10 Jul Sensorimotor Therapy Techniques for Trauma Treatment: Practical Skills
Research is increasingly showing the importance of working with the body when treating trauma.
Sometimes referred to as “bottom-up techniques,” somatic (or body-based) work is often critical when helping clients recover from PTSD and other trauma or stressor-related disorders. However, many evidence-based therapies de-emphasize somatic work, focusing instead on “top-down,” or cognitive techniques. While top-down techniques can be immensely helpful, they can also be ineffective if taught too soon, before bottom-up techniques are mastered. This is because of how the brain is naturally wired, and our clients’ need to first stabilize lower brain regions (such as the amygdala), reconnecting with the body and restoring a sense of safety. When clients can connect with their own experiences, and with others, the traditional top-down approaches become more effective.
This seminar helps clinicians integrate somatic, bottom-up work into trauma treatment by teaching several body-based skills that help clients better connect with the therapist, re-establish safety in their body, and regulate their nervous system!
Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and internationally-recognized expert on anxiety and trauma, and the neuroscience of mental health. She completed her doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University), and the National Center for PTSD. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in affective neuroscience from Stanford University, and studied behavioral genetics at Harvard University.
Dr. Sweeton resides in the greater Kansas City area, where she owns a group private practice, Kansas City Mental Health Associates. She formerly served as the President of the Oklahoma Psychological Association, and holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is the current President of the Greater Kansas City Psychological Association. Dr. Sweeton offers psychological services services to clients in Oklahoma, Kansas, and internationally, and is a sought-after trauma and neuroscience expert who has trained more than 10,000 mental health professionals in her workshops.
Dr. Sweeton is the author of the book Trauma Treatment Toolbox. Her latest book is Eight Key Brain Areas of Mental Health and Illness (2021).
This online training program will give you instant access to video content, accessible via streaming on our website, as well as downloadable PowerPoint slides. You can view the course content in your own time, there is no time limit on access.
The duration of this course is 6 learning hours.
Please click the “Mark Complete” button on each module as you progress through the course. A certificate of completion will be generated upon finishing the course and completing a multiple-choice evaluation quiz. Please consult your professional organisation/association to confirm whether you are able to claim any CPD points/hours for this online training program.
