Frank Anderson – Treating Trauma Clients at the Edge: How Brain Science Can Inform Interventions

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Summary

• Frank Anderson – Treating Trauma Clients at the Edge: How Brain Science Can Inform InterventionsDescriptionTherapists often get shaken and lose confidence in their approach when a client’s trauma response edges into seemingly uncontrollable extremes of rage, panic, or suicidal desperation.

• This workshop provides an essential road map for treating difficult trauma cases through a detailed exploration of the neurobiological processes of hyperarousal and parasympathetic withdrawal underlying extreme symptoms.

• You’ll discover:How to stay clear and calm while working with clients in extreme statesWhen it’s necessary to be the “auxiliary brain” for your clientWhen to slow things down and hand over control vs.

• when you need to be bigger than the extreme symptomWhen to work from the top-down and when to work from the bottom-upHandouts/BrochureSlides – Treating Trauma Clients at the Edge: How Brain Science Can Inform Interventions (0.71 MB) 11 Pages Available after PurchaseOutlineExperiential Treatments – Integrating neuroscience and psychotherapy Necessity of utilizing physical, emotional and relationship aspects in therapeutic interventionProblems with traditional phase oriented treatment Negative evaluation of symptoms – ignoring their protective functionInternal Family Systems Understanding symptom presentation as positive efforts pushed to extremesWelcoming and integrating all parts of an individualIdentifying intent of symptomology, importance of avoiding shamingRedefining trauma related diagnoses and integrating overactive protective mechanisms Disorganized attachmentBorderline Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity DisorderTherapist factors – vulnerabilities Impact of therapist parts acting as separately as the clients we work withResponding effectively to personal triggersSymptoms of post trauma Hyperarousal, hyperarousal, psychic woundsImportance of obtaining permission before addressing psychic woundsExperiential exercise – self-awareness, response to triggersMind-brain relationships Neuroplasticity, neural integrationNeural networks associated with traumaImplicit nature of trauma memoriesAutonomic nervous system Role of cortisolSympathetic hyper-arousalCharacteristics of extreme symptom activation and mixed statesTherapeutic responses Choosing compassion or empathic responsesProviding auxiliary cognitionStrategies to avoid contributing to hyperarousalTop down strategies to separate or unblendCase presentation – example of permission seeking, direct access and unblendingPolyvagal Theory Dorsal and ventral branchesActivating strategies, responding to hypo-arousal, bluntingSpeakerFrank Anderson, MDFrank Anderson, MD, completed his residency and was a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

• He is both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist.