You will learn how to assess trauma and establish trust and safety, while learning about the stages of healing and current trauma treatments and interventions. A special emphasis will be placed on understanding complex trauma, which is the exposure to multiple traumatic events occurring in childhood and adolescence. The results include a damaged sense of self, inability to trust others or environment and significant brain changes. Complex trauma is often mistaken for personality disorders, resistance and non-compliance, which impacts treatment success. You will:
    • Learn the definition of trauma-informed care
    • Understand the principles of trauma-informed care
    • Be able to define complex trauma
    • Understand the difference between complex trauma and PTSD
    • Be introduced to the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire and study
    • Differentiate complex trauma from personality disorders
    • Understand how trauma changes the brain
    • Learn to engage complex trauma survivors
    • Establish trust and safety with clients
    • Be able to work with people during all stages of healing

Additional Info: Course provides 6 contact hours for NYS Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Course provides 6 hours of continuing education credits for NYS Licensed Clinical and Master Social Workers.

Racial dynamics continue to shape our lived experiences, identity formation, access to resources, and communities and environments. Join us to examine how racial dynamics can impact the therapeutic experience. We will also explore how assumptions of colorblindness or neutrality can reinforce discrimination, racial trauma, and systemic inequities. We will explore how racial identity, privilege, and oppression intersect with mental health and the therapeutic alliance, focusing on strategies for encouraging conversations and integrating culturally responsive, anti-racist approaches into assessment and intervention. You will:
    • Analyze the concept of cross-racial in direct services and clinical practice
    • Define and understand the impact of racial trauma
    • Learn how cultural humility and anti-racist interventions can improve client relationships
    • Reflect on your own racial identities and biases to enhance therapeutic effectiveness
    • Develop strategies for maintaining ethical, inclusive practices across diverse contexts.

Additional Info: Course provides 3 contact hours for NYS Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Course provides 3 hours of continuing education credits for NYS Licensed Clinical and Master Social Workers.