Trauma Treatment for Children

Presenter: Camea Peca PHD (C)

Trauma Treatment for Children: Calming the Dragon, Using the Body to Improve Care is an experiential training to gain working knowledge of interoception and body-based awareness and self-regulation. Learn how to use the body to increase effective trauma treatment.

Clinicians will learn about the bottom up, body based self-regulation and how trauma can affect different aspects of body function. Practitioners will learn how to understand trauma from a somatic and body-based perspective. Parallels will also be drawn between how body-based awareness relates to attachment and relationships. Practitioners will learn how parenting and clinical practice can be improved by greater body-based awareness and how these skills can be transferred to clients.

Participants will gain knowledge regarding current research, theories, empirically supported treatment modalities and techniques, assessments, that minimize resistance and increase effectiveness. Clinicians will also learn about the unique challenges with working with body-based trauma and development strategies specific to relational, sexual, physical and complex trauma.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be equipped to understand, identify, assess and develop interoceptive and body-based awareness in themselves and clients who have experienced trauma.

Course Learning Goals/Objectives

• Define Interoceptive awareness and related terminology

• Differentiate the differences and similarities between somatic awareness, interoceptive awareness and other body-based awareness.

• Discuss the current links between interoceptive awareness, stress, anxiety, and mental health.

• Connections will be made between models including attachment, somatic/interoceptive awareness, polyvagal theory and interpersonal neurobiology.

Participants will learn about the current tools and Assessments used to assess the level of somatic/interoceptive awareness.

• Understand the different tools that are currently being used a researched to assess.

• Discuss the differences between traditional body-based tools and written measures.

• Practice the use of the different tools and understand administration.

Participants will acquire knowledge of how trauma effects the body.

• Explain the physical effects of trauma on the body.

• Differentiate how different kinds of trauma may have similar and different effects on the body.

• Explain the implications of body-based trauma on attachment and relationships.

Participants will learn how about the current tools and interventions designed to increase interoceptive and somatic awareness.

• Identify the different interdisciplinary approaches currently in use.

• Learn tools from each discipline using experiential practice.

• Explain how practitioners can develop their own practice and the impact modelling effect on their clients.

Participants will learn about body based self-regulation.

• Explain the difference between body-based awareness and self-regulation.

• Understand the difference between top-down and bottom-up approaches to self-regulation.

• Learn how to use physiological self-regulation techniques in practice.

This course is not available for NBCC credit.

Who this course is for:

• Mental health, teachers, probation, courts, child-protective agencies, foster parents, clergy