Class 1

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET

The Trauma Bond - Why Abused People Stay

The “Trauma Bond” is one interpersonal mechanism through which an abusive or coercive individual exerts power over others. How a trauma bond works is complicated and difficult for those not involved in such relationships to understand (Dutton and Painter, 1981). What is clear is the development of the trauma bond is insidious and intricate – the formation of the patterns not only involve the two people in the relationship (or the family or group, if applicable) but the culture and society in which the individuals live and interact (Durvasula, 2024).

Trauma bonding, which is a relational trauma when the abuse or neglect occurs between a caregiver and child, is not only something that occurs in IPV but also in narcissistic abuse, cults, and abusive family relationships (Shaw, 2022). When someone becomes involved in this cycle the likelihood of this toxic dynamic awareness is low and has long-lasting effects (Shaw, 2022; Durvasula, 2024) similar to complex posttraumatic stress disorder. This course is an introduction to the Trauma Bond, how it affects the individual and what the clinician can do when confronted with this in practice.

(Trainer: Dr. Laura Spencer is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician with over 20 years’ experience working in the behavioral health field. Dr. Spencer has worked with individuals, families and couples, navigating many types of difficulties, from serious emotional disturbances to typical life changes. In addition to clinical practice and supervision, Dr. Spencer has taught graduate level classes in Counseling and Psychology at SUNY at Buffalo and conducted research on what works in parenting.)

3 Hours

Class 2

1:45 PM - 4:45 PM ET

Cracking the Code: Building Powerful Therapeutic Alliances with Challenging Clients

Mental health clinicians routinely encounter individuals with challenging personalities and behaviors. With these clients, we can become stuck in patterns of interaction that are not therapeutic, leave us feeling frustrated, and block us from engaging in healing relationships with our clients. This workshop will offer a deeper understanding of personality functioning and provide insights into improved working relationships with challenging individuals. In this workshop we will move toward a deeper understanding of the concept of personality and learn how to form therapeutic alliances in challenging professional relationships. Initially, the workshop will cover DSM-5’s alternative model for personality disorders with a focus on the elements of identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy and how individuals exist along a continuum for each of these elements.

The workshop will examine how these elements manifest for clients along the spectrum, from little to no impairment through severe impairment. With insight into these personality elements, practical case examples will be reviewed along with exploration of how to form alliances with individuals who fall on the far ends of the spectrum. The outcome of the workshop will be a deeper understanding of personality more generally as well as some take-home tools for creating stronger therapeutic alliances with challenging clients.

(Trainer: Dr. Sharen Barboza is a licensed clinical psychologist and internationally recognized expert in suicide prevention, crisis management, self-injury reduction, and self-care in institution settings. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from Tufts University, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is certified in Wholebeing Positive Psychology.)

3 Hours