PTSD, Complex Trauma and Developmental Trauma
- Definitions and scope
- Distinctions between complex trauma, PTSD and developmental trauma
- Transgenerational, social and cultural contexts
- Developmental trauma as systemic and adaptive
Models of Development Overlayed with Developmental Trauma
- Models of development, both psychodynamic and neurological
- How abuse and neglect change the trajectory of development
- Primary needs
Family to Society Dynamics: Attachment, Systems, Ego State, Interpersonal Neurobiology and More
- Theories of attachment
- Systems theory
- Family Theory
- Ego state theory
- Interpersonal neurobiology
- Historical and social trauma
Psychological and Physiological Impacts of Developmental Trauma
- The neurodivergence of developmental trauma
- Understanding dissociation
- Crisis
- Disenfranchised and complicated grief
- Defenses
Assessment and Screening for Developmental Trauma
- Information to gather
- ACE and DES II, PCL, ITQ
- Co-occurring and dual diagnosis
- Holistic case conceptualization
Handling Crises, Avoidance, Countertransference and More
- Handling crisis, including suicidality
- Boundaries and the therapeutic relationship
- Parts in session and outside of session
- Review of principles trauma-informed trauma
- Planning for impasse, regression, fawning, and avoidance
- Phases of treatment
- Transference, countertransference and self-care
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Techniques
- How mindfulness affects attention regulation, interoception, and the window of tolerance
- Mindfulness from a trauma informed lens
- Present moment awareness with an emphasis on safety and choice
- Reduction of autonomic arousal through breath and body awareness
- Guided sensory-based grounding exercises (5 4 3 2 1, orienting to the room)
- Embodied awareness practices: safe noticing, pendulation, and titration
- Research, risks and limitations
Introductory Psychodrama Techniques, Roleplays and Experiential Techniques
- Psychodrama theory and healing through experience
- Safety considerations: containment, pacing, emotional regulation
- Resourcing using psychodrama
- Adapted chair work to initiate dialogue with inner child
- Letter writing to caregivers, protectors, and younger selves
- Research, risks and limitations
Somatic Trauma Techniques
- Somatic and psychodramatic exercises
- Utilizing innate and developed resiliency as internal resources
- The importance of presence and attunement
- Body scanning with a trauma sensitive approach
- Titration and pendulation: moving between activation and calm to prevent overwhelm
- Down regulation techniques: paced breathing, vagal nerve toning, grounding through senses
- Up regulation techniques: activating movement, quicker breath, posture expansion
- Research, risks and limitations
Parts Works Techniques for Internal Harmony
- Orientation to parts work
- Structural Dissociation Model
- Ego states mapping to find protective/adult part
- Techniques to increase inner sense of safety and harmony
- Integrating parts work with CBT, DBT, EMDR, and other modalities
- Research, risks and limitations


