical Trauma?
- Distinguishing it from other types of trauma
- Key sources and causes in medical settings
- Grief, loss, and caregiver/family dynamics
- Effects on physical outcomes and health behaviors
- Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and their connection to medical trauma
- Limitations of the research and potential treatment risks
Assessment of Medical Trauma
- Methods of Assessment:
- Self-report measures, clinical interviews, behavioral observations
- Domains to Assess:
- Defining a treatment plan based on assessment results.
Treatment Approaches
- Continuum of Care
- Types of Treatment Models
- Sequential
- Parallel
- Integrated
- Standard vs. Adapted vs. Adjunctive Treatments
- Tested interventions for reducing medical trauma-related distress
- Interventions tailored for unique medical trauma needs
- Supplemental interventions (e.g., pain, insomnia, memory changes)
- Supporting caregivers and promoting family wellbeing
- Practical Case Examples
Systemic Barriers & Client Advocacy
- Healthcare and Mental Healthcare System Constraints
- Insurance limitations and provider time constraints
- Gaps in trauma-informed care
- Navigating Healthcare Systems
- Addressing fear, avoidance, and self-advocacy skills
- Communicating with healthcare providers and confronting ableism
- Understanding patient rights within the healthcare system
- Promoting inclusion for individuals with chronic illness or disability
- Addressing clinician burnout and secondary trauma
Target Audience
- Counsellors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Social Workers
- Physicians
- Psychologists
- Addiction Counsellors
Reviews
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