Treating complex traumatic stress disorders in children and adolescents

Repeated traumatic experiences within the family and/or community during critical early years leave children with symptoms of traumatic stress, interruptions in their emotional and social development, and disorganized attachment patterns. As a result, they are high risk for developing behavioral reactivity, aggression, impulsivity, depression, anxiety, suicidality, and self-harm. Lecture, handouts and videos will provide participants with steps to a practical, integrative EMDR and family therapy approach to helping children and adolescents with complex traumatic stress disorders. Participants will be provided family therapy methods for shifting parents to attune and co-regulate through the trauma lens and build capacity to self-reflect along with the child. Participants will be provided EMDR Attachment Resource Development (ARD) methods to deepen the child's sense of connection and trust with parents as well as gentle ways to assist children with complex traumatic stress disorders during EMDR reprocessing of traumatic events and present triggers.

Conference

English

Debra Wesselmann

Wesselmann, D. (2022, September). Treating complex traumatic stress disorders in children and adolescents. Presentation at the 27th EMDR International Association Virtual Conference