WARNING: THIS COURSE CONTAINS MATERIAL DISCUSSING TRAUMA AND SEXUAL TRAUMA. PLEASE PROCEED AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
This training provides an overview of trauma’s effects on the brain, mind, and body, based on principles from the book The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk; focusing on the neuroscience of trauma, attachment, and the body’s response to traumatic experiences. Participants will explore evidence-based approaches for working with trauma survivors.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Explain how trauma impacts brain function and physiological responses.
- Identify the connections between attachment, stress, and trauma.
- Analyze the role of implicit and explicit memory in trauma processing.
- Apply trauma-informed strategies to support recovery and emotional regulation.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: The Nature and Impact of Trauma
- Trauma as a current imprint, not just a memory
- The body’s survival response and difficulty with denial
- Self-blame and the challenge of emotional regulation
- Effects of inescapable shock and persistent stress
Objective #2: How Trauma Rewires the Brain
- Reorganization of brain regions in response to trauma
- Disrupted balance between the limbic system, brain stem, and cortex
- Role of the amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus in trauma response
- Memory processing: fragmented, sensory, and preverbal imprints
Objective #3: Memory Systems and Neurological Patterns
- Differences between implicit (body) and explicit (narrative) memory
- “Speechless horror”: Broca’s area dysfunction and verbal inhibition
- Pre-cognitive vs. post-cognitive circuits in threat response
- Disrupted time and sequence awareness due to hippocampal impairment
Objective #4: The Physiology of Trauma
- Constant CNS activation and eventual system fatigue
- Physical manifestations: nausea, tightness, rigidity, hypervigilance
- Chronic inability to feel joy, pleasure, or calm
- Serotonin’s role in fear regulation and the effects of SSRIs
Objective #5: Behavioral and Emotional Reactions to Trauma
- Reenactment and the “compulsion to repeat” painful experiences
- Trauma-driven behaviors misinterpreted as pathology (e.g., ADHD)
- The addictive dynamic of seeking out danger for stimulation
- Shame, numbness, and detachment from emotional life
Objective #6: The Role of Attachment and Attunement
- Bowlby and Ainsworth’s attachment theory and child development
- Disorganized attachment: confusion, fear, and inconsistent behavior
- Mirror neurons and the importance of synchronized caregiver interaction
- Long-term effects of neglect and abuse on relational capacity
Objective #7: The Dance of Attunement and Emotional Development
- Delight, rupture, repair, and reconnection as key bonding processes
- Failure to soothe and acknowledge distress disrupts emotional growth
- Secure attachment as foundation for empathy, self-regulation, and agency
- Role reversal, emotional numbing, and fear-driven bonding patterns
Objective #8: Approaches to Healing Trauma
- Importance of body-based therapies to regulate nervous system
- Somatic experiencing: releasing stored trauma through physical awareness
- EMDR and the role of sensory processing in trauma recovery
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and memory reconsolidation
Objective #9: Rethinking Traditional Talk Therapy
- Limitations of CBT and prolonged exposure for trauma
- The importance of integrating body, brain, and emotional awareness
- Risks of retraumatization through repeated narrative retelling
- Healing as reclaiming presence, control, and safety in the body
Objective #10: Clinical Insights and Practical Strategies
- Helping clients tolerate distress without being overwhelmed
- Using sensory modalities (music, movement, breathwork) to support healing
- Trauma-informed language, attunement, and co-regulation
- Empowering clients to engage the present moment and rebuild agency
Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 Clinical continuing education training.
Instructor: Dreya Blume, LCSW
Recording Date: March 20, 2024
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2hrs Clinical continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device.
Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com