Developmental Trauma Workshop 2018: The Impact of Adverse Experiences & What We Can Do About It

Broaden and deepen your understanding of repetitive traumatic stress that occurs during childhood or adolescence. The trauma incurred during this time of development creates a template in a child’s brain from which the child will function in relationship to self and others, in their emotions, physiology, cognitions and belief system, response to stress and coping, and in learning and educational experiences. These impacts may be lifelong and can create significant challenges without proper identification, intervention, and support. Understanding by educators, parents, and professionals of the impact of childhood trauma and the necessary interventions is vital for a child’s mental and physical health.

Join Clinical Psychologist Dr. Erica Liu Wollin and Trauma Educator and Parent Coach Deborah Holcombe for an informative full-day workshop, which will include coverage of:

• Chronological age versus developmental age

• Attachment styles in children and adults

• Co-regulation, Reflective functioning, and State-dependent functioning

• Sensory issues

• Prenatal exposure to substances as a trauma

• Pre-verbal trauma, trauma and the body, and dissociation

• Resources and therapeutic narratives

• Adjunct interventions that are useful in treatment of developmental trauma

• Trauma-informed classrooms and educational methods

• Secondary trauma

• Resilience and post-traumatic growth

This is an intermediate level workshop building upon the prior Developmental Trauma workshop 2017 with Dr. Erica Liu Wollin and Virginia Spielmann. For those who did not attend last year’s workshop, basic familiarity with the following will be assumed: definitions of trauma and attachment, the impact of trauma on the developing brain, types of early experiences which put children at risk of developing trauma reactions, neuroplasticity, ACE study, regulation/dysregulation, and fight/flight/freeze reactions. For those without prior familiarity with these concepts, a set of resources can be provided for an extra fee to become familiarized with these topics and the attendee will need to review these materials in advance.

This workshop is for therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, social workers, educators, teachers, learning support assistants, special educators, SENCos, child care workers, developmentalists, behaviorists and parents. Parents, caregivers, and family members are most welcome to attend, however please note the content and pace will be aimed more at a professional level. Continuing professional education/CME credits are being applied for with several professional societies and attendees will be updated as credit is granted.

Dr. Erica Liu Wollin is a Registered Clinical Psychologist (HK) and a Licensed Psychologist (US). Trained in the US, she holds a PsyD and MA (Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College) and a BA (University of Illinois, Chicago). Erica has a private practice in Sheung Wan, specializing in trauma therapy for adults, adolescents, children, couples and families. She has practiced EMDR Therapy, an effective treatment for trauma and anxiety, for over 15 years and is a Certified EMDR therapist. She is the Professional Adoption Resources Coordinator for Adoptive Families of Hong Kong and is a trainer and consultant for Mother’s Choice and CityU Student Development Services. She has also worked with organizations such as Alliant International University HK, Lingnan University, Dance with Depression, and HK Society for the Protection of Children. She is also an adoptive parent.

Deborah Holcombe is a Trauma Educator intern with Dr. Erica Liu Wollin. She is trained in the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) through the Child Trauma Academy and offers workshops to teachers and parents. She serves on the steering committee with Adoptive Families of Hong Kong. Deborah earned a MEd in English Education, BA in Communications, and a BS in Secondary Education. She is certified in Dr.Stephen Porges’ Safe and Sound Protocol and is also a RYT-200 certified yoga instructor and a certified parent coach. Deborah is an adoptive parent.