Description
Children with complex trauma disorders, dissociation and/or attachment difficulties can be difficult and volatile in placement settings. Making use of the most recent knowledge, research and theories in developmental traumatology, this workshop will introduce participants to a treatment model that better addresses the needs of children and youth with “complex trauma disorders” or “developmental trauma disorders.”
Challenging behaviour as an adaptive coping response to trauma is difficult to identify without training, and does not resolve organically during non-specific trauma treatment. Managing these complex needs and presentations leads to a high degree of conflict and instability within treatment systems. The result may be broken down placements, school expulsions, or assaults on staff and peers. Participants will learn specific techniques for managing these challenging and high risk clients to build supportive relationships and engagement.
Who Should Attend: This workshop will be of interest to those supporting children and youth in out-of-home care with complex trauma disorders including family foster care, kinship care, treatment foster care, and residential and group care.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe the impact of trauma, complex trauma and attachment on self and worldview.
- Apply specific strategies and techniques to support, care for, and stabilize these young people.
- Identify factors that lead to instability in treatment systems when dealing with children with complex needs.
Who Should Attend
This training will be of interest to those supporting children and youth in out-of-home care with complex trauma disorders including family foster care, kinship care, treatment foster care, and residential and group care.
Course Dates & Format
There are no scheduled dates for this course at this time, however in-service is available.
This is a 6-hour training. This course consists of two 3-hour interactive virtual sessions using Zoom.
Instructor: Niki Gomez-Perales, MSW, RSW
Niki Gomez-Perales is a recognized expert in the areas of children’s mental health, complex trauma, attachment and dissociation. Niki completed her B.S.W. from McMaster University in 1986 and her M.S.W. from the University of Toronto in 1991. She has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of child welfare and children’s mental health. For the past 25 years Niki has worked as a therapist at a Children’s Mental Health clinic in Hamilton Ontario.
Niki has lectured on Complex Trauma and Attachment with the ISST-D, the ESTD, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children, Safeguards Training for Children and Adult Services and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has special interests in the areas of Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Experiencing, Early and Pre-verbal Trauma and Attachment.
Niki has advanced training in EMDR, Clinical Hypnosis, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy. She is an active member and Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and a winner of the ISSTD 2016 written media award for her book, “Attachment-Focused Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents: Phase-Oriented Strategies for Addressing Complex Trauma Disorders,” (2015. Routledge).
Training Fee
Group Registration: Save 20% off individual fee with group registration of 4 or more participants. Download the group registration form HERE.
Continuing Education Information
Licensing boards and professional organizations will grant Continuing Education credits for attendance at their discretion when participants submit the course outline and certificate.
In-Service
This is available as an in-person or virtual in-service training and customized to suit your needs.
