Understanding the Neurodevelopmental Challenges in Survivors of Childhood Trauma

...tools for clinicians to use with children, teens and adults.

This 11-hour experiential workshop will deal with emerging clinical concepts including:

Mechanism of Trauma

• What ACEs are teaching therapists about how early trauma affects human lives
• The neurodevelopmental impact of early adversity on the developing child
• The neurobiology of childhood and adult trauma
• The interrelatedness of early attachment, self-regulation and trauma
• Common misconceptions in the diagnosis and medication management of trauma-related symptoms
  

Working with the Implicit 

• Trauma and the nature of implicit memory
• Use of Focusing as a tool for work with implicit memory
• The process of emotional memory reconsolidation: a positive way to guide work with trauma memory
• New understanding of the poly-vagal stress response
  

Managing Arousal

• Ways to recognize and respond to trauma-induced states of dissociation and hyperarousal
• Discerning client experience of the arousal continuum and the importance of state-dependence upon functioning
• The development of resilience and the hierarchy of reward

Course Process

George Davis, MD will address the mechanisms of early adversity, the effect of adversity on neurobiology, and adversity’s influence over time. His presentation will include the processes through which the interrelatedness of early attachment, self-regulation and trauma affect one’s ability to relate to others and to experience happiness. He will describe ways that impairments of neurodevelopment may drive tendencies toward aggression, impaired empathy and anti-social behavior. Dr. Davis will address misconceptions in diagnosis and discuss medication of trauma-induced symptoms driven by arousal. ...more about Dr. Davis

Leslie Ellis, PhD will discuss the nature of implicit memory and demonstrate ways to work with non-verbal and hard-to-access states that are the hallmark of early developmental trauma. She will provide an experiential understanding of how to support clients as they enter into and metabolize the inner places that have been silent and frozen in time. She will also explain how the science of memory reconsolidation gives a positive sense of purpose to the work. This process supports the therapist’s work in transforming trauma memory while minimizing the risk of re-traumatization. ...more about Dr. Ellis

Robbyn Peters Bennett, LPC, CMHS will discuss ways to recognize and respond to trauma-induced states of dissociation and arousal and strategies that help therapists track the subtle cues which occur in response to the therapeutic content and/or shifts within the therapeutic relationship. She will provide experiential practice of response strategies that can be resonant for clients, responses that create a holding environment which allows clients to re-experience traumatic material in a manageable way. She will demonstrate ways to provide state-appropriate responses consistently, with an emphasis on working with children.  State appropriate responses allow the adult or child to regain regulatory equilibrium. This therapeutic approach supports progressive building of tolerance for distress including tolerance for the therapeutic relationship itself.  ...more about Robbyn

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Workshop will be a combination of lecture, video, group discussion, and experiential activities. Attendees will learn how to apply the methodology to yourself personally and professionally with both children and adults.

CE HOURS: 11

SPONSORS: This program is co-sponsored by Stop Spanking and Mentor Research Institute. Mentor Research Institute is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Mentor Research Institute maintains responsibility for the program and its content.

CATERED EVENT: 

 Dinner on Friday evening will be  provided,  along with  brunch on  Saturday. The venue is  centrally located in  downtown Portland with many  appealing  options for  dining, shopping, and  entertainment prior to and  following the  workshop. Water, coffee, and tea, and snacks will be provided throughout the session. 

SCHEDULE:
Friday afternoon/evening, November 10th
2:00PM - 9:15PM

Saturday, November 11th:
8:00AM - 1:30PM 

Register Now!