VIDEO FOR PURCHASE:

Fundamentals 2021 Morning Plenary

by Sandy Dixon, PsyD

Many trauma experts formulate their therapeutic approaches to clients on the basis of their conceptualization of "complex traumatic stress disorders." Yet what are these? The renowned researcher and clinician, Bessel van der Kolk says, "Dissociation is the essence of trauma," and yet few graduate schools teach anything about dissociation. Our most challenging clients struggle with the long-term effects of insecure or disorganized attachment compounded by the impact of multiple instances of overt trauma.  This program is designed for graduate students, behavioral health and social service providers, and psychotherapy providers who are new to learning about and working with the complex trauma spectrum. Topics introduced in the morning plenary session will include the concept of developmental trauma, attachment research, basics of relevant neurobiological research, core challenges of trauma survivors, assessment of dissociation and dissociative disorders, differential diagnoses, barriers to collaborative therapeutic relationships, and goals of therapy.