Neurobiology of Trauma – SOR (Free)

Relationship to Feeling Gives Rise to Self: Physical and psychological trauma can become chronically painful and disruptive when they are experienced in the context of interpersonal isolation, dismissal, minimization, and compromised attunement (described here as a combination of empathy and compassion-oriented engagement). Our nervous system is inclusive of a set of structures that bring emotional information into a sense of feeling when the information is determined to be salient to our survival. At a young age, we learn to relate to this information largely through how it is modeled for us by those we rely on for survival, e.g. primary caregivers, family, peers, and community. When a relationship to this important emotional information is not adequately modeled or is continuously met with contention, dismissal, and resistance, we easily divorce ourselves from attending to the information helpfully. When habituated to this behavior, we can experience a myriad of seemingly disconnected difficulties, including chronic hopelessness, dissociation, impairing anxiety, obsession, compulsion, avoidance, chronic and seemingly uncontrollable mood disturbances, and many more. This training aims to disseminate information on research and practices that may guide professionals as they support relational growth or regrowth to felt emotional experience. The training also aims to highlight how these approaches can greatly support the restoration of functional capacity. Experiential exercises are a component of this training. This online training requires a working camera and microphone to attend, there will be a noon-1pm lunch break, MST, both days. (12 CEUs)