Why You’ll Love this Course:
Many clients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience ambivalence about addressing traumas and trauma-related distress in therapy, despite the often-significant symptoms they experience. In addition, these clients often suffer from complex comorbidities and psychosocial stressors. This can make it tricky for clinicians to balance competing interests of meeting clients where they are and the ethical responsibility to challenge clients in service of healing. This course will provide clinicians with knowledge and techniques to navigate this balance effectively and to motivate and empower clients towards recovery from PTSD.
Course Description:
Evidence-based therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), can be very effective for individuals with PTSD, even those who have suffered from the disorder for decades. At the same time, many clients present to treatment with complex comorbidities and numerous psychosocial stressors. These factors can make it challenging to determine when to recommend trauma-focused therapy and how to skillfully initiate an effective course of trauma-focused PTSD treatment within the greater context of clients’ lives.
This course provides clinical guidance and an overview of the science about when it is appropriate to initiate trauma-focused PTSD treatment. In addition, this course describes how to navigate clinical decision-making about timing of PTSD treatment given the frequent and complex comorbidities with PTSD. This course also offers practical support on how to monitor and respond to other relevant clinical symptoms and challenges within the framework of trauma-focused PTSD treatment. Lastly, this course will identify clinician factors and behaviors that can help set clients up for success with PTSD treatment.
Who is this for:
This workshop is intended for licensed mental health providers who are working with a diverse range of clients in a variety of settings.
Instructional Level:
Beginner to Intermediate
Recommended Course Prerequisites:
None
Included:
“Readiness for Trauma-Focused PTSD Treatment: Additional Resources” Handout
Skill demonstration of clarifying client trauma-related treatment goals
Skill demonstration of collaborative treatment planning for trauma-related symptoms
Educational Objectives:
By the end of this course course, participants will be able to:
Assess at least four factors that indicate a client is ready to begin trauma-focused PTSD therapy.
Identify at least three circumstances that require preparatory work prior to PTSD therapy.
Identify at least four clinician-specific factors that can contribute to positive PTSD therapy outcomes.
Common Clinical FAQs Answered:
Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Co-founder
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D. is a co-founder and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of MindScience Collective. She is a licensed clinical psychologist (FL PY10014, DC PSY1001172) who is passionate about teaching, training, clinical work, entrepreneurship and the dissemination of evidence-based information to the masses.
In her private practice, Dr. Sacks specializes in the provision of evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatment for Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders, OCD-Spectrum Disorders and Anxiety Disorders, with particular expertise providing care to clinically complex clients. She has a sub-specialty working with journalists who are exposed to occupational trauma and has received training from the Global Center for Journalism and Trauma.
She is a National Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Trainer and Clinical Consultant. She is also an invited lecturer and clinical consultant for many organizations, including the National Center for PTSD. Dr. Sacks is the creator of the Trauma Therapist Training Course, an interactive cohort-based learning experience that enhances therapists’ competence and confidence for working with trauma-affected clients.
She is an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University and a voluntary Clinical Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California. She has proudly served as clinical and research supervisor at a number of academic and medical institutions. Dr. Sacks has authored numerous peer-reviewed research articles and contributed to a book entitled Cognitive Processing Therapy for Complex Cases.
Disclosure:
Dr. Sacks is a cofounder of MindScience Collective and will receive financial benefit from all course sales. She receives income as a Trainer and Consultant for Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Dr. Sacks also receives compensation as a lecturer for the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (NCPTSD).