Thank you to all who attended our 14th Annual Conference on April 7, 2018 at UMass and special thanks to Dr. Ruth Lanius for flying in from London, Canada and sharing her neurobiology research and insights into trauma and EMDR! See you in the Fall!
Morning Workshops
Choose One (10:45 am-12:15 pm):
1. “Intensive Trauma-Focused Therapy” – Ricky Greenwald, PsyD
2. “When There are No Words Yet: Using EMDR to Heal Preverbal Trauma,” -– Jason Rose-Langston, LMHC
3. “Self Compassion as a Key to Healing Trauma” -– Nancy Simons, LMHC
4. “A User’s Guide to the Feeling State Addiction Protocol” – Ross Hackerson, LMFT
Afternoon Workshops
Choose one 180-Minute Workshop (1:45-5:00 pm):
5. “A Review of the Basic EMDR Model, Mechanisms and Procedures” – George Abbott, PhD
6. “Resonant Cognitive Interweaves: From the Gestalt Empty Chair to the Healing Power of Music & Lyrics” – Don DeGraffenried, LICSW
7. “EMDR and Ego States Therapy for Treatment of Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury“ – Anna Kogan, LICSW
8. “The I-Gaze Interweave for Attachment Repair in EMDR Therapy” – Barry Litt, MFT
9.“EMDR Toolbox for Medical Conditions” – Amanda Roberts, PhD, MA
Proceeds to benefit non-profit EMDR therapy training and research efforts. This workshop is held in facilities compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact Joanna Vaughn ([email protected]) if special accommodations are required.
Completion of an EMDRIA approved basic EMDR training is required for registration.
6 Continuing Education Credits for EMDRIA, Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychologists, and Social Workers are pending approval. This program is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Psychological Association (MPA). MPA is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor Continuing Education (CE) for psychologists. MPA maintains responsibility for the program and its content.
Dorothy Carlo Memorial Scholarship
for Clinicians of Color
Dorothy Carlo, the wife of George Abbott, Ph.D., a WMass EMDRIA member, WMass EMDRIA conference speaker, and EMDR Senior Teacher, passed away in December of 2014. Marilyn Luber, Ph.D., author and EMDR clinician from Philadelphia, made a donation to WMass EMDRIA in Dorothy’s memory. Another local EMDR clinician matched this donation, establishing this scholarship. You, our registrants, continue this funding through your generous donations at time of registration, offering full-funding to 2 clinicians of color to attend the 14th Annual Conference on April 7, 2018. Please apply by 3/1/18 for use of these funds if you are EMDR trained and identify as a clinician of color. See registration for application details.
Program Descriptions
Morning Workshops (10:45 – 12:15 pm):
1. “Intensive Trauma-Focused Therapy” – Ricky Greenwald, PsyD
In recognition that memory reconsolidation does not require a slow, incremental approach (Ecker, Ticic, & Hully, 2012), we, and a growing number of trauma-oriented therapists, now offer therapy in an intensive format typically involving many hours per day on consecutive days. Advantages of intensive therapy include treatment efficiency, rapidity of results, reduced risk of treatment-related destabilization, reduced risk of treatment disruption, and reduced total treatment cost (Greenwald et al, 2017). This workshop will outline the potential benefits and pitfalls of intensive trauma-focused therapy, review the research, and explain, in detail, how to do it. The focus is not on a specific intervention such as EMDR, and no modifications of Phases 3-6 of the EMDR protocol are proposed. Rather, the focus is on how to sequence the various types of interventions that are normally done over the course of treatment, how to manage certain types of clinical issues, and how to manage the business aspect.
2. “When There are No Words Yet: Using EMDR to Heal Preverbal Trauma,” -– Jason Rose-Langston, LMHC
When trauma occurs before the acquisition of language in early childhood, there is no language to give context to the distress and post traumatic distress that can remain for a lifetime. Therefore traditional EMDR, which relies on language, cannot give us the safe access needed to reprocess these memories. By teaching clients a technique I call the 5 Senses Theater, we can create metaphoric context for this distress and therefore apply EMDR treatment in a safe, controllable, and manageable way for clients to reprocess preverbal trauma. We will discuss some theory of Preverbal Trauma, how it manifests, and its neurological impact on development, personality, and attachment. Participants will learn the 5 Senses Theater script, practice it in dyads, and discuss its use with the EMDR standard Protocol. Case examples from my own EMDR practice will be presented, with Q and A discussion following.
3. “Self Compassion as a Key to Healing Trauma” -– Nancy Simons, LMHC
People with complex trauma histories often have impaired attachment, and, according to Porges Polyvagal Theory, an even greater difficulty accessing their care circuitry. When working with clients to process traumas, the capacity to access self-compassion activates the care circuitry, repairs attachment wounds, and thus, greatly facilitates the healing from traumatic events. Self-compassion facilitates the process of healing from trauma. In this workshop participants will review the literature on the science of self-compassion and will be introduced to a protocol on the development of self-compassion. The goal of the practicum is to demonstrate the assessment of a self compassion instrument designed by Kristen Neff, the lead researcher on Self Compassion and to introduce the participants to a Guided Imagery Protocol that facilitates the development of self compassion. Participants will work in pairs and will have an opportunity to administer the assessment tool and practice using a script of the Self Compassion Imagery Protocol.
4. “A User’s Guide to the Feeling State Addiction Protocol”
The Feeling State Addiction Protocol (FSAP), created by Robert Miller, PhD is used to break the link between a self-limiting / self-destructive behavior (co-dependence, addiction, hoarding, eating disorders, physical health problems, etc.) and a positive, embedded Feeling State containing Survival Assured Feelings. These behaviors do not fit our ‘trauma based, negative feelings, dysfunctional memories’ Standard Protocol approach. They can often be more easily and rapidly resolved with the FSAP protocol. This workshop, after a quick review of the differences between the Standard Protocol and the FSAP protocol, focuses on the dynamics of the FSAP and the steps to finding the embedded feeling state and breaking the link between the behavior and the embedded Positive feeling state. A review of the processes for eliciting feeling states is included. Case histories using the protocol with codependency, physical problems (seizures) and an eating disorder are discussed as demonstrations as time allows.
3-hour Afternoon Workshop (1:45-5:00 pm):
5. “A Review of the Basic EMDR Model, Mechanisms and Procedures” – George Abbott, PhD
The workshop will consist of a review of the 8-phases of standard EMDR procedures, the Adaptive Information Processing Model, and the supposed mechanisms of EMDR re-processing, “transmutation” and “reconsolidation” of memory. A live demonstration of “extended resourcing” will be included. Various methods for resolving blocks will be described. Live and post-event eMail-based Q & A. will be available. The workshop is intended for clinicians who trained some time ago and wish to refresh their understanding to avoid “model drift” and for those who have trained in but have not used EMDR procedures for some time.
6. “Resonant Cognitive Interweaves: From the Gestalt Empty Chair to the Healing Power of Music & Lyrics” – Don DeGraffenried, LICSW
This workshop will provide a brief review of the concept of the cognitive interweave drawing from the new Part II EMDR Therapy Manual, and when it can be helpful to use one or more interweaves with your client. In addition, the workshop will explore resonance, biofields and how these transpersonal ways of experiencing the client work will shape and enable the discovery of uniquely individualized cognitive interweaves. Participants will be encouraged to engage their personal creativity, in developing creative cognitive interweaves for current clients. The gestalt empty chair will be used to demonstrate and bring to life the cognitive interweave. Selected music will be played to demonstrate ways that deGraffenried helps clients make deeper and more resonant connections within the interweaves.
7. “EMDR and Ego States Therapy for Treatment of Suicidal Ideation and Self-Injury “ – Anna Kogan, LICSW
This workshop will help clinicians develop greater understanding of suicidality and build confidence in working with suicidal clients. EMDR therapy can be successfully used to help client reprocess any material, related to suicidal ideation as well as past attempts or urges. Particular attention will be paid to the issue of increasing window of tolerance for both suicidal client and his/her clinician as an integral part of preparation phase. In addition, participants will have a clearer understanding of assessing client’s current risk, as well as readiness for EMDR Preparation and Reprocessing. Target and protocols selection will be reviewed to address a range of possible ways of working with thoughts and feelings, related to suicide.
8. “The I-Gaze Interweave for Attachment Repair in EMDR Therapy” – Barry Litt, MFT
Approximately 40% of the general population suffers from an insecure attachment style from infancy and are disproportionately represented in the psychotherapy population. This four-part training begins with the Domains of Self model––a heuristic for rapid assessment to differentiate attachment trauma from relational or shock traumas. The second part describes the zone of optimal arousal, detailing a model that guides the therapist to assessing autonomic and psychological stability in phase 4 and how to remedy over-arousal. In part three, a lecture with live demonstration will describe somatic interweaves to be used in phase four to help client’s remain within the window of tolerance for safe and effective processing. The workshop concludes with the I-Gaze interweave and its theoretical and practical aspects. It adapts phase 4 (desensitization) to the challenges of insecure attachment by utilizing a unique interweave designed to intensify the right brain-to-right brain communication prerequisite to facilitate earned security.
9.“EMDR Toolbox for Medical Conditions” – Amanda Roberts, PhD, MA
Addressing medical conditions and their impact is essential for all EMDR clinicians and is associated with good treatment outcomes. An examination of our traumatizing medical system, along with an examination of the implications of the ACE study is featured. The “Self-Care Protocol, SCP” is introduced. Clinicians will be equipped with the “EMDR Tool box for Medical conditions, MTB” including essential skills to work with a medical population. Workshop includes a one-hour practicum, videos, case examples, and handouts.
Biographies
George Abbott, PhD is a Senior Trainer for Trauma Recovery / HAP. He is on the clinical faculty of the EMDR Institute, and he is an EMDRIA-approved Consultant. He founded and chaired the Association for the Advancement of Skill in Clinical Hypnosis for 20 years. He is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Northampton, MA. He provides individual and group consultation, live and via Skype. He specializes in the treatment of patients with dissociative disorders.
Donald F. deGraffenried, LCSW is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and a Senior Trainer for both Part I and Part I EMDR Therapy for Trauma Recovery/EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs. He is also the Coordinator for the Greater New Haven Trauma Recovery Network (GNH TRN). The GNH TRN provides time limited pro bono EMDR therapy for crime victims who have been referred by the Officer/Victim Advocate at the New Haven Police Department.
Ricky Greenwald, PsyD,is the founder and executive director of the Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute, and a fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Greenwald is an EMDR pioneer, the author of numerous professional articles and several books, and the developer of Trauma Institute’s intensive therapy model.
Ross W. Hackerson, LMFT is an approved EMDR Consultant with a private practice in Northampton, MA. He practices Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples, EMDR with dissociative disorders, recent trauma, and self-limiting / destructive behaviors. He Consults in EMDR and conducts intensives with individuals and couples, and teaches Hold Me Tight couples workshops.
Anna Kogan, LICSW grew up in Moscow, Russia. She received MSW at Smith College School for Social work in 2005. She specializes in working with trauma and dissociation and has been practicing EMDR since 2009. EMDRIA approved consultant since 2013, Anna has been offering consultations and trainings in EMDR and Ego-States therapy to American and Russian EMDR clinicians. Anna has a private practice in Amherst, MA and runs a monthly EMDR consultation group.
Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry is the director of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research unit at the University of Western Ontario. She established the Traumatic Stress Service and the Traumatic Stress Service Workplace Program, services that specialize in the treatment and research of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related comorbid disorders. She currently holds the Harris-Woodman Chair in Mind-Body Medicine at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. Her research interests focus on studying the neurobiology of PTSD and treatment outcome research examining various pharmacological and psychotherapeutic methods. She has authored more than 100 published papers and chapters in the field of traumatic stress and is currently funded by several federal funding agencies. She regularly lectures on the topic of PTSD nationally and internationally. She has recently published a book ‘Healing the traumatized self: consciousness, neuroscience, treatment’ with Paul Frewen.
Barry Litt, MFT is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and a member and frequent presenter for EMDRIA and ISSTD. He has authored three chapters in as many books on the integration of EMDR into conjoint therapy, and has presented numerous workshops at EMDR conferences and two-day workshops to international audiences.
Dr. Amanda Roberts maintains a private practice in Amherst Massachusetts and specializes in Health Psychology. Dr. Roberts has been in the mental health field 34 years. Educated at Harvard University, UC Berkeley, Stanford and the University Of Massachusetts Medical School she has a Masters in Family Therapy and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She has worked in several major medical centers in the USA in bariatrics, cancer, cardiology, maternity, diabetes and pain. She is a consultant for HAP and EMDRIA and an RTEP/GTEP trainer nationally and internationally. She leads the local Western Massachusetts TRN and is the consultant to the Trauma Response Network, UK.
Jason Rose-Langston’s, LICSW private practice specialties include trauma, adolescents, and gender therapy. He was the longest serving member of the WMass EMDRIA Steering Committee from 2007 to 2017. He has practiced EMDR therapy since 2005 and has been EMDR Consultant since 2012 offering individual and group consultation. He also runs seminars, groups, and CEU workshops for clinicians on EMDR, trauma theory and practice, general mental health, and the art of self-care.
Nancy Simons, LMHC is an EMDR Consultant and Trainer in Training with EMDR Consulting. She has a private practice in Amherst, MA and has a specialty in working with children and adolescents.
Registration is closed.
