Level I: Part Two: Class 5 – Creatively and Effectively Treating Trauma: Strategies for Affect Regulation, Grounding, and Containment

May 1 Join Zoom 8:30 am; Training 8:45 am - 4:15 pm (EDT) , 6 CEUs Presenter: Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA Zoom, MD + Google Map

This class is only open to participants of the Level I program.

For information about the Level I Trauma Certificate Program, click here.

Workshop Description

In this 6-hour workshop we will experientially process a variety of techniques designed to help traumatized clients somatically and emotionally feel safe, grounded, and within the optimal window of arousal. We will explore the power of using breathwork, anchoring, aromatherapy, titration of emotions, pacing with scaling, and simple tapping from the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) paradigm.  In addition, participants will learn how to help clients turn inward and become more aware of somatic sensations that hold memories, emotions and needs through Gene Gendlin’s Focusing paradigm. We will discuss the importance of incorporating movement as a way to help clients metabolize trauma that is stored on the body. We will process simple strategies that allow for somatic resourcing, giving clients the reparative opportunity to use their bodies for grounding and soothing.

During the second half of the workshop, we will explore ways to use art therapeutically. Participants will learn how to prepare clients for art interventions, as well as the open-ended questions that should be used to process and de-code the meta-communication of clients’ work. Many examples of effective art prompts will be discussed including: the visual depiction of emotions; obstacles and supports for recovery; the “bridge” prompt for future goal setting; and mapping to create a visual roadmap of issues that have emerged in treatment. We will also process a series of flashback halting protocols that can help clients short-circuit dissociation and differentiate the past from the present.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe and Implement at least three breathwork strategies to address either hyper-arousal or hypo-arousal.
  2. Define and implement at least three strategies designed to target arousal modulation.
  3. Describe and implement at least three strategies rooted in somatic resourcing to help clients use their own bodies for grounding and self-soothing.
  4. Explain Gene Gendlin’s Focusing model and how to help clients turn inward to gain more awareness about the meta-communication of somatization.
  5. Describe and implement at least four art therapy techniques designed to help clients work through abuse memories, improve ego-strength, and self-esteem.
  6. Identify at least four open-ended questions to use when inviting clients to process and attach meaning-making to their artwork.
  7. Explain the technique of “mapping” and how it can be beneficial when clients or clinicians lose a sense of focus or direction in therapy.
  8. Describe and practice at least three strategies to help clients short-circuit dissociation and flashbacks.
  9. Explain the concept of “re-storying” and how it can help to make abreactions productive rather than destructive.

Agenda

8:45-10:00 am

  • Addressing hyper and hypo-arousal with breathwork
  • Tools for anchoring- video
  • Pacing and applying the brakes
  • EFT tapping and experiential

10:00-10:07 am                 Break

10:07-11:00 am

  • Trauma, PTSD and movement
  • Somatic Resourcing and Power Poses
  • Understanding the “Felt Sense”- experiential
  • Pairing Body Sensation with Art

11:00-11:08 am                   Break

11:08-12:00 pm

  • Containment strategies- clients’ artwork
  • Containing with Mandalas- experiential

12:00-1:00 pm                    Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm

  • Preparing clients for art interventions
  • The power of using art therapeutically
  • Processing open-ended questions for insights

2:00-2:08 pm                         Break

2:08-3:00 pm

  • Art prompts: depicting emotions; supports and obstacles; bridge for future goals;
  • Using Mapping in sessions- processing client’s work

3:00-3:07 pm                         Break

3:07-4:15 pm

  • Flashback halting protocols
  • Using “Re-storying” to heal traumatic event
Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C DAPA