Effective Treatment of PTSD
Trauma victims are especially challenging clients for therapists. Their traumas are the result of many different situations, such as accidents, sexual abuse, and physical assault. Many health care professionals are at a loss about how to best treat them. Often, clients are afraid of re-victimization and there is also a high dropout rate with traditional prolonged exposure treatments. When trauma goes untreated, it can develop into PTSD and disrupt the individual's relationships with family, friends, and employers. Correct assessment and treatment of PTSD is imperative to ensure the patient is able to recover from the loss and return to a functional state.

In this one-day seminar, Dr. Small introduces participants to the current, empirically-based treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Attendees learn the core components of PTSD and discuss to the cognitive-behavioral model of treatment. Finally, they are provided with an empirically-based treatment protocol shown to be effective in treating this population. Through lecture material, instructional videos, case examples, and a review of outcome research data, workshop participants gain valuable tools to assist in the treatment of this population.

Course Content

INTRODUCTION TO TRAUMA AND PTSD

u          Definitions (DSM-5IV)

u          Etiology and prevalence (DSM-5IV)

u          The importance of accurate diagnosis

u          Current research on PTSD

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL UNDERSTANDING OF PTSD

u          Basic CBT model

u          Why PTSD develops

u          Who is most at risk for developing PTSD?

WHAT WORKS: EMPIRICALLY-BASED TREATMENTS

u          EMDR

u          Prolonged Exposure

u          Cognitive restructuring

u          Review of outcome studies

u          Selecting the best treatment for each individual

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES

u          Cognitive therapy

u          Basic theories and methods

u          Negative cognitive triad

u          Automatic thoughts

u          Cognitive errors

u          Core beliefs/schemas

u          Structure of sessions

u          Cognitive techniques

u          Behavioral techniques

TREATMENT GUIDELINES

u          Session-by-session treatment protocol

u          Psychoeducation

u          Suggestions for dealing with flashbacks

u          Affect regulation

u          Dealing with avoidance

u          Dealing with hyperarousal and exaggerated startle response

u          Encountering guilt

u          The fear of re-victimization

u          Development of coping skills

u          The role of spirituality in the healing process

u          Case examples: video vignettes

COPING WITH COMORBID DISORDERS

u          Depression

u          Eating disorders

u          Personality disorders: especially Borderline Personality Disorder

u          Substance abuse

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS WHEN COUNSELING CHILDREN

u          Effect on child's development

u          Attachment disorders

u          Current research on treating children

u          Therapeutic interventions

OTHER ISSUES

u          Suicidal and parasuicidal

u          Dissociative symptoms

u          Impact on relationships

u          Tips to help family members cope

u          Preventing the manifestation of PTSD

u          Therapist self-care