Somatic Therapies in Trauma Recovery - Arielle Schwartz

An emergence of respect for somatic psychology has helped therapists and clients understand the impact of traumatic events on the body. The body has been said to “keep the score” (van der Kolk, 2015) and “bear the burden” (Scaer, 2014) of trauma. As a result, the therapeutic community is increasingly recognizing that stressful and traumatic events need to be processed with embodied awareness, movement, and breath. Within psychotherapy, clients often remain disconnected from the body unless the therapist has the training and skills to integrate embodied awareness and movement into treatment. The interventions in this experiential presentation aim to enhance the embodiment of the therapist as a foundation for somatic interventions you can bring into your work with others.

Insights from the Cave: A Teen’s Path of Trauma and Neurodiversity - Siobhan Wilson

"In this workshop, Siobhan Wilson, a 15-year-old youth advocate with lived experience of Generalised Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, depression and Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NVLD), shares valuable insights into the strategies that supported her at different stages of her development, as well as those that proved unhelpful. Structured across four developmental stages: infancy (0 - 2); early childhood (2 - 5); middle childhood (5 - 10) and adolescence (10 - 15), this workshop explores how her experiences and needs evolved over time. Siobhan’s reflections provide an honest perspective, offering participants ideas to consider when supporting children facing similar challenges. In addition to practical strategies, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the complex neurodiverse world of NVLD, a condition that overlaps with aspects of ASD and ADHD while presenting unique deficits in visual-spatial awareness and understanding abstract concepts. While these insights are drawn from Siobhan’s lived experience and may not suit every child, they can guide professionals and caregivers in tailoring their approaches to traumatised and neurodiverse children. By the end of the session, participants will walk away with: •Practical strategies to better support children through various developmental stages. •Greater awareness of the challenges faced by children with NVLD and other types of neurodiversity and the need for multidisciplinary approaches. •Inspiration and tools to foster resilience, connection, and healing in children navigating trauma and neurodiversity. This workshop invites reflection, understanding, and action, empowering participants to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the children they support."

When the wounds of one generation remain unresolved, they can be passed on as a legacy. In this engaging and experiential presentation, you will be introduced to an integrative, mind-body approach to working with collective and generational wounds. We will discuss intergenerational traumas in the context of developmental attachment wounds as well as the collective, historical contexts that held within the psyche and somatic experience. You will gain tools to unwind the impact of these events and discover sources of ancestral resilience as resources within therapy.

This lecture will describe the clinical and neurobiological manifestations of the brain-body disconnect after trauma and how to overcome this rift using an integrative approach, consisting of bottom-up and top-down therapeutic techniques. Case examples and practical skills will be discussed throughout the lecture.

This lecture will describe the clinical and neurobiological manifestations of the brain-body disconnect after trauma and how to overcome this rift using an integrative approach, consisting of bottom-up and top-down therapeutic techniques. Case examples and practical skills will be discussed throughout the lecture.

Dissociation is often “hidden in plain sight,” with its diverse and confusing presentations frequently leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment. Many highly dissociative clients report hearing voices, often resulting in a misdiagnosis of psychosis, while others are misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or even malingering. These missteps can demoralize clients and clinicians alike. Adding to the complexity, record numbers of youth are now self-diagnosing with “dissociative identity disorder” after exposure to social media portrayals. Clinicians face the difficult task of distinguishing genuine dissociative disorders from malingered, factitious, imitative, or mixed presentations. In this interactive master class, Dr. Bethany Brand will provide the evidence-based training clinicians urgently need to differentiate trauma-related dissociation from other disorders and challenges. Attendees will learn how to use key assessment tools, explore critical diagnostic distinctions, and navigate therapeutic approaches to discussing assessment results with clients—including those whose self-diagnosis isn’t confirmed by clinical evaluation. Fictionalized case studies will illustrate practical strategies for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning, equipping you to untangle the complexities of dissociation and provide more effective, compassionate care.