Summary
When a psychologist, licensed mental health professional, or medical personnel is treating survivors of complex trauma, there are many challenges to this difficult work. In this presentation, participants will discuss how to navigate issues of safety for the client and patient as they engage in treatment and how to manage posttraumatic and dissociative symptoms that can often occur inside and outside of the therapy space. Another key issues is the importance of pacing the trauma processing to help mitigate some of these challenges. Special attention will be given to willing Christian clients who wish to address spiritual concerns related to their trauma treatment. Participants will also outline how to respond to a client or patient’s questions such as those related to the process of therapy, the nature of memory, trauma responses, how dissociation works, and how to navigate problematic relationships.
Learning Objectives
Describe the issues of safety with complex trauma survivors
Outline how to manage posttraumatic and dissociative symptoms in the treatment of complex trauma and the importance of pacing trauma processing to mitigate challenges for the client or patient
Summarize common questions complex trauma survivors raise in therapy and how to answer them effectively