A clinical workshop

* This course will build skills in competency areas for those seeking infant mental health endorsement at the Infant Mental Health Specialist category

4 sessions of 3 hours each, Mondays, 9:00 am – 12:15 pm Central Time (on Zoom)

Dates: April 25, May 9, May 23, June 13

Fee: $45, CEU for social workers available for a total of $15 for 12 hours, LPC pending.

Background:

Childhood trauma is a common presenting problem for children referred for mental health treatment, and these experiences can lead to long term negative impacts on both physical and mental health.  Therefore, high quality, early intervention is critical to help children heal and support their return to a normal developmental trajectory.  For children up to age twelve, the task of talking about trauma continues to be important. There is widespread agreement across child and family serving systems about the need for trauma-informed care. However, in practice, professionals often struggle to find ways to talk about trauma with children and their caregivers.

The current workshop  will help professionals working with traumatized children  learn how to talk to children directly about trauma. The course will help them learn effectively how to gather essential information at the beginning of treatment, diagnostic considerations, case conceptualization and intervention with an emphasis on children age birth to twelve and their caregivers.

The course will include a blend of didactic and experiential methods of learning and learners will have the opportunity to apply the information learned to their own case material. Learning activities will include small and larger group discussion as well as skills practice.

Course topics:

Definitions and prevalence of child trauma; developmentally appropriate ways to “talk” about trauma in treatment; domains of assessment for trauma in children and how to find, select, and use quality tools; the importance of caregiver involvement in treatment for children who have experienced trauma and strategies for engagement; theoretical frameworks: attachment, trauma, development, relationship-based practice; the intersection between parent and child trauma; how to integrate the impact of historical trauma and racism.

Lecturer’s bio:

Ashleigh Kraft, LPC-S, IMH-E® supports implementation of Snyder’s Hope theory in practice within behavioral health organizations in her work at the Hope Research Center at OU-Tulsa.  She also provides training and consultation in the areas of infant mental health, non-profit leadership, and trauma-informed care.  The major areas of focus in her professional experiences have included working with survivors of domestic violence, child maltreatment, and interpersonal trauma.  She is trained to provide Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Circle of Security and Reflective Supervision/Consultation, and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor, Clinical.  She is a state-wide trainer for CPP in Oklahoma and is endorsed through Zero to Three as a certified state trainer for DC: 0-5.  Ashleigh is passionate about the power of relationships, supporting professional growth of therapists, and the importance of early relationships.

How to apply?

Clinicians are eligible for enrollment in this class if they are currently working with children and families.

Number of participants: Max of 35.