An Introduction to Complex Trauma 101

Diane Clare

An introduction to Complex Trauma 101 (with a brief look at dissociation)

As an introductory webinar, this offers the basics for you to begin to gain confidence to work in this challenging area. It addresses why complex trauma and related dissociation requires adjustments to our practice.

If we are more familiar with general counselling work, complex trauma brings a new depth and dimension many professionals struggle to cope with. Some providers worry they will ‘get it wrong’ or ‘make things worse’ and mistakenly believe that there are ‘many specialists out there’ so they do not offer help to these clients at a time when there is such unprecedented demand and so few specialist providers in Aotearoa.

This training is designed to assist you in how to adapt your approach to start working with clients with these needs, and to do so with increased confidence. The evidence-based tri-phasic model is a useful framework to expand your ability to pace the work and to learn how to widen your window of tolerance to the complex material you may hear.

It will help you in turn to help your client to build their own confidence and window of tolerance, to move towards recovery from the trauma they have suffered. As you put on your oxygen mask, you are then better placed to help the other to put on theirs, as they are coming up for air from their trauma experiences.

This introductory webinar addresses Phase 1 safety, psychoeducation and skills. Phase 2 readiness will be addressed, but the 201 workshop looks at working more directly with trauma memories and working with the complexities of dissociation that make this a challenge. It will not cover complex dissociation in any depth, as this is part of the 201 workshop (see below).

Please Note: this workshop will touch on emotional issues such as grief and/or trauma, and some of the material covered in our workshops may be sensitive or triggering to certain participants. We encourage everyone to practice self-care and either reach out to us, or directly discuss any concerns with our presenter.

 

When: 27 September 2024, 9am – 3pm

Where: Online via Zoom

Cost: $320 inc GST. The price stated is per person.

Contact: Faye [email protected]

> register online

FAQs

Q About Diane

BA, MA (Hons), Dip. Clin. Psych., AFBPS
Memberships: NZCCP, MNZAP, ISSTD
Accredited Practitioner in EMDR and is a member of the EMDRNZ Board.

Diane Clare is a registered clinical psychologist who trained at the University of Canterbury. Diane has worked in mental health and counselling services since 1981, first as a grief counsellor then as a psychotherapist, before becoming registered as a psychologist in 1993. She has worked in leadership and Director level roles across a range of services in both NZ and the UK including primary care, adult mental health, forensic, intellectual disability and tertiary student services.

While in the UK in 2005 she developed the Alternatives to Self-Harm programme and has presented her work internationally since 2012. Diane is a seasoned presenter and provides a range of workshop options with an emphasis on practical solutions for clinical staff. She has a specialist interest in working with people recovering from the effects of complex trauma.

Q Who Should Attend:

Counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other therapists and mental health workers who are engaged in general counselling practice currently but who want to gain more confidence working with complex trauma and dissociation. If you often have people who consult with you, but you are not sure how to frame a suitable approach, this webinar may also help you to pace the work effectively and safely.

NOTE - If your organisation is interested in having Diane present face-face as a private workshop to 15 - 40 of your team, please contact Faye Johnson for more information.

If you do not have sufficient numbers within your team, you could open the training up either to other Branch’s of your organisation or other region-based community agencies you work with. We have worked with many organisations this has worked well for - contact us for further information.

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