Additional Information

• • Target audience

    • This course is intended for psychologists, counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and other mental health and related professionals. 

  • Instruction level - Introductory

  • Full description

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other forms of trauma are almost always present in the therapy room, whether or not clients recognize them as such. Although the original ACEs study fundamentally changed how clinicians understand childhood adversity, contemporary research demonstrates that trauma extends well beyond the original 10 ACEs and beyond the DSM's narrow definition of trauma. Childhood adversity, community violence, chronic stress, oppression-based trauma, economic precarity, discrimination, and other experiences that disrupt safety and attachment can profoundly shape psychological, neurobiological, relational, and physical functioning across the lifespan. These experiences often underlie presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, executive functioning difficulties, interpersonal problems, and chronic health conditions. 

This workshop provides clinicians with an updated, trauma-informed framework for understanding adversity and its lifelong effects. Participants will examine contemporary models of trauma and ACEs, explore how chronic stress and adversity shape the nervous system, attachment, and functioning, and learn to adopt greater etiological curiosity when conceptualizing client concerns. Practical guidance will be provided for integrating trauma-informed, attachment-informed, neurobiology-informed, and antioppressive principles into psychotherapy, with particular attention to promoting healing, fostering safety, and tailoring interventions to clients' readiness for change.

• • Presenter 

    • Melanie M. Wilcox, Ph.D., ABPP is a licensed psychologist and board-certified specialist in counseling psychology. She is a full-time academic and works part time in private practice. She has authored or coauthored over 45 publications, primarily focused on culturally responsive and anti-oppressive mental health care and training, social justice, and trauma. Her clinical specialties include trauma, addiction, assessment, and complex diagnosis. Dr. Wilcox has years of experience conducting both psychotherapy and psychological assessment both in person and (now) by telehealth, and is passionate about trauma-informed care.
      
      

  • Learning objectives

    • After completing this workshop, participants will be able to:

      • Describe contemporary conceptualizations of adverse childhood experiences and trauma, including expanded ACE models and oppression-based trauma.

      • Explain how chronic adversity influences psychological, neurobiological, relational, and physical functioning across the lifespan.

      • Apply trauma-informed, neurobiology-informed, attachment-informed, and anti-oppressive principles to case conceptualization and psychotherapy.

      • Identify intervention strategies that promote healing by matching treatment approaches to clients' trauma histories, developmental needs, and readiness for change.

  • Agenda / structure

    • • Hour 1: Understanding Trauma Beyond the DSM (60 mins)

        • Trauma and the DSM

        • ACEs: Original model and its evolution

        • Community adversity

        • Oppression-based trauma

        • Chronic societal stressors

      • Hour 2: How Trauma Shapes Functioning (60 mins)

        • Trauma and the developing nervous system

        • Chronic sympathetic nervous system activation

        • HPA-axis dysregulation

        • Trauma and executive functioning

        •  Attachment disruptions

        • `Psychological and Physical Health Consequences

        • `Dose-response relationship between adversity and health; protective factors

      • Hour 3: Trauma-Informed Conceptualization (60 mins)

        • From symptom-focus to etiological curiosity

        • Integrating a trauma-informed lens

        • Recognizing multiple levels of influence (ecological model)

        • Integrating attachment, neurobiology, and environmental context into formulation

      • Hour 4: Facilitating Healing (60 mins)

        • Establishing safety and attunement

        • Stages of change and readiness for trauma work

        • Matching treatment targets to client readiness

        • The role of grief

        • Psychoeducation regarding trauma and the nervous system

        • Self-compassion and reducing shame

        • Trauma-informed, attachment-informed, and neurobiology-informed interventions
          
          

  • CE information

    • • This is a live program. Full attendance is required to receive a certificate of completion. Certificates of completion will be issued following verified attendance.

      • This program has been submitted for approval for CE by the Georgia Psychological Association.  

        • Acceptance of continuing education credit is determined by individual licensing boards. 

          • The Georgia State Board of Examiners of Psychologists accepts GPA-approved CEs for license renewal under Area III for renewal of their licensees. For information on the board requirements in other states, please consult your state licensing rules.

          • The Georgia Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage & Family Therapists accepts GPA-approved CEs for license renewal as related hours for renewal of their licensees (Rule 135-9-.01(2)(f)(1)).  For information on the board requirements in other states, please consult your state licensing rules.  

  • Pricing & accessibility notes

    • Standard Price - $90

    • For more information on equity pricing for accessibility, please read the StorieTree Pricing & Equity Policy

    • For more information on StorieTree's ongoing accessibility efforts, please visit our Accessibility page.  

  • Cancellation/refunds - please see the StorieTree Attendance, Participation & Refunds Policy

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