Recognizing and Responding to the Impact of Childhood Trauma

This workshop will give participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the impact of trauma on the mind, body and soul. Included in this workshop is a practical overview of basic brain function and impact of trauma on the brain’s organization, function and structure. 

Explore struggles various child/family serving helpers may encounter and recognizing and responding to children and families effected by trauma. The workshop will incorporate information from various intervention strategies and current research in the field of trauma and neuroscience. Workshop will provide ideas and suggestions, activities and methods to utilize with children/youth/families impacted by trauma.

Knowledge is power - this workshop provides the opportunity for participants to develop a greater understanding of how trauma impacts all aspects of life and lends explanation as to why many children and families we strive to help do the things they do and are compelled to repeat patterns of unhealthy behavior.

Training content and learning objectives:

• Participants will understand basic brain function and structure.
• Participants will understand the impact of trauma on brain function and structure with emphasis on the profound impact on organization of the brain and the profound impact related to self-regulation.
• Participants will develop an understanding of trauma responses such as hypervigilance and disassociation and identify intervention strategies.
• Participants will develop on understanding of how learning and memory are state dependent and will develop an understanding of the arousal continuum thereby impacting how trauma memories are stored and retrieved.
• Participants will explore the importance of physical activity, movement, music, art, animals and human relational connection in healing and integration/mastery of trauma.
• Participants will learn how to use a trauma informed lens to help guide interventions and the necessity for referral and to drive understanding and integration and trauma responses.

This workshop will incorporate intermediate content. There is content related to research and neuroscience however it is presented in an understandable and practical manner that makes the content accessible to various professions and purposes.