Complex Trauma Certification Course: Evidence Based Interventions for Complex Trauma

CPD

Handouts

Speaker

J. Eric Gentry, PhD, LMHC, DAAETS, FAAETS, CCTP Related seminars and products

Compassion Unlimited

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J. Eric Gentry, PhD, LMHC, DAAETS, FAAETS, CCTP, is an internationally recognized leader in the study and treatment of traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. His PhD is from Florida State University where he studied with Professor Charles Figley – a pioneer of these two fields. In 1997, he co-developed the Accelerated Recovery Program (ARP) for compassion fatigue – the world’s only evidence-based treatment protocol for compassion fatigue. In 1998, he introduced the Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training and Compassion Fatigue Prevention & Resiliency Training. These two trainings have demonstrated treatment effectiveness for the symptoms of compassion fatigue, and he published these effects in several journals. He has trained over 100,000 health professionals over the past 20 years.

He has written numerous chapters, papers, and peer-reviewed journal articles in the areas of traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. Dr. Gentry is a Master Traumatologist with over 35 years of clinical experience with trauma, Complex PTSD, personality disorders, and dissociation.

He is the president and CEO of The Forward Facing® Institute and owner of Compassion Unlimited – a private psychotherapy, training, and consulting practice – in Phoenix, AZ.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. J. Eric Gentry maintains a private practice. He is the owner and President of Forward-Facing Institute, LLC., the CEO of Compassion Unlimited, and the co-director of Community Crisis Support Team. Dr. Gentry has employment relationships with the University of South Florida State, the Florida State University, the Florida Center for Theological Studies, the Argosy University, and the Webster University. He is a consultant and receives compensation. Dr. Gentry is a published author and receives royalties. He receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. J. Eric Gentry is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and others. For a complete list, please contact info@pesi.com.

Objectives

1. Contrast the differences between simple and complex PTSD (C-PTSD).
2. Identify the distinct challenges for diagnosis, treatment planning, stabilization and treatment of C-PTSD.
3. Describe the neurobiology of C-PTSD and how chronic exposure to threatening environments can produce the spectrum of symptoms of C-PTSD.
4. Appraise the role that attachment trauma and Aversive Childhood Experiences play in risk for and creation of C-PTSD; and how successfully addressing attachment issues can accelerate treatment for C-PTSD.
5. Identify the causes and sequelae of attachment trauma and how these adaptations are easily misunderstood as personality disorders.
6. Articulate the importance of neuroplasticity/pruning and understanding neuronal sequencing in treating C-PTSD and all posttraumatic conditions.
7. Examine the important role that conditioned threat response and subsequent ANS dysregulation play in generating and sustaining the symptoms of all posttraumatic conditions including C-PTSD.
8. Review 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.
9. Explain how dissociation symptoms are adaptations to recurring trauma.
10. Identify evidence-based pharmacological interventions for stabilization and treatment for clients with C-PTSD.
11. Apply Herman’s Tri-Phasic Model to conceptualization, titration and delivery of treatment for C-PTSD.
12. Identify specific assessment and treatment tasks for each of the three phases of the Tri-Phasic Model.
13. Recognize symptoms of C-PTSD as adaptations to ongoing developmental trauma that can include extreme symptoms including self-injury; suicide; dissociation; numbing; process and substance addiction; eating disordered behavior; chronic & intractable depression; hyper/hypo sexuality; and rage.
14. Illustrate 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.
15. Incorporate 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.
16. Implement the four “common factors/active ingredients” shared by all effective trauma therapies for clients with C-PTSD.
17. Describe the ubiquitous role of reciprocal inhibition embedded in all evidence-based trauma therapies
18. Incorporate Forward-Facing Trauma Therapy as a self-employed method to facilitate posttraumatic growth and resilience for clients into your clinical practice.
19. Develop CBT skills for helping trauma survivors to rapidly develop stability; self-efficacy, anxiety management and relational capacities.

Outline

Foundations of Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)

Essentials of C-PTSD

Adaptations to C-PTSD

Overview of Tri-Phasic Model

Assessment & Treatment of C-PTSD

Therapist Preparation

• Self-regulation of ANS dysregulation and optimization of treatment delivery
• Informed consent for C-PTSD

• Quantitative assessment instruments and clinical interview sufficient to accurately diagnose C-PTSD and develop preliminary treatments & case planning
• Mental status exam for C-PTSD
• Monitor treatment effectiveness & identify treatment shortcomings
• First-session interventions to enhance safety, stabilization, positive expectancy and therapeutic relationship

• Assessment Skills Building (Safe vs. Not Safe)
• Case Management (External vs. Internal danger)
• Therapeutic relationship
• Stabilization
  • Common/Generic Stabilization Skills for C-PTSD
  • Specialized Skills for Safety & Stabilization
• Group applications for safety & stabilization/resilience with C-PTSD
• Empirical criteria for successful completion of Stage 1 with C-PTSD clients

• CBT skills to lessen avoidance, arousal, shame, dysphoria, reactivity, and distorted thinking symptoms
• Compare current evidence-based/evidence-informed treatments utilized to address symptoms of C-PTSD
  • Trauma-Focused CBT
  • Cognitive Processing Therapy
  • Prolonged Exposure
  • Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy/Brainspotting
  • Somatic Experiencing
  • Sensorimotor Therapy
  • Emotional Freedom Techniques/Energy Psychology
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Structural & Strategic Treatment for Dissociative Disorders
  • Ego-State Therapy
• Treatment Skills Practice
  • Attachment Trauma
  • Somatization
  • Dissociation
  • Psychoeducation/Cognitive Restructuring
  • Self-Regulation/Relaxation
  • Imaginal Exposure Techniques (IFS, NLP Reframing, Frazier’s Dissociative Table)

• Strategies for accomplishing:
  • Sustaining stabilization
  • Self-regulation of physiology
  • Self-regulation of behaviors
  • Self-regulation of emotions
  • Meaning-making
  • Reconnection
• Posttraumatic growth
  • Spiritual maturation
  • New opportunities
  • Greater strength
  • Greater appreciation
  • New Relationships
• Forward-Facing Trauma Therapy – Healing the Moral Would (Gentry)
  • Self-regulation & Direct Therapeutic Exposure (DTE)
  • Covenant & code of honor

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Case Managers
• Addiction Counselors
• Therapists
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Other Mental Health Professionals
• Nurses

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