Treating Complex PTSD

Complex PTSD Healing Trauma: Simple Not Easy

Created by: J. Eric Gentry, PhD
Leader in the Field of Clinical and Disaster Traumatology

What Will I Learn?

• Advanced Trauma Treatment
• Trauma Informed Care
• Articulate the differences between simple and complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and identify the distinct challenges for diagnosis, treatment planning, stabilization and treatment of C-PTSD.
• Understand the neurobiology of C-PTSD and how chronic exposure to threatening environments can produce the spectrum of symptoms of C-PTSD
• Appreciate the role that attachment trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) play in risk for and creation of C-PTSD; and how successfully addressing attachment issues can accelerate treatment for C-PTSD.
• Articulate the causes of attachment trauma (e.g., relational threat/anxious attachment; avoidant attachment; disorganized attachment) and how these adaptations are easily misunderstood as personality disorders.
• Articulate the importance of neuroplasticity/pruning and understanding neuronal sequencing (i.e., “neural networks”) in treating C-PTSD and all post traumatic conditions.
• Understand the important role that conditioned threat response and subsequent ANS dysregulation play in generating and sustaining the symptoms of all post traumatic conditions including C-PTSD.
• Expanded knowledge of the science and applicability of Porges’ Polyvagal Theory to treatment with C-PTSD; specifically the importance of developing and utilizing healthy attachment relationships to augment treatment.
• Articulate and explain how dissociation symptoms (e.g., numbing; derealization; depersonalization; hearing “voices”; fractured multiple ego-states; dissociative identity) are adaptations to recurring (usually developmental) trauma.
• Identify evidence-based pharmacological interventions for stabilization and treatment for clients with C-PTSD.
• Apply Herman’s Tri-Phasic Model to conceptualization, titration and delivery of treatment for C- PTSD.
• Identify specific assessment and treatment tasks for each of the three phases of the Tri-Phasic Model.
• Understand symptoms of C-PTSD as adaptations to ongoing developmental trauma that can include extreme symptoms including self-injury; suicide; dissociation; numbing; addiction (process and substance); eating disordered behavior; chronic & intractable depression; hyper/hypo sexuality; and rage.
• Articulate the role of crucial non-specific factors of positive expectancy and therapeutic relationship using Feedback Informed Therapy (FIT) as central focus of treatment with C-PTSD.
• Learn and appreciate the pivotal role of psychoeducation in treating C-PTSD to help survivors to begin to honor their survival, ameliorate shame and move towards self-compassion.
• Learn and implement the four “common factors/active ingredients” shared by all effective trauma therapies for clients with C-PTSD.
• Appreciate the ubiquitous role of reciprocal inhibition embedded in all evidence-based trauma therapies

Requirements

• No Prerequisites

Target audience

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