Description

Additionally, trauma manifests in affect dysregulation and habitual responses that are best accessed through body-based and creative approaches. Therapists serve as models and interactive co-regulators with youth and their caregivers, teaching them to mindfully observe and expose, with curiosity and compassion, patterns that have been reinforced through experiences.

Clinicians and therapists working with children and youth will explore strategies that offer body-based and creative interventions with an opportunity for hands-on and reflective practice. In this experiential learning session, you will learn to recognize signs that a client might be outside the Window of Tolerance (i.e. hyper- or hypo-aroused), and how/when to use non-verbal strategies that bypass the language centres of the brain to promote healing.

Outcomes

1. 1. Describe key components of various body-based frameworks and creative approaches (e.g. Sensorimotor Psychotherapy™, EMDR, ARC, SMART, music, art, play) that facilitate the healing process.
   2. Apply basic skills used in the somatic and expressive approaches including grounding, centering, containment and more.
   3. Using case studies, identify creative interventions for working with traumatized youth and their caregivers.