Anxious and disorganized early attachment patterns intertwined with early childhood trauma (emotional deprivation, physical /sexual abuse) and the strain of adversity or ongoing victimization may lead some clients to experience chronic and complex intrapsychic and interpersonal reactions.  For some individuals, their adult lives are filled with a pool of unmet needs, a legacy of interpersonal turmoil, a range of disruptive trauma reactions and a deficit of skill, motivation and support to move beyond their past.  These individuals may become chronically depressed, have addictions and are vulnerable to ongoing victimization.

A conceptual framework for understanding and guiding your work with complex individuals will be discussed. An outline of key developmental pathways that are arrested by trauma will be presented. We will also review the definitions of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and Developmental Trauma (DT) and discuss how it overlaps with Borderline Personality (BP) Disorder. An often over looked but fundamental dimension in CPTS and DT is the developmental and psychosocial impact of insecure attachment patterns on personality. An overview of key clinical approaches to respond to effectively to CPTS and DT will be presented. 

Working with human suffering on a daily basis and being sensitive to the despair, frustration and fear embodied in our clients doe shave an impact on us as workers. In order to be effective in our work we need to be grounded, hopeful and focused. In this session we will discuss 4 key strategies for enhancing and maintaining our capacity to be a conscious and resilient professional.

Participants Will Learn To:

  • Identify the core characterological features of Complex Trauma
  • Distinguish PTSD, CPTSD, BPD, Developmental Trauma
  • Understand, identify and work through client’s dissociative coping approaches 
  • Understand the intersecting dimensions of insecure attachment and Complex/Developmental Trauma
  • Apply 4 key strategies for enhancing and maintaining our capacity to be a conscious and resilient professional

Please note Natalie will be showing explicit video images of trauma reactions (popular film and clinical tapes)