TraumAddiction: Treating Addicted Survivors of Trauma

🌟 TraumAddiction: Treating Addicted Survivors of Trauma 🌟

Course Headline: SAFETY AND STABILIZATION FOR THE ADDICTED SURVIVOR OF TRAUMA

"Not everyone who is traumatized becomes addicted but everyone who is addicted has been traumatized – Gabor Maté" This profound statement sets the tone for our comprehensive course that delves into the complex relationship between trauma and addiction.

Course Description:

This transformative online course is designed to equip clinicians, addiction professionals, and recovering addicts with a deep understanding of how addressing trauma is critical for sustained recovery from addiction. Through a cutting-edge neuro-traumatic-polyvagal approach, we explore the intersection of these two profound experiences that often overlap in the lives of those struggling with addiction.

Key Topics Include:

• The biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to addiction.
• A closer look at attachment issues and their impact on addiction.
• Understanding what causes traumatic stress and its symptoms.
• A four-stage treatment model specifically designed for co-occurring trauma and addiction.

Foundational Issues in Addictions-Informed Psychotherapy:

• Addiction Vs. Substance Use Disorder vs. Chemical Dependence: Understanding the nuances between these terms and their implications in treatment.
• Neurobiology of Addiction: Diving into the brain science behind addiction, including cravings and relapse triggers.
• Causes of Addiction (BioPsychosocial): A holistic perspective on what drives addiction.
• Attachment issues: How early life experiences and attachment patterns can shape one's vulnerability to addiction later in life.

Traumatic Stress:

• What Causes Trauma?: Identifying the various forms of trauma and their origins.
• Symptoms of PTS(D): Recognizing the signs and symptoms that may indicate a traumatic stress response.

EMPOWERMENT & RESILIENCE TREATMENT STRUCTURE: Four-Stage Behavioral Treatment Model for Co-Occurring Traumatic Stress and Addiction

This evidence-based treatment model is tailored to address the complex needs of individuals with co-occurring trauma and addiction. The four stages are designed to progress from preparation and relationship building to posttraumatic growth and resilience.

1. Preparation & Relationship

• Assessment: A thorough evaluation of the individual's specific needs and history.
• Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT): Tailoring the treatment based on client feedback to enhance engagement and effectiveness.

2. Skills Development & Cognitive Restructuring

• Tools for Hope/ANS: Techniques to regulate the autonomic nervous system.
• Self-Regulation: Strategies to help individuals manage their emotional and physiological responses.
• Graphic Time-Line/Narrative: A method to externalize the trauma and provide a clear narrative of one's experiences.
• Shame > Self-Compassion: Tools to shift from self-loathing to self-compassion and empathy.
• Additional Stabilization & Containment: Techniques for further stabilization when needed.

3. Desensitization & Integration

• In vivo Exposure: Gradual and controlled exposure to feared situations in real life.
• Forward-Facing® Trauma Therapy: A unique therapeutic approach that empowers survivors by facing trauma without dissociation or avoidance.
• Imaginal Exposure (1+ year of recovery): Imaginal reliving of traumatic events, suitable for individuals with a stable recovery foundation.

4. Posttraumatic Growth & Resilience

• Elements of PTG: Fostering positive changes that often arise from struggling with trauma.
• Continuance of IVE/FFTT/Capacity-Building: Ongoing use of effective techniques learned in previous stages to solidify recovery.
• Reconnection: Helping individuals reconnect with their values, relationships, and the world around them.
• Optimization: Empowering individuals to optimize their lives post-trauma, focusing on personal growth and fulfillment.

Join us on this journey to understand and effectively treat trauma-informed addiction. This course is a beacon of hope for those affected by both trauma and addiction, offering a pathway to healing, recovery, and resilience. 🚀💪🤝💪