Complex-PTSD: Perspective of a Clinician with Lived Experience
About the event
While C-PTSD as a presentation is widespread, there
is no DSM-5 C-PTSD classification and most clinicians are not trained to
recognise or treat it. As a result, C-PTSD survivors are generally not
diagnosed at all or misdiagnosed with the symptoms of their condition
(depression, anxiety, substance or process addictions, relationship problems,
eating disorders, personality disorders etc.). The outcome is unnecessary
suffering and opportunity for healing lost as C-PTSD survivors spend a lifetime
treating surface symptoms with the underpinning aetiology left unaddressed.
Even when C-PTSD is identified, treatment is often inappropriate, leading at
best to minimal progress and at worst to further traumatisation.
The aim of this interactive webinar, based on
research and the facilitator’s clinical and personal experience of recovery, is
to unpack and differentiate the relational trauma of Complex-PTSD from
single-event trauma (i.e. PTSD) and help clinicians to understand its unique
aetiology, manifestations and appropriate treatment so that their clients’
recovery is supported. Areas covered include:
- Case study of C-PTSD: the facilitator’s recovery
trajectory
- Importance of appropriate diagnosis and
psychoeducation
- Adverse Childhood Experiences test
- Co-dependent and Persecutor adaptations
- Parentification and its impact
- Important traits and symptoms not normally
associated with C-PTSD
- Things to watch out for when treating C-PTSD
survivors
- Treatment modalities suited for different stages
of the recovery process
- Contraindicated treatment modalities and
approaches
- Important non-clinical supports
- Recommended reading and resources
About the facilitator
Michael is an addiction and interpersonal process
group therapist as well as a psycho-education facilitator and clinical
educator. His clinical background includes working for Royal North Shore
Hospital Herbert Street Clinic and Northside Clinic as an addiction therapist,
as well as teaching trauma-informed care and counselling skills at Diploma and
Master level.
Michael is a member of Psychotherapists and
Counsellors Federation of Australia, and his qualifications include Master of
Adult Education (HR Development), Master of Ethics and Legal Studies (Managing
Change) and Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has completed training
in Gestalt and Psychodynamic counselling skills, among others.
Michael is a childhood trauma survivor and a
recovering co-dependent who has completed extensive course of his own 1:1 and
group psychotherapy. He is an active member of the Adult Children of Alcoholics
& Dysfunctional Families 12-step fellowship and has a deep commitment to
raising awareness of, and facilitating recovery from, Complex-PTSD. Michael has
30 years of Complex-PTSD recovery experience, which has included various
wrong-turns as well as breakthroughs, and is uniquely placed to speak on the
topic of Complex-PTSD.
This course counts towards 2 hours of category A CPD.
Click here to register.