Patterns of the past

This inspiring and helpful course with Ros Townsend, a highly experienced psychotherapist and trainer who specialises in treating trauma, will give you a clear, thorough understanding of how and why we can be impacted by traumatic events, what is happening in our brains, what causes post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms, why we respond in different ways (fight, flight or freeze), how to help someone who is suffering, when to seek professional help – and more.
Why take this course

Suffering from trauma, whether from a single incident or multiple events spread over the course of many years, can have a significantly detrimental impact on a person’s mental and physical health, and their quality of life. It can also greatly affect the lives of those around them.

Since the Covid-19 Pandemic, more people than usual have experienced extremely stressful, distressing and/or frightening events, and many are finding that it has left them with symptoms of post-traumatic stress which can, in themselves, be very frightening.

Recovery is possible – understanding is key

Understanding what causes PTSD symptoms, how our brains and bodies react to distressing events and what makes us vulnerable to becoming traumatised, are all key to successful recovery. This knowledge creates a firm foundation on which to build successful coping strategies and clarifies what needs to happen to enable successful self-help and recovery.

During the day you will also gain a clear understanding of how to spot the ‘early warning signs’ of trauma, before they go on to affect further areas of someone’s life, which red-flag signs indicate that it is time to seek professional help, and how trauma specialists are able to help people recover, from even the most difficult times, effectively – and lots more.

Jam-packed full of essential information and important insights, real-life case studies and tips, this course clarifies the different ways trauma can impact on people, leaving you better equipped to help support recovery and build resilience. It is an essential course for anyone who works with distressed people or who wishes to support someone they care for in their recovery from trauma, or for those simply wishing to better understand what they, or someone they care for, are experiencing.

You will have plenty of time to ask questions throughout the day as the course is designed as a balance between structured learning, group discussion and activities (it is a live, expanded version of our online course: Understanding Trauma).
….

What you will learn

A clear understanding of what trauma is
What happens in our brains when we experience a traumatic event
Why some people are affected by traumatic events, but not others
What makes something ‘a trauma’
What symptoms may indicate that someone has been traumatised
Why post-traumatic stress (PTS) occurs and the many different ways it can present
The physical and psychological causes of post traumatic stress symptoms such as flash backs, hypervigilance, anger, poor sleep, poor memory, physical pain, difficulty thinking, digestive problems, low mood, apparent over-reaction to non-threatening situations
Why PTS symptoms can develop years after a traumatic event
The fight, flight and freeze response – its impact on our brain and body, and why it can be triggered inappropriately
How high emotional arousal impacts on our ability to think clearly
Why our brains evolved this way
Why some people freeze when faced with a traumatic event, and why we shouldn’t feel ashamed if we do
The double whammy that comes with the ‘freeze’ response
Why some sufferers experience ‘shutdown’ as a result of trauma
How traumatic memories can stay ‘live’, keeping us on constant alert for danger
‘The straw that broke the camel’s back’: why one seemingly small event can tip someone into PTSD after years of exposure to other distressing events
The importance of pattern-matching in understanding how our brains work
Why post-traumatic stress triggers seemingly inappropriately extreme fear reactions
The far-reaching impacts of unresolved trauma, including the development of co-morbid conditions and unhelpful coping strategies, such as addictions
How unresolved trauma can lead to depression – the trauma / depression cycle
Differences when treating single incident trauma, multiple trauma or ‘complex trauma’
When to seek professional help – spotting the ‘red-flag’ signs that you, or someone you care for, might need further support
Where to find effective professional help
An understanding of how the rewind technique works; its many advantages and applications
The common elements of effective treatments for post traumatic stress (PTSD)
Working holistically from the human givens approach
The natural way we recover from distressing events
What we all need as human beings to live emotionally healthy lives
How to best employ self-help strategies to support your own recovery or to help others’ suffering from the effects of trauma
How to build resilience and recover from symptoms
How to access the ‘recovery zone’
Using breathing techniques with clients suffering from trauma
Self-help strategies for improving your mental health and minimising traumatic symptoms