Would you like to check how our e-learning courses work? Here is a sample course for you. It will show you how our e-learning courses are structured and what comes with!

Dissociation is a highly adaptive survival strategy, especially in the presence of systematic and prolonged trauma, characteristic of child sexual abuse (CSA) and / or domestic violence. In the presence of repeated traumatic experiences in which there is no escape, dissociation becomes the default setting, making it hard to remain present in the body. As a result, many survivors of CSA, rape and domestic abuse numb all affect, disconnect from or delete their body and retreat into their head. This can lead to a range of symptoms which are currently subsumed under subtype Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with Prominent Dissociative Symptoms. To fully understand the role of dissociation in complex trauma, it is essential to understand the psychobiological mechanisms that underpin peritraumatic dissociation through the release of a cascade of neurochemicals and the disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity and perception; which are the core features of secondary dissociation and structural dissociation. We also need to comprehend how these produce dissociative states and symptoms seen in: Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS) and Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) Many survivors do not initially present with dissociative states or are not aware of the signs or symptoms of dissociation, making it imperative that clinicians are able to link client experiences of ‘living in a fog’, ‘ wading through mud’, ‘sieve like memory’ and ‘feeling as through someone else is in control’ as dissociative states. At this practical and unique seminar which would be relevant for psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists, across modalities, Christiane draws on her extensive clinical experience to examine the complex nature of dissociation, its origins, its functions and its long-term effects, to explain how we can: Identify clues to dissociation such as distortions in time, perception and memory, changes in verbal and non-verbal communication, bodily sensations and cognitive processing, as well as depersonalisation and derealisation – with a view to helping survivors understand the symptoms of dissociation and how these can be managed more effectively Be aware of our own capacity for dissociation when bearing witness to traumatic experiences and how to ensure that we remain present and embodied, especially when faced with a deep sense of somatic countertransference or somatic empathy Comprehend what dissociation looks like in practice and how we can translate survivors’ reports of their experiencing of the world into clinical formulation of dissociation - and how this can best be managed in the therapeutic setting Work therapeutically with structural dissociation, including parts work Overall, the aim is to facilitate reconnection of mind, body and brain and integration of disavowed parts, to restore presence and embodiment in both client and therapist. CPD Hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

Early childhood adversity, neglect and childhood sexual abuse are just some of the risk factors that can directly impact behaviours we associate with Personality Disorders. An explanation for such linkage is that clients with personality disorders experience great difficulty in establishing and sustaining interpersonal relationships that require good affect regulation. Their inability to regulate negative affects increases the likelihood of unregulated hostility and angry responses. This actually puts such clients at an enhanced disadvantage – not only do they tend to alienate caregivers, but they are likely to do so at times of greatest need. At this practical seminar which would be especially relevant for psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists, Dr Adshead suggests that it is impractical to provide therapy for behavioural manifestations without a proper understanding of underlying cognitive schema and neurobiological basis. She presents evidence on the development of affect regulation within attachment relationships that explains both the symptoms of and effective therapeutic strategies for personality disorders. By viewing personality disorders through the lenses of attachment and affect regulation, she equips us to recognise the multiple challenges faced by clients: heightened perception of threats, inability to repair emotional states stimulated by threat or fear and the shift in locus from external to internal affect regulation. We comprehend the specific nature of affect dysregulation for personality disorders according to clusters: Cluster A: paranoid personality disorders Cluster B: borderline personality disorders Cluster C: anxious / avoidant personality disorders By drawing our attention to Affect Regulation as only one, but arguably the most critical aspect of personality disorders, Dr Adshead helps us inform our therapeutic approaches when working with mild to moderate disorders across the spectrum. CPD hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Attachment trauma is the result of parenting patterns that are unpredictable, neglectful and / or abusive during infancy and young childhood. Attachment injuries have been categorized as insecure ambivalent, insecure avoidant or disorganized. While these states arise as manifestations of survival strategies – these are, by no means inflexible or fixed for life. As therapists, we can create a conducive environment for addressing such attachment injuries through the therapeutic relationship; so as to help clients create satisfying lives and relationships in adulthood.  We also need to be mindful of the fact that just as there is no such thing as the perfect parent, there is also no perfect therapist. In order to work with early childhood trauma successfully, therapists must be aware of how personal, unresolved attachment injuries can contribute to clinical blind spots. At this engaging and practical seminar, Dr Arielle Schwartz discusses how therapists can help their clients reclaim their lives from the costs of childhood trauma, by deepening compassion and reducing shame that often accompanies developmental wounds. Dr Schwartz presents a Resilience Informed Approach, which applies research on trauma recovery to form a strength-based, trauma treatment model that includes EMDR therapy, somatic psychology, parts-work and relational psychotherapy. Specifically, we discuss: Co-regulation and mutual regulation as the foundations for healing attachment trauma Examples of top-down and bottom up interventions in trauma treatment How to assess for dissociation and identify client’s parts or ego states Learn effective strategies to help us work with preverbal memories Articulate the six stages of trauma responses within the neurobiology of PTSD as it relates to clinical treatment Explore relational Interventions for shame CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Expressive Arts Therapy is based on the assumption that our clients can recover from trauma and / or addictions, through the process of creative expression. Defined by its emphasis on the multi-modal process of healing (exploring many combinations for creativity, rather than relying on just one art form), the approach conceptually incorporates learnings from Jungian, person-centered and Gestalt psychotherapies – while practically providing therapeutic techniques to trauma therapists and addiction specialists. Course Schedule: Session 1: Fundamentals of Expressive Arts Therapy in Healing Trauma Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy History & Definitions Principles of Expressive Arts Therapy (Natalie Rogers) Expressive vs. creative Expressive arts and trauma-informed care The neuroscience of creativity and expression Enhancing possibilities in trauma-treatment Case examples and discussion  Session 2: Applications in Teaching the Skill of Grounding  Defining grounding Importance as a trauma-informed skill/intervention Perspectives Experiential expressive arts process Visualization Dance/movement Visual Art Writing Implementing expressive arts interventions Ideas for bolstering trauma-focused treatment plans Exploring options for further training and study  CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

In the years since the Adverse Childhood Experiences study (Felitti, 1998), research has concluded that there is undeniable connection between childhood trauma and our health. Importantly, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and mind-body therapies can help us to calm down anxiety, reduce chronic illness symptoms, support digestion, and improve our sleep. Such therapies include mindfulness, yoga, relaxation, breath practices, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, and acupuncture – these can help our clients to increase their resilience, allowing them to control unnecessary defenses and reclaim a sense of safety. At this engaging seminar, psychologist and certified yoga instructor, Dr Arielle Schwartz, leads us through an interactive exploration of the mind-body therapies for vagus nerve regulation. We will learn about her approach to therapeutic yoga for trauma recovery and discover leading-edge strategies that allow us to successfully address dysregulated arousal states triggered by trauma. She explains practical tools to increase our client’s resilience.  Learning Objectives:  Understand the connection between trauma and your health as related to the vagus nerve Learn what current research is revealing about the efficacy of mind-body therapies for trauma recovery Discover specific yogic movement and breathing practices that can help you find balance during times of stress. Connect to a community engaged in healing from trauma CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Moving from face-to-face therapy to conducting online therapy sessions during the COVID-19 crisis can seem challenging for both therapists and clients. While studies have demonstrated that well-managed online sessions can potentially be as effective as face-to-face engagements, the whole experience can understandably appear daunting and disembodied. At this seminar, Christiane considers how we can navigate the challenges of the online format and deliver effective online sessions that allow for deep therapeutic engagement. Using examples, she highlights how the online setting can provide an opportunity for us to practice differently and hone our therapeutic skills, especially with regards to connection and attunement – while opening up doors to long-distance therapy, as well as therapy for clients who may be unable to travel. She explains the best practices that we can incorporate and how we can fine-tune the delivery of our therapeutic techniques to suit the online format. Specifically, we consider how we can: Provide a safe therapeutic space, while reducing the effects of social distancing and the concomitant sense of isolation or exacerbation of trauma symptoms and / or anxieties Focus on enhancing our awareness to verbal and non-verbal communication Use voice, breath and body language to modulate and regulate emotional states so as to remain present, connected and attuned Incorporate a combination of top-down and bottom-up regulation skills that enable our clients to slow down and come into the body, with a view to increasing distress tolerance and improving stress resilience Pace our therapeutic approach, including the need to temporarily suspend deeper exploration of past trauma or aversive experiences and focussing on the here-and-now Managing the optimal amount of therapeutic contact with regards to the frequency and duration of sessions and the online platforms that can best suit our therapy sessions while ensuring privacy and confidentiality Ensure that as therapists we are able to manage and contain our own anxieties and stress through self-care and the specific steps we need to take in the context of online therapy CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Somatic Therapy emphasizes body awareness as an essential part of psychotherapy. This is especially beneficial in the treatment of PTSD when symptoms involve physiological distress, affect dysregulation, or dissociation. Traditional approaches to therapy attend to the cognitive and emotional aspects of clients’ lives, while the somatic experience is often left out of the room. Our bodies need to process stressful and traumatic events through breath and movement. Unfortunately, we are often taught to sit still and override movement impulses. As a result, the biological effects of stressful or traumatic events tend to persist long after events have passed. “Talk therapy” can perpetuate this culture of stillness unless the therapist has the training and skills to integrate the body into psychotherapy. Interventions to enhance embodiment in trauma treatment expand the therapeutic experience beyond where words can take a client. In this engaging and informative e-learning course by Dr. Arielle Schwartz, we learn the science of embodiment and why somatic psychology is essential for helping clients work with dysregulated affect and arousal states that accompany PTSD. We discuss the key principles of modern day somatic psychology modalities including the value of working mindfully, relationally, and experientially. We will discuss the difference between “top-down” and “bottom-up” interventions and how they can be used to strengthen clients’ “window of tolerance.” We will also explore how somatic processing of traumatic events can be combined with other trauma treatment modalities (e.g. EMDR Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Narrative Exposure Therapy). The e-learning course will be especially useful for psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors who are interested in learning how to integrate somatic psychology interventions into their work with clients. Specifically, we will consider: The theoretical and scientific bases of somatic psychology The cognitive, emotional, and physiological impact of stress, trauma, and PTSD Why working in the “Window of Tolerance” is essential to successful trauma treatment Examples of “top-down” and “bottom up” interventions in trauma treatment The importance of mutual regulation as a precursor to the development of self-regulation of affect and arousal Specific interventions to enhance embodiment in trauma treatment How somatic processing of traumatic events can be combined with other trauma treatment modalities (e.g. EMDR Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Narrative Exposure Therapy) Specifically, this e-learning course covers:  1: The Science of Embodiment   The theoretical and scientific bases of somatic psychology A unified approach to somatic psychology Sensory systems and embodiment The cognitive, emotional, and physiological impact of stress, trauma, and PTSD Beyond Fight and Flight Mobilization and Immobilization Dysregulation and Dissociation Why working in the “Window of Tolerance” is essential to successful trauma treatment “Top-Down” and “Bottom-Up” interventions in trauma treatment. 2: Somatic Interventions and Applications Affect and arousal regulation in trauma treatment   The role of mutual regulation as a precursor to the development of self-regulation Interventions to enhance embodiment in trauma treatment Awareness Interventions Resourcing Interventions Trauma Processing Interventions   Integrating Interventions Combining Somatic Psychology with other trauma treatment modalities EMDR Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Narrative Exposure Therapy CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Whether we are working with children, adults, parents or couples – an essential therapeutic goal for us is to enable and enhance the clients’ capability for emotional regulation. As therapists, our aim is to help them effectively identify and understand their emotions, so that they are able to process, respond to them, and express them safely in societal, familial and organizational settings. But we can face multiple challenges in this endeavour: Before our clients can learn to self-regulate, we need to achieve co-regulation, which is an essential precursor to emotional regulation We need to get through to the thinking brain with our clients – the survival brain is not designed to process emotional regulation Moreover, self-regulation can be arduous if they are surrounded by people who are in dysregulated states, and we need to help them navigate this environment This seminar is aimed at providing us, as therapists, a set of creative, physical, sensory and cognitive emotional regulation practical tools that can be applied in clinical settings not just for encouraging self-regulation in clients but also for our own regulation and well-being. The toolkit that we discuss includes: Breathing and Calming tools and techniques – as applied to emotional regulation. Our aim here is to assist our clients to stay in the present moment, especially when they experience intense stress and anxiety, and we look at: Grounding techniques that use everyday objects around us Progressive muscle relaxation Self-soothing techniques using breath exercises Sensory techniques including creative extensions of the safe-place exercise and sensory boxes.  We consider: How we can creatively build on and expand the safe-space Reconnecting with our senses and getting rid of negative imagery Using sensory boxes that draw attention to the here-and-now; with both children and adults The different approaches and tools for up-regulation and down-regulation; including: Making the choice between up & down regulation Creating a mindful acceptance of emotions Assisting our clients in the reframing of emotions The seminar follows an integrationist approach – we draw on cognitive, psychoanalytical and sensorimotor domains – with the goal of effective regulation that works in the face of worry, stress, trauma, mood swings and cognitive difficulties. We consider how, as therapists, we can practice holding a receptive stance, so as to assist co-regulation and work actively at mitigating dysregulation in the client’s environment. CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £ 60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Growing up afraid, has ramifications for cognitive, emotional and physical development that persist into adulthood until one has sufficient support to heal. This is not a character weakness; it is a learned stress disorder. In this engaging and practical discussion with Dr Arielle Schwartz, we consider how therapists can help their clients reclaim their lives from the costs of childhood trauma by deepening compassion and reducing shame that often accompanies developmental wounds. Dr Schwartz presents a Resilience Informed Approach, which applies research on trauma recovery to form a strength-based, trauma treatment model that includes EMDR therapy, somatic psychology, parts-work and relational psychotherapy.  Specifically, we discuss: What exactly does attunement mean in the context of early relational trauma; and why we need to consider mutual regression as a precursor to self-regulation Tronick’s Rule of Thirds and how this can help us understand early relational trauma How Polyvagal Theory helps us understand the Social Nervous System Do phobias maintain dissociation and what this means for therapy Walking the tightrope of memory retrieval in our therapeutic approach Using parts-work for early relational trauma and dissociation – keeping in mind the increased awareness of introjects CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £50 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Moving from face-to-face therapy to conducting online therapy sessions during the Covid-19 crisis has been challenging and rewarding both for us as therapists and our clients. While it has provided invaluable opportunities to practice differently and hone our therapeutic skills in a set of trying circumstances, it has also been very challenging to provide the right level of connection and attunement, due to the lack of physical presence. As COVID related lockdowns are gradually easing, and we take tentative steps back into the ‘new normal’ world, we need to ensure that our clients are sufficiently resourced for managing the (long-term) physical and mental impact of the pandemic, facing current anxieties including financial and employment concerns, and preparing for re-entry. In Part 1 of the course, Christiane Sanderson  explained how we can run online therapy sessions that deliver results, covering the provision of a safe therapeutic space, pacing our therapeutic approach and managing our own anxieties through self-care. At this-learning course, Christiane develops on the previous theme and explains how we can continue to be effective and incorporate more advanced tools and techniques including stabilisation skills, affect regulation and somatic markers. She explains the best practices that we can incorporate and how we can fine-tune the delivery of our therapeutic techniques to suit the online format. Specifically, we consider how we can: Provide a safe therapeutic space, that helps manage health anxieties and trauma symptoms – reducing the longer-term impact of social distancing and isolation Provide a range of online platforms as a choice to clients – facilitating a choice of platform that works best for the client, while continuing to ensure privacy and confidentiality Build and enhance awareness of somatic markers that indicate emotional dysregulation Pick up cues in both verbal and non-verbal communication; and the use of voice, breath and body language to modulate and regulate emotional states so as to remain present, connected and attuned Incorporate trauma informed practice skills and apply a combination of top-down and bottom-up regulation techniques that enable our clients to slow down and come into the body, with a view to increasing distress tolerance and improving stress resilience Pace our therapeutic approach, including assessing how to balance deeper exploration of past trauma or aversive experiences with focusing on what clients need in the here-and-now; so as to reduce the activation of stress sensitivity and help them navigate their present circumstances Ensure that clients are sufficiently resourced to manage the long term physical and mental impact of the pandemic, as well as current anxieties including financial and employment concerns, as well as preparing for re-entry Model emotional regulation and engage in emotional co-regulation in the online format Take steps towards becoming more sentient practitioners who can mitigate anxieties and sense of isolation, while creating deeper connections with clients CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

While pre-COVID, two women a week in the UK were murdered by their partner or ex-partner on average, this particular statistic escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recorded data in the first three weeks of lockdown in the UK revealed that 16 domestic abuse killings of women and children took place. In addition, global data suggests that reported domestic abuse (DA) incidents went up by almost 20% during the same time frame. This e-learning course will consider the extent to which the stress of lockdown and lack of accessible help promotes coercive and controlling behaviour, as well as physical violence.  We will look at the range of power, and control dynamics that are used to control partners in intimate relationships– and review how the severity of these dynamics increased during the COVID outbreak. The aim is to enhance our understanding of DA, its impact and long-term effects on survivors. We will look at the spectrum of DA, including the dynamics of control and coercion in emotional abuse through to physical and sexual violence; and the role of shame and humiliation that silences those who are being domestically abused. The course will consider the use of physical force, sexual violence, financial abuse, spiritual abuse and revenge porn and identify those most at risk of DA, including males and those in the LGBTQ community – we will especially consider the factors that helped increase incidence of such violence and abuse during the pandemic. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the processes involved in DA, such as the grooming of victims, the cycle of abuse, the role of dissociation and the thought blindness that supports the trauma bond. Our aim is to understand how victims may present in practice, to identify signs and symptoms of DA and how they can be supported. We will emphasise the role of attachment and fear of abandonment that underpins much of DA and how this manifests relationally both for the couple and practitioners working with DA. Specifically, we consider: The nature and dynamics of DA, such as the role of charm and enticement, the use of control and coercion, the cycle of abuse, the nature of thought blindness that facilitates the trauma bond and the role of silence, secrecy and shame The intergenerational transmission of DA through attachment and relational deficits The characteristics of male and female perpetrators The impact and long-term effects of DA on partners and children Obstacles to leaving an abusive relationship The importance of developing safety plans when leaving The need for safety and multi-agency collaboration The need for longer term therapy using a trauma informed practice model when working with survivors of DA CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Adversity can be present in our clients’ (and our) lives in many shapes and forms – as everyday disappointments, as after-effects of Trauma and even as extraordinary disasters. At this practical, clinically-oriented e-learning course, we start with the premise that helping our clients develop flexible and adaptive strategies for coping with adversity is at the heart of the therapeutic process. Linda considers neuroscientific evidence to explain how our clients can actively cultivate their innate capacities for resilience – allowing them to rewire coping strategies which may otherwise be defensive, dysfunctional and / or blocking of growth. This e-learning course shows how we can use the brain’s neuroplasticity to modify coping behaviours, even when these appear to be seemingly ‘stuck’ or intractable. Linda helps us identify empirically-validated therapeutic techniques that can be applied across modalities.  Specifically, we consider how we can: Use body-based tools to help clients reverse the impact of stress and trauma  on their nervous system, returning to an inner sense of safety and equilibrium – their natural range of resilience Help clients manage disruptive emotions, deepen self-compassion and empathy, and cultivate the positive emotions that work as an antidote for the brain’s negativity bias – the idea is to shift the brain’s default option from survival to learning and growth Cultivate the self-awareness and self-appreciation that help clients heal from toxic shame; keep their inner critic in check and recover their inner well-being Assist our clients in building their relational skills – reaching out for help, communicating without shame or blame, repairing ruptures and practicing forgiveness Help our clients identify dysfunctional patterns of coping and discern new choices of behaviour Help our clients apply evidence-based tools for the five factors that predict genuine post-traumatic growth: Acceptance of reality (and the consequences of what happened) Resourcing with family, friends, family and community Recognising the positive in the midst of the difficult; finding the gifts in the mistakes Writing a coherent narrative of events within the larger life story Appreciating the new life that emerges because of the difficulties, not just in spite of them CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Toxicity in Couple Relationships is often the underlying factor in a number of manifestations – in visible forms including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and in not so apparent linkages with chronic depression, habitual anxiety and individual psychological morbidity. When toxicity is manifest as violence in intimate relationships, it is also a key risk factor for serious harm including child maltreatment and fatal violence. At this practical and intellectually stimulating e-learning course, which is aimed at therapists working with couples whose relationships have turned toxic, as well as victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence, Dr Gwen Adshead and Gerry Byrne integrate psychological and criminological data with clinical illustrations to examine the complex manifestations and specific causes of toxicity in couple relationships. The course draws on perspectives from Attachment Theory to evaluate the roles played by the individuals involved and examines the addictive nature of these damaging relationships; while demonstrating and explaining mentalisation based therapeutic techniques that we can use, when working with couples. Looking through examples and discussing specific case examples, our aim is to assimilate the therapeutic approaches that work best in such cases. Interactive exercises will also allow delegates to evaluate their own case materials. Key discussion themes for the day include: A review of theories that explain how intimate relationships develop in humans; with particular reference to Attachment Theory and the development of mentalisation skills The effect of intimate relationships on affect regulation and how this explains linkages between personal and social identities The influence of cultural and social stereotypes on how intimacy is conceived and perceived – and how this affects couples The addictive force and power of violent relationships – the roles of passion, destructiveness, jealousy and a wish to control one’s partner The forces that keep toxic relationships going, with reference to intra-psychic as well as social factors How early experiences of disturbed attachments are repeated and re-enacted in toxic relationships We discuss a typology of violent relationships, looking at the destructive dynamics that maintain these and the unconscious fantasies of security and love that underlie them Using illustrative case vignettes and discussions, this e-learning course offers clinical examples of therapy and examines the evidence base for interventions with violent couples, specifically drawing on MBT and psychoanalytic couple therapy. CPD Hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Without interventions that incorporate somatic awareness and movement, many therapeutic approaches are limited in their ability to help clients fully release the impact of traumatic events. In other words, we cannot simply think our way out of traumatic activation. This e-learning course with Dr Arielle Schwartz, which is part of the nscience Somatic Psychology Series, is aimed at psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors across modalities, who are interested in learning how to integrate somatic psychology interventions into their work with clients. The approaches explained in this e-learning course will allow you to work effectively with clients who have experienced single incident traumatic events or prolonged trauma exposure. Somatic therapists help clients prepare for trauma reprocessing by developing a readily accessible feeling of safety in the body. In part, this relies upon helping clients recognize their own window of tolerance, a concept that refers to an optimal zone of nervous system arousal where clients are able to respond effectively to their emotions. In addition, this preparatory phase of therapy focuses on helping clients expand their tolerance for affect and sensation. This is especially beneficial in the treatment of PTSD when symptoms involve physiological distress, affect dysregulation or dissociation. In this experiential e-learning course, we learn how to integrate somatic resources into our therapeutic endeavours, regardless of our primary modalities. Doing so often begins by increasing our ability to observe nonverbal communications in therapy. Using case vignettes and examples, Dr Schwartz guides us to mindfully study embodied relational experiences that emerge during therapy as related to subtle changes in posture, breathing, use of eye contact, movements, use of space and tone of voice. We then learn to guide clients into practices that facilitate a sense of being grounded, empowered and capable of reclaiming a healthy relationship with rest and relaxation. Specifically, we will: Discuss the theoretical and scientific basis of somatic psychology, particularly looking at a ‘unified approach to Somatic Psychology’ that encapsulates  The Science of Embodiment and Somatic Intelligence Comprehend the physiological impact of stress, trauma, and PTSD Mobilization and Immobilization Dysregulation and Dissociation Why working in the Window of Tolerance is essential to successful trauma therapy Engage practical mind-body therapy tools that help clients feel resourced and prepared for trauma processing: Somatic Vocabulary Grounding Postural awareness Proximity Awareness Boundary Development Empowerment Body Mapping Build Affect and Sensation Tolerance Learn how to help clients build affect and sensation tolerance in preparation for trauma processing Work effectively with Affect and arousal regulation in trauma therapy: Mutual regulation and co-regulation Tracking nonverbal communications CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

The approaches explained in this e-learning course will allow you to work effectively with clients who have experienced single incident traumatic events or prolonged trauma exposure. This experiential e-learning course with Dr Arielle Schwartz focuses on a mind-body approach to trauma reprocessing; specifically, through the integration of somatic psychology into cognitive behavioural therapies such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Together, these approaches allow us to work effectively with both episodic and recurring trauma. Through case vignettes and examples, Dr Schwartz explains that unless we tap into the potential offered by somatic awareness and movement, our therapeutic attempts at helping clients fully release the impact of traumatic events may often be thwarted. In other words, we cannot simply think our way out of traumatic activation. Through the therapeutic interventions shared in this seminar, we will learn to help clients discover new movements that allow them to resolve the wounds of their past. This body-centered approach to care is integrated into cognitive behavioral therapiesto allow clinicians to address preverbal trauma memories, attachment trauma and somatization symptoms. Specifically, we will: practice at least three interventions for working with somatic symptoms in trauma therapy Holding patterns and Character strategies Sequencing Titration Pendulation understand how to work with preverbal memories by attending to somatic sensations Implicit Memory Attachment Trauma and the Body Attending to Legacy Trauma understand neural networks and the formation of traumatic memories comprehend neuroplasticity and trauma recovery describe an integrative model for trauma reprocessing, especially looking at Somatic Repatterning Working with Numbness Interventions to Enhance Embodiment Addressing to Chronic Pain CPD Hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £56 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

While it took some time for researchers and practitioners to agree that Complex PTSD has its own aetiology, symptomatology and recommended therapeutic methods; distinct from PTSD – there is now increasing realization that our clinical approaches need to be considerably different when our clients have suffered prolonged and repeated incidences of interpersonal trauma. Such trauma could have been chronic sexual, psychological and physical abuse, neglect, intimate partner violence or situations that involved captivity – resulting in extended periods of terror, fear and severe dysregulations of affect and arousal. This practical and clinically oriented e-learning course draws on efficacy proven techniques from relational psychotherapy, Parts Work Therapy, Somatic Psychology, EMDR Therapy, DBT and mindfulness-based techniques – to explain effective therapeutic tools that facilitate a strength-based approach to trauma recovery and increase resilience in our clients. While a number of practitioners have been trained to work with single, traumatic events – navigating Complex PTSD requires us to work with multiple layers of personal, relational, societal and / or cultural losses. Dr Schwartz has organized this coursein an experiential format – aimed at helping us successfully organize and prioritize our clients’ therapeutic goals. Through a series of lectures, case vignettes and examples, we will learn how to compassionately and effectively work with clients who have experienced multiple traumatic events and prolonged trauma exposure. Our learning objectives include: identify contributing factors to the development of Complex PTSD discuss a phase oriented, evidence-based approach to complex trauma treatment as a structured approach to therapy recognize how polyvagal theory provides an essential foundation for understanding arousal states as related to the tri-phasic model of trauma recovery explain how mutual regulation serves as a precursor to self-regulation in treatment identify at least five practical mind-body therapy tools to help clients feel resourced and prepared for trauma processing describe how to help clients build affect and sensation tolerance in preparation for trauma processing recognize how working with the “Window of Tolerance” can help reduce the likelihood of re-traumatization describe how “top-down” and “bottom up” interventions can speed up or slow down the pacing of trauma treatment practice at least three interventions for  working with somatic symptoms in trauma treatment recognize how client’s “parts” related to early developmental trauma can contribute to somatic symptoms understand how to work with preverbal memories by attending to somatic sensations identify self-care practices for therapists to manage somatic countertransference and vicarious trauma Our focus will be on the following skills: Reclaiming Choice and Containment Somatic Release and Grounding Breath Awareness Practice Developing Dual Awareness Create your Resilience Recipe Relational Resourcing and the Tree of Life Increasing Affect & Sensation Tolerance Imagining a Reparative Experience  Programme Module 1: Understanding Complex PTSD Defining Complex PTSD Diagnostic Clarification and Differential Diagnosis Contributing Factors of C-PTSD Symptoms of C-PTSD Skill: Reclaiming Choice and Containment Realities of Working with Complex PTSD Skill: Self-Awareness and Self-Care for Therapists Module 2: The Neurobiology of C-PTSD The Neurobiology of C-PTSD: Beyond Fight and Flight Polyvagal Theory Mobilization and Immobilization 6 Stages of Trauma Response Conditioned Immobilization Skill: Somatic Release Dissociation and Dissociation Preverbal and Nonverbal memories Clinical Assessment tools: Triggering Events, Avoidance Behaviours, and Dissociative Symptoms Skill: Grounding Module 3: Implications for Therapy Interpersonal neurobiology Neuropsychotherapy: The 6 R’s of Healing Trauma “Window of Tolerance” Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing Interventions Psychobiological Tools in Therapy Skill: Breath Awareness Practice Module 4: Phase Based Treatment  Stabilization and Safety Skill: Anchoring the Adult Self Working Through Complex PTSD Skill: Develop Dual Awareness Integration and Meaning Making Skill: Create your Resilience Recipe  Module 5: Integrative Model of Care Introduction to the Integrative Approach Biopsychosocial Model of Treatment Relational Therapy Co-Regulation Psychobiological Regulation and Applied Polyvagal Theory Skill: Relational Resourcing CBT, ACT, & NET Skill: The Weather Report and Forecast Skill: Tree of Life Module 6: Integrative Model Part 2 Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skill: Cultivate Wise Mind Skill: Build Boundaries Skill: Increase Affect and Sensation Tolerance Parts Work Therapies Skill: Identify Allies Skill: Imagine a Reparative Experience Module 7: Integrative Model Part 3 Exposure and EMDR Therapy Skill: Reprocessing the Past Skill: Pendulation Somatic Psychology 5 Stage model of Trauma Processing Skill: Sequencing and Somatic Re-Patterning Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Acceptance and Compassion Practices Skill: Mindfulness of the Moment Skill: EFT Skill: Gratitude and Loving Kindness Meditations Module 8: Integration and Closure Integration and Closure Existential Considerations Fostering Resilience Integration and Installation of Positive Change Skill: Golden Nugget Practice Case Conceptualization, Discussion, and Questions CPD Hours: 10 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £220 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

EGCP was developed by Una McCluskey based on her research which showed that the offer to treat aroused dynamics of attachment in both the therapist (caregiver) and the client (care seeker). Based on this observation, she developed the model as  an effective psychotherapeutic / counselling practice centred on a ‘dynamic, interactive and instinctive goal-corrected process’ – the methodology enables the provision of an exploratory space where the client can: Identify the different aspects of themselves that are aroused in the here and now and Interact with these aspects in such a way that the person experiences relief, becomes curious and is able to access their inbuilt capacity for attaining or retrieving competence and confidence The process needs careful application though – the results can only be achieved if the caregiver remains exploratory and non-defensive and has an understanding of the therapy to guide their interventions. Also, if the therapist fails to reach the person, misses them or becomes fearful in response to them, the interaction is then not goal-corrected, both therapist and client remain distressed, and development does not proceed on the basis of core support at the centre of the self.  At this e-learning course, we have the opportunity to learn the essentials of EGCP directly from Una McCluskey and Mark Linington (CEO at the Clinic of Dissociative Studies, London). The model is now being used for therapeutic work with individuals, couples, groups and also at The Bowlby Centre for Attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapy.  The e-learning course will introduce delegates to the model and its practice. The emphasis will be on assessing the nature of the distress being presented and the correct application of the model.  CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

While we associate the term ‘Integrative Psychotherapy’ with an integration of theory – the bringing together of affective, cognitive, behavioural and physiological dimensions of human functioning within a relational system – the approach also refers to the process of integrating the personality. It involves: ·       The therapeutic steps that the therapist needs to take to facilitate a client’s development of a comprehensive and congruent narrative of their sense of self ·       The process of making whole – taking disowned, unaware, unresolved or fragmented aspects of the self and integrating them within a cohesive entity ·       Enabling a client to assume personal awareness and responsibility so that their behaviour in any situation is by choice and not stimulated by compulsion, fear or conditioning In this unique and practical e-learning course, Dr Richard Erskine draws on an integrative therapeutic approach that encompasses the primary dimensions of human functioning: cognitive, behavioural, affective and physiological, each within a relational system that allows us as therapists in helping the client to assimilate and harmonise the contents of his or her ego states, relax the defence mechanisms, relinquish the life script, and re-engage the world with full contact. It is the process of making whole: taking disowned, unaware, unresolved aspects of the ego and making them part of the cohesive self. Through lecture, case vignettes and clinical discussions, the e-learning course emphasises how we can incorporate learnings from Integrative Psychotherapy in conjunction with our primary modalities; and covers the following topics: ·       The eight philosophical principles central to an Integrative approach ·       The centrality of contactful relationships ·       An understanding on unconscious relational patterns ·       The integration of physiology, affective, cognition, and behaviour within a client’s unique relational system ·       The application of child development concepts in psychotherapy with adults ·       Phenomenological, historical, transferential and relational Inquiry ·       The therapeutic significance of acknowledgement, validation, normalization and presence ·       Attunement to the client’s affect, rhythm, and style of cognition ·       The eight Relational-Needs ·       The therapeutic use of the Script System CPD Hours: 6 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

Every part of our lives, whether we are aware of it or not, is touched by gender identity and the cultural and contextual meanings made of it. However, perhaps because of the very pervasive nature of gendered experience, reflexivity around one’s own gender identity is rarely covered in much depth in professional trainings. Instead, gender is often either taken for granted or otherwise felt to be the preserve of ‘experts’ who work with populations where questions of gender are understood to be the principal presenting problem. This e-learning course starts from the position that we all have a gender identity and that we can all struggle with it to a greater or lesser degree at times. Therefore, instead of exploring only the experience of people ‘out there’ for whom gender identity presents problems in living, this e-learning course seeks to position gender as a shared experience. In particular we will focus on building an Affirmative Practice; which is based on two pillars: building our knowledge about the subject area in question and practising reflexivity about our relationship to it. The first part of the e-learning course explores what gender is, and then discusses cisgender identities through the psychology of masculinities and femininities. We will then move on to trans and gender nonconforming identities before going into some depth around the lived experience, including medical, legal and social frameworks.  Finally, we will look at Compassion Focused Therapy models as a way of helping clients with internalised transphobia and gender shame. Throughout the course there will be reflexive exercises and opportunities for delegate questions and discussion. The e-learning course has two aims: firstly, to deepen our understanding of gender in general, our own gendered identity and how it interacts with our client’s identity.  Secondly, to build our understanding of and ability to work with clients who are gender diverse. The course is scheduled as four modules: Module 1: Understanding gender and cisgender identities This is an introductory session that explores what gender is. We look at current theory and research on the psychology of femininities and masculinities and how our clients come to understand their gender identity. Module 2: Exploring trans and gender nonconforming identities Having identified the norms that govern cisgender identities we will look at other forms of gender identities, including transgender and other gender nonconforming classifications including non-binary identities. Module 3: Unpacking the lived experience Part of working affirmatively is having a clear understanding of the lived experience for gender diverse people.  We will look specifically at: Medical frameworks – including NHS treatment pathways Legal frameworks – what protections does the UK have for gender diverse people? Social spaces – coming out, transition, sexuality and intimate relationships Module 4: Compassion Focused Therapy and gender shame The final session looks at the third wave CBT model of Compassion Focused therapy developed by Paul Gilbert and considers how it can be used effectively with gender diverse clients experiencing internalised transphobia and gender shame. CPD Hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

“I thought I could imagine how much this would hurt, but I was wrong.” ― Haruki Murakami, South of the Border, West of the Sun The occurrence of infidelity in a couple relationship can often be experienced as a catastrophic and life-changing event which is accompanied by extremely heightened emotions of shock, disbelief, moral judgment, self-doubt, betrayal and a collapse of the trust system. Not only can the manifestations cover the gamut of depression, anxiety, anger, hatred and self-loathing but can also be viewed as a potentially irreparable loss which may increase propensity for helplessness and despair. How can we, as therapists, comprehend the nature and meaning of an affair – could these be serving a developmental purpose? Are some betrayals actually shared enactments towards resetting the relationship? And most importantly how can we help our clients in navigating such severe relational upheavals?   At this practical and interactive e-learning course, relevant to psychotherapists, psychologists and counsellors, Kathleen Mates-Youngman, author of the bestseller Couples Therapy Workbook: 30 Guided Conversations to Re-Connect Couples – draws on her clinical experience to explain: Defining infidelity: we look at infidelity as a psychological construct, global statistics and the classification of affairs The three stages of healing: Kathleen explains the therapeutic process as composed of three stages: Crisis stage: the stage which covers identity confusion, a barrage of questions and a cascade of emotions. We look at the role of therapist guidance at this stage Insight stage: this stage covers the impact of the affair, individual traits, familial influences, relationship history and emotional injuries Decision and Vision stage: this stage moves on to non-negotiables, the roles of remorse, accountability, transparency; the confrontation of doubts and fears and the rebuilding of trust Intimacy after infidelity: the the e-learning course looks at the dynamics of vulnerability, desirability and problematic assumptions Preventing infidelity: the roles of trust, transparency and clarity; relationships as a choice, creating a healthy relationship and healthy sexual intimacy  CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

Resilience, the capacity to cope quickly, skillfully and effectively with any stress or adversity is especially needed in times of sudden transition and upheaval – when what we thought was solid ground turns to quicksand under our feet. At this stage especially, helping clients bounce back from the challenges and crises of their lives may also require helping them bounce forward to a new normal. At this e-learning course with Linda Graham, we consider neuroscientific evidence and focus on the ways in which our clients can harness the brain’s processes to rewire their defensive / dysfunctional coping strategies. Modern neuroscience has shown how we can use the brain’s innate neuroplasticity to modify coping behaviours, even when these appear to be seemingly ‘stuck’ or intractable. At this e-learning course, we will look at the tools and techniques that work best when we want our clients to: Reverse the impact of stress and / or trauma Come out of anxiety, depression, grief, loneliness, guilt and / or shame Deepen self-compassion and empathy that connects them to inner resources Strengthen their resonant relationships that foster perseverance and Shift their perspectives through mindful awareness Linda helps us identify therapeutic techniques that can be applied across modalities. Specifically, we look at: The use of body-based tools to help clients reverse the impact of stress and trauma on their nervous system, returning to an inner sense of safety and equilibrium and their natural range of resilience Helping clients manage disruptive emotions while deepening self-compassion and empathy. We learn the process for cultivating the positive emotions that antidote the brain’s negativity bias and shift brain functioning from contracted survival responses to openness for learning and growth Cultivating the self-awareness and self-appreciation that help clients heal from toxic shame, retire the inner critic, and recover their inner well-being Teaching the interpersonal skills that allow clients to trust other people as refuges and resources in difficult times Adapting practices of mindfulness to help clients identify dysfunctional patterns of coping and discern new choices of behavior The e-learning course is experiential in format. We learn tools for guided visualisations, written reflection and empathic conversations to guide clients through the five factors requisite for growth: Acceptance of Reality: and the consequences of what has happened. We learn how we can help our clients use their brain’s social engagement system to manage surges of emotions, generate a neuroception of safety, and prime the brain’s plasticity-receptivity to learning Resourcing with Family, Friends and Community: helping our clients balance autonomy with intimacy; Skills of resonant relationships: reaching out for help, setting limits and boundaries, repairing ruptures, resolving conflicts and negotiating changes that allow them to navigate their world with skill, trust, and love Recognizing the Positive: in the midst of the difficult; finding the gifts in mistakes. Practices of mindful empathy and self-acceptance as an antidote to the brain’s negativity bias, healing toxic shame and retiring the inner critic; Cultivating positive, pro-social emotions to shift the functioning of the brain out of contraction and reactivity to more openness and receptivity Developing a Coherent Narrative: of traumatizing events within the larger life story. Understanding the impact of attachment conditioning, including early developmental trauma on brain functioning and resilience Appreciating the new life: that emerges because of the difficulties, not just in spite of them. Assisting our clients in claiming their capacities to rewire less-than-optimal coping strategies and move towards a thriving and flourishing life. CPD Hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £110 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

As therapists, we have all come across clients who show characteristic narcissistic traits – a grandiose sense of self-importance, arrogance, compulsive narcissistic displays and a sense of entitlement and yet, in some instances they may exhibit an extremely famished sense of self and almost boundless hunger for mirroring that can only be assuaged or soothed through the attention and validation from others. Thanks to the contributions of Heinz Kohut, there is greater understanding that  such manifestations are representative of narcissistic injuries – the development of narcissistic traits that co-existed with impaired attachment in childhood, leading to deficits in the structure of the self. Narcissistic injuries are primarily attributable to unmet mirroring needs in childhood and lack of empathic attunement, or due to severe traumatisation, abuse or neglect. Such injuries can also occur as a result of relational trauma in which a child is excessively idealised and not seen or accepted for who they are; but seen as an extension of the primary caregiver. It is imperative for therapists to fully comprehend the underlying dynamics of narcissistic injuries, so they can effectively interpret the apparently contradictory behaviours of such clients. We need a better understanding of the linkages between relational trauma, unmet mirroring needs and expressed narcissistic traits  – so we can remain empathic when working with narcissism and provide a non-shaming therapeutic space. This practical e-learning course which will be useful for psychotherapists, counsellors and psychologists across modalities, specifically discusses the following: Can relational trauma induce narcissism? What are the underlying dynamics that we need to comprehend? How can we conceptualise narcissism on a spectrum, ranging from domineering and extroverted to introverted and neurotic? The linkages between narcissism and narcissistic injuries to early childhood trauma, neglect and relational trauma (as explained through Kohut’s Self Psychology) The key distinctions between healthy narcissism and dysfunctional narcissism – including the traits we need to be able to identify The role of shame and dissociation in the development of narcissism and the implications this has for the therapeutic relationship CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

Overcoming their initial apprehensions, EMDR practitioners globally have risen to the challenge of continuing to deliver EMDR Therapy through online and remote channels, to meet the needs of their clients who might be attempting to live with the aftermath of single-episode and / or recurring trauma. The planetary health emergency presented by COVID-19 however continues to challenge our faculties as therapists and there are some important learnings we have picked up during this time – learnings that can help modify and adapt our online delivery of EMDR so as to enhance its efficacy within the constraints of online settings. At this practical e-learning course, Dr Jamie Marich highlights the efficacy levels that can be achieved when delivering EMDR therapy through online sessions; while helping us navigate the constraints offered by this format of therapeutic engagement. She draws on the training insights that she offered to EMDR therapists at the beginning of the pandemic, updated with knowledge acquired from the EMDR Therapy community and her own practice over the last year. She explains how we can continually adapt our practices, incorporating the different responses that can be elicited when bilateral stimulation is facilitated online – with a view to addressing both specific-incident adult trauma (rape, war, RTAs, natural disaster etc) and also the deeper, more complex impact of attachment-informed developmental dysfunction from childhood. She will explore both practical and relational best practices which are best suited for delivery of EMDR online. Specifically, the e-learning course will: coach participants on the general recommendations of the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), EMDR Europe, and EMDR UK regarding the delivery of EMDR therapy via telehealth / online platforms differentiate between dual attention stimulus (DAS) and bilateral stimulation (BLS) and discuss the importance of both in EMDR therapy classify the advantages and disadvantages of working with each form of bilateral stimulation online and to make appropriate decisions for implementation based on the individual client determine best course of clinical action for addressing situations in delivering EMDR therapy online that may prove challenging for clinicians (e.g., managing abreaction and dissociation; addressing suicidal ideation, internet failure) Course Outline: EMDR Therapy Online: The Basics What have we learned during COVID-19? Technical set up (general) EMDR therapy guidelines online/virtual Attending to dual attention stimulus (DAS)-bilateral stimulation (BLS) online Clinical Effectiveness Relational and safety considerations Demonstration and clinical commentary Open Q & A Working with Stressors and Uncertainty Due to COVID-19 The art of adaptation Continuing to plan for the future as EMDR therapists and with EMDR clients Assessing for further training needs Note: This workshop is primarily for therapists already trained in EMDR therapy. You may still benefit from the course even if you have training in another trauma-focused modality, although compulsory knowledge of EMDR is assumed and will not be covered. The views expressed on this webinar do NOT reflect those of any EMDR therapy governing bodies (e.g., EMDRIA, EMDR UK-Ireland, EMDR Europe) and are strictly those of the presenter and her training organization, The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

It has become popular to suggest that our social media-obsessed modern world is narcissistic, but it is not always clear that we really understand and agree on what is meant by narcissism in culture and relationships.  At the same time, traditional gender roles are being increasingly questioned in a world emerging from historically patriarchal cultures. At this practical and intellectually stimulating seminar we explore the intersections between socially endorsed traditional gender roles and our understandings of narcissistic disorders and character traits. Do certain ways of conforming to gender norms generate narcissistic and psychopathic ways of relating to others? And if so, how can we understand these processes better and work more effectively with our clients when these processes create problems in living? Dr Adshead and Dr Beattie present and discuss illustrative case vignettes to unpack and explore the reciprocal relationship between strong conformity to gender norms and problems in interpersonal relationships.  What are the different maladaptive ways in which power and control might be transacted between partners in a relationship?  What is the role of shame in gender socialisation and how might narcissism and psychopathy help to defend us against feeling shamed by others?  How can we learn to build trust in our relationships and hold our gender roles less rigidly? Importantly, we discuss how the intersections of gender roles, narcissism and psychopathology present in clinical settings and specifically consider the following: Thinking about traditional gender norms: Although it is acknowledged that there are multiple ways of being masculine and performing masculinity, the way in which men in Western culture understand their gender role is influenced by certain norms We explore these core norms and the ways they influence how boys and men gain acceptance into and maintain their position within the masculine tribe We will also touch briefly on the norms of orthodox femininities to see how a culture of complementary opposites can act to produce a very binary and split gender narrative Thinking about narcissism and psychopathy: Narcissism and psychopathy are comparatively modern concepts associated with ‘badness’ and social undesirability We evaluate the shared features across narcissism, psychpathology and traditional accounts of masculinity We also discuss the function of such concepts in both popular discourse and in therapeutic contexts Exploring intersections: Some of the defining characteristics of masculinity and narcissism appear to map onto one another, so how do we make sense of this? We bring together the two strands of the webinar and explore the intersections and reciprocal relationships between gender norms, narcissism and psychopathy Is there a pro-social aspect to narcissism and psychopathy where traditionally the tribe has needed these traits to be held by members to ensure the safe functioning of the group? If these traits are socially endorsed as norms, how important is it to understand their flexible application? CPD Hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722) 

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of individuals identifying as transgender and non-binary, bringing gender into the public discussion domain. Latest figures show that up to 4.5% of adult population may identify as gender-diverse while an even higher percentage may have questions about their own gender identities – questions, that are increasingly relevant in our clinical settings as therapists. Not only are gender-diverse individuals more likely to experience mental-health difficulties (primarily due to the profound impact of societal stigma) – but also, they are less likely to seek mental health support, expecting to be met with rejection, scepticism and lack-of-understanding. This intellectually stimulating and practical e-learning course by Laura Scarrone Bonhomme, who specialises in Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity (LGBTQI+) and has provided support to over 300 trans, non-binary and gender-questioning individuals; aims to take us on a journey to discover the inner life and challenges of gender-diverse individuals and their loved ones. The aim is to spark sufficient compassion, interest and confidence that would allow psychotherapists and counsellors to work affirmatively with gender-clients; instead of referring them on. Specifically, we discuss: Practical strategies that address issues including:              - Gender dysphoria: working with the continual unease a client may have due to a discrepancy between gender identity and the sex assigned at birth The relationships that trans and non-binary individuals form with the mirror               - These may manifest as higher levels of body dissatisfaction, increased likelihood of experiencing anxious and depressive symptoms, difficulties with sexual and other types of intimacy, and lower self-esteem Understanding the experiences of gender-diverse individuals who transition in later life Comprehending the commonly found emotions within gender work and practical strategies for managing concurrent challenges CPD hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

After the recent expose’ of sexual abuse in sports, boarding schools and some faith communities, childhood sexual abuse (CSA) of males has received increased awareness and clinical research interest – highlighting the markedly different impact of CSA on men. Data has shown that male survivors of CSA are ten times more likely to suffer from PTSD, five times more likely to have substance misuse disorder – and 46% of males with a history of CSA attempting suicide. The key challenge for psychotherapists and counsellors is that the manifestations in our therapy rooms may not be admittedly linked to CSA – men find it harder to disclose their abuse due to shame and societal expectations of orthodox masculinity. Male survivors of CSA commonly do not define their childhood experiences as abusive and often minimise its negative impact. This is exacerbated by a shame of disclosure – which is often seen as worse than remaining silent. This e-learning course looks at the social construction of CSA of males and its range of clinical implications. It emphasises how we can respond to the specific needs of male survivors of CSA within a trauma-informed framework – which includes the use of power and its impact on self-identities. Specifically, we consider: ·       What explains the fears in men that CSA will determine their sexual orientation – what does this imply for their capacity to have healthy sexual relationships ·       How do we comprehend reporting of sexual difficulties by survivors of CSA – including performance anxieties, erectile problems, compulsive sexual behaviour as well as difficulties with intimacy and the recurring need to ‘prove’ their masculinity ·       The social construction of the problem of male victims of CSA and its clinical implications ·       Overcoming difficulties around help-seeking and disclosure ·       Understanding the confusion with regards to sexual orientation and intimacy; sense of lost power, control and confidence in manhood ·       How trauma-informed practice can enable male survivors of CSA to recover and heal CPD hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Complex developmental trauma lives on in the body as a felt sense, not just in the mind. Indeed, the mind is always embodied and the body expresses the mind. As therapists, we find that traditional therapies can be highly challenging, because these clients are often unable to formulate their experience into words and may not present with a coherent narrative. They may also be profoundly avoidant of and often disconnected from some of the most distressing body-based manifestations of trauma – constant re-experiencing of traumatic occurrences and hyperactivity of the body’s natural stress response system, for example. Therapists who are not formally trained in somatic approaches can often struggle with how to work with these embodied experiences in the body – they may find the client’s constant avoidance of the present moment disconcerting or they may attempt at focusing on emotional states, while the locus for therapy lies within the bodily manifestations. This engaging and practical e-learning course with Kathy Steele will focus on somatic approaches for therapists who may not have formal training in body-based therapies. By explaining specific somatic interventions that have proven effective for complex trauma and considering both the bodies of therapist and client as rich sources of implicit communication – Kathy delves into practical methodologies with which we can work efficaciously with Complex Trauma. The e-learning course uses examples and case illustrations to focus not only on integrating somatic approaches with clients, but also on techniques through which we can attend to somatic experiences in ourselves. The overall aim of this e-learning course is to help therapists learn how to effectively work with non-verbal and / or pre-verbal traumatic experiences in clients, who cannot tell the story of what happened. Learning Objectives: ·       Discuss effective ways to integrate somatic approaches and the theory of structural dissociation into therapy for complex trauma ·       Delineate at least four somatic interventions to increase regulatory and collaborative capacities in complex trauma clients ·       Employ at least five interventions that can effectively change the persistent somatic experience of highly traumatized clients ·       Describe the role of the body and nonverbal communications and processes in working with dissociative clients ·       Practice personal somatic awareness during sessions to increase the ability to utilize it effectively in therapy ·       Employ interventions to effectively resolve pre-verbal traumatic memories CPD hours: 6 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a therapeutic modality for trauma and attachment issues. SP welcomes the body as an integral source of information which can guide resourcing and the accessing and processing of challenging, traumatic, and developmental experience. It is a holistic approach that includes somatic, emotional and cognitive processing and integration. As SP enables clients to discover and change habitual physical and psychological patterns that impede optimal functioning and well-being; this modality renders itself especially helpful in working with dysregulated activation and other effects of trauma, as well as the limiting belief systems of developmental issues. The core principle underlying SP is that the body’s intelligence is largely an untapped resource in psychotherapy.  Few psychotherapy or counselling methods incorporate the body’s healing potential to support therapeutic change, leaving therapists dependent on the client’s verbal narrative.  Yet the story told through gesture, posture, tone of voice, facial expressions, gaze, and movement is more significant and more accurate than the story told by the words.  And this “somatic narrative” implicitly conveys early experiences encoded in the brain and body long before the acquisition of language.  To omit drawing upon the wisdom of the body deprives clients of a much-needed avenue of self-knowledge and change.  Although SP incorporates body-oriented interventions common to other somatic psychology approaches – it is its own unique methodology in the way that it combines somatic psychology theory and practice with interpersonal neurobiology, neuroscience, trauma and attachment research. Dr Ogden’s approach for this e-learning course is that the techniques that underpin SP can be adapted by therapists in conjunction with their primary modalities – to support the unique needs of each client and the dynamics of the therapeutic dyad. At the e-learning course, she uses lecture, case examples, and brief experiential exercises to demonstrate how we can actively incorporate the body to change the physical actions and reactions that keep clients stuck in the past and support a more unified approach to the treatment of the effects of trauma and attachment.  Understanding the need that adapting Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to an online format presents particular challenges and opportunities, this e-learning course will also address these difficulties including managing office set-up, use of props, tips to maintain an emotional connection and special considerations in working with posture and movement in a telehealth format. CPD hours: 4 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £70 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

It is commonly accepted that emotional stress can contribute to physical discomforts including headaches, stomach-aches and frequent colds. As therapists, we also recognise that the relationship between stress and illness is amplified for clients who have a history of trauma – unresolved traumatic memories can even lead to somatic symptom disorders, while unresolved PTSD can manifest itself as bodily inflammation and autonomic nervous system imbalances. At this engaging and informative e-learning course with Dr Arielle Schwartz, we look at a biopsychosocial model of care which takes into account objective physical and biological factors of pain and illness as well as factors that are psychological or psychogenic in origin. The aim of considering such an approach is to assist clients in increasing their sense of control, self-efficacy and self-regulation with regards to the intensity and duration of distressing physical symptoms. We recognise that therapy for somatic disorders and illness can be challenging, especially when the etymology lies in complex, developmental trauma. Which is why the course specifically explains how we can assess for dissociation, lack of affect tolerance, or secondary gains that may block successful resolution of traumatic events. In addition, we will be introduced to the integration of EMDR Therapy and somatic psychology to enhance our client’s embodiment for the treatment of chronic pain and illness. Through the lenses of the EMDR-8 phase model, somatic psychology and structural integration theory, we will consider: ·       Therapeutic tools to address client experiences relating to medical mismanagement, invasive medical procedures or the lack of control that arises when the perpetrator is the client’s own body ·       The cognitive, emotional and physiological impact of stress, Trauma and PTSD ·       A biopsychosocial approach that helps you partner with clients to address psychological components of pain and illness ·       How to assess for dissociation and identify client’s parts or ego states as related to pain and illness ·       Resource development skills to help clients develop greater control over pain and illness symptoms ·       The six stages of trauma responses within the neurobiology of PTSD as it relates to therapy ·       Examples of top-down and bottom-up interventions in trauma therapy ·       Containment of somatic distress and the development of Affect Tolerance ·       Sequencing and somatic re-patterning CPD hours: 3 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £60 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)

Attachment theory provides useful perspectives on emotionally unstable or borderline personality disorder (BPD); both in terms of how the disorder develops and in terms of therapy. Both clients and therapists may struggle with trust, high levels of negative affect, and therapeutic ruptures. Attachment needs in such clients are highly aroused and often extremely difficult to assuage. Understandably, BPD clients can not only struggle to participate in the therapeutic alliance, but can also view therapists as aloof, uncaring, antagonistic or unsympathetic. At this practical e-learning course that would be relevant for psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, counsellors and psychiatrists, Dr Gwen Adshead will use a perspective based on attachment theory and the tenets of mentalisation to explore: How the psychopathology of emotional instability develops Hostile, helpless states of mind and epistemic trust The relationship with disorganised attachment and its sequelae How this understanding informs our therapeutic approaches How this understanding influences the way we think about families and their therapeutic needs Language and threat: use of why questions, silence and poor mentalising Preventing and managing attachment anxiety Course Schedule Attachment and personality development Brief overview of attachment theory and personality development Attachment and Affect Regulation – developmental studies and fMRI findings Insecure attachment and personality disorder: with emphasis on affect dysregulation Mentalising and affect regulation Clinical implications Why do people with PD struggle with therapy Activation and deactivation of attachment systems Repetition of Toxic attachments and lack of Trust Mentalising strategies for therapists Psychotherapeutic implications This session builds on and continues the theoretical bases considered so far and illustrates practical therapeutic implications for practitioners. Clinical vignettes will be discussed here. Specifically, we consider: Recognising when fragile mentalising capacities are overwhelmed by sudden surges of affect Helping our clients with self soothing and other strategies needed to reduce arousal Self-reflection and work with co-therapists CPD hours: 5 Ticket prices: Individual ticket for 2 year access: £125 (note: if you face any problems booking online, please call us at 020 7096 1722)