Understanding Complex Trauma and Attachment
Overview
This training is designed for clinical practitioners supporting clients living with the impacts of complex trauma. Complex trauma is the result of repeated experiences of adversity in childhood (physical, sexual, and emotional abuse) without the ability to access the support of a consistent caregiver. Without access to a caregiver’s support, children grown into adults who struggle to regulate their emotions, behaviours, and cognitions. This training will offer a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by survivors of prolonged childhood abuse and neglect. This training will also offer tools and strategies for stabilization.
Learning Objectives:
- Deepen learners’ empathic understanding of what it is like to experience interpersonal violence.
- Understand and identify specific trauma responses/adaptations among clients who have a history of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
- Understand attachment as a driver of emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
- Understand the role and value of therapeutic alliance.
- Understand fight, flight and freeze responses.
- Participants will be able to describe and identify complex post trauma stress or developmental trauma.
- Understand the difference between stabilization skills, containment, and exposure therapy.
- Understand the link between complex trauma and addictions (as well as other forms of self harm and high-risk behaviours).