PDI Details and Course Descriptions
The Maryland Psychological Association/Foundation Post-Doctoral Institutes (PDI) were created to provide focused training in specific clinical skills for psychologists and other post-graduate mental health professionals. Prior PDI’s have focused on Forensic Psychology, Couples in Conflict, Personality Disorders, Clinical Hypnosis, Child Psychology and Marital Therapy.
The Post-Doctoral Institute on Treating Trauma Survivors provides an opportunity for clinicians to obtain in-depth continuing education targeting issues relevant to psychological trauma, its repercussions, and treatment. PDI fellows also benefit from the opportunity to participate in small group discussions and case presentations highlighting relevant topics with the training coordinators (Drs. Courtois and Brand). This PDI spans 15 months (October 2007 through December 2008) and therefore allows the clinician to acquire knowledge and applicable strategies in a long-term framework.
A special Post-Doctoral certificate of completion will be awarded to thosedoctoral level mental health professionals who are enrolled and complete the total PDI. CE certificates will be awarded following each workshop for the number of credit hours earned in that workshop (total of 39 hours). Those enrolled in the complete post-doctoral institute will also receive CE certificates for the small group discussion seminars (an additional 11 hours).
The Board of Educational Affairs of the Maryland Psychological Association is offering a 2007-2008 Postdoctoral Institute (PDI) on the topic of psychological trauma, its repercussions, and treatment. This is a particularly important topic due to the increased recognition of various types of trauma in our society and the lack of formal inclusion of the topic of psychological trauma in most professional training programs (despite the fact that a high percentage of medical and mental health clients have histories of trauma that have direct or indirect impact on the symptoms for which treatment is sought). In this PDI, we intend to cover current theoretical formulations, research findings, and clinical applications (including attention to their evidence-base) for various types of trauma and posttraumatic reactions and disorders. Course directors are Christine A. Courtois, PhD and Bethany Brand, PhD.
The PDI will consist of 6 six-hour workshops and 1 three-hour workshop; an introductory seminar of two hours; and 3 three-hour small group discussion seminars (including the final meeting of the PDI) for a total of 50 hours contact time (39 workshop hours, 2 hours introductory seminar, 9 hours small group discussion seminars – the last of which includes the summary meeting of the PDI). The group meetings will provide for face-to-face small group discussions between registrants and the two directors. Topics to be covered include: An introduction to trauma and posttraumatic reactions and disorders; Assessment of trauma and posttraumatic reactions; Relational issues in the treatment of trauma (including attention to ethics and risk management); Trauma over the lifespan; Evidence-based treatment approaches in clinical practice; Approaches to special issues that often arise in trauma treatment; Treating dissociative reactions and disorders in children/adolescents and adults; Treating combat related trauma in the soldier and family.
The small group discussion seminars will ensure that PDI participants and co-directors/group leaders have sufficient time to informally discuss the material presented in the workshops. The groups will address how to specifically implement theoretical, research, and clinical knowledge into practice and research. We will foster a supportive and encouraging atmosphere within the small discussion groups so that participants feel safe enough to discuss how they are doing implementing knowledge from the PDI into their practices, try out role plays, and discuss the transference and countertransference reactions common in clinical work with trauma survivors. Although these will not be a case conference or supervision, we will discuss as a group the results of using new techniques or knowledge in treatment, with a focus on building confidence and expertise in treating trauma survivors. As a group, we will engage in problem-solving of any difficulties participants are encountering with implementing the theoretical knowledge.
At the beginning and at the end of the PDI, participants will be asked to take a self-assessment “instrument” (to be developed by the PDI co-directors) with which they can evaluate their knowledge of theory and research on trauma and its application to trauma treatment and research. The initial meeting of the small groups will allow participants to identify their goals for the PDI to fill in gaps in knowledge/skill that were identified in the self-assessment. Midway through the PDI, they will be asked to assess their progress towards meeting their goals and set future goals and directions for their work with trauma survivors. During the final small group meeting, participants will again complete the self-assessment to determine how well they mastered the knowledge and skills presented throughout the PDI.
Required texts (not provided through registration fees)
Briere, J & Scott, C. (2006). Principles of trauma therapy: A guide to symptoms, evaluation, and treatment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Dalenberg, C. (2000). Countertransference and the treatment of trauma. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
Other texts and articles will be suggested for each workshop.
1. To enhance the ability of PDI fellows to evaluate their knowledge and skills in assessing and treating traumatized individuals and to develop an educational plan to remediate deficiencies and develop new and enhance existing skills.
2. To increase the PDI fellows understanding of the impact of a variety of types of trauma including chronic trauma and war-related trauma, with an emphasis on grasping the impact of trauma across the life span.
3. To develop an understanding of the major objectives and techniques of empirically supported approaches to the treatment of traumatized individuals, as well as how to pragmatically implement this knowledge into clinical practice.
4. To develop an understanding of the issues and learn the treatment techniques involved in treating complex trauma and dissociative reactions.
5. To enhance the PDI fellows awareness of, and ability to manage, the relational challenges as well as legal and ethical concerns arising in the treatment of traumatized individuals.
Christine Courtois, Ph.D., PDI Co-Director of Training, is a psychologist in private practice in Washington, DC and Co-Founder and past Clinical and Training Consultant of The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Dissociation in 2006, the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in 2003, the Cornelia Wilbur Award from the International Society for the Study of Dissociation in 2001, and the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology As A Professional Practice in 1996. These are just 3 of the many awards Dr. Courtois has received over the years. She has also held numerous faculty positions over the course of her career. Dr. Courtois has authored three books, Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999), Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993), and Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy. Additionally, she is a frequently invited presenter at numerous local, regional, state, national and international workshops and conferences. Dr. Courtois is presently Chair of the Practice Committee of Division 56, Psychological Trauma.
Bethany Brand, Ph.D., PDI Co-Director of Training, is an Associate Professor at Towson University and has been treating and researching trauma related disorders for 15 years. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Sheppard Pratt Health System in treating traumatized individuals. She is the author of numerous articles on trauma and has presented at over 70 workshops and conferences at the state, national, and international level. MPA recognized her excellent teaching by giving her the Psychology Teacher of the Year award in 2005. In that year Dr. Brand also earned Best Teacher Award and Distinguished faculty award from Towson University. Dr. Brand is currently conducting studies involving dissociative patients with experts including Frank Putnam, Ph.D. Dr. Brand maintains a private practice in Towson.
1. Defining and Assessing Trauma
Christine Courtois, Ph.D. and Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
Christine Courtois, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
3. Effects of Trauma on Development: Implications for Effective Treatment
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
March 14, 2008
4. Special Issues and Their Management in the Treatment of Trauma Survivors
Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
3 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
April 25, 2008
5. Implementing an Attachment-Based Treatment for Complex Trauma
Marylene Cloitre, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
September 26, 2008 (2 parallel workshops-chose your focus)
6A. Treating Dissociative Reactions to Trauma in Adults
Richard A. Chefetz, MD
6B. Treating Dissociative Reactions to Trauma in Children and Adolescents
Joyanna Silberg, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
November 21, 2008
7. Treating Veterans and Their Families
Lorie Morris, Psy.D.
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6 CE Credits
Columbia, Md.
October 5, 2007
Introduction to Trauma PDI
Christine Courtois, Ph.D. and Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
2 CE Credits
All PDI fellows meet at the MPA Office, Columbia, Md.
January 18, 2008 (snow date 1/25/08)
Small Group Seminar #2
Christine Courtois, Ph.D. and Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
3 CE Credits
2 groups – one meets in DC and one meets in Towson
March 14, 2008
Small Group Seminar #3
Christine Courtois, Ph.D. and Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
1:00 .pm. – 4:00 p.m.
3 CE Credits
Meeting at same location as morning workshop on this date
December 12, 2008
Small Group Seminar #4
Christine Courtois, Ph.D. and Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
3 CE Credits
All PDI fellows meet at the MPA Office, Columbia, MD
FACULTY
Christine Courtois, Ph.D., PDI Co-Director of Training, is a psychologist in private practice in Washington, DC and Co-Founder and past Clinical and Training Consultant of The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. She is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Dissociation in 2006, the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies in 2003, the Cornelia Wilbur Award from the International Society for the Study of Dissociation in 2001, and the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology As A Professional Practice in 1996. These are just 3 of the many awards Dr. Courtois has received over the years. She has also held numerous faculty positions over the course of her career. Dr. Courtois has authored three books, Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999), Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993), and Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy. Additionally, she is a frequently invited presenter at numerous local, regional, state, national and international workshops and conferences. Dr. Courtois is presently Chair of the Practice Committee of Division 56, Psychological Trauma.
Bethany Brand, Ph.D., PDI Co-Director of Training, is an Associate Professor at Towson University and has been treating and researching trauma related disorders for 15 years. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Sheppard Pratt Health System in treating traumatized individuals. She is the author of numerous articles on trauma and has presented at over 70 workshops and conferences at the state, national, and international level. MPA recognized her excellent teaching by giving her the Psychology Teacher of the Year award in 2005. In that year Dr. Brand also earned Best Teacher Award and Distinguished faculty award from Towson University. Dr. Brand is currently conducting studies involving dissociative patients with experts including Frank Putnam, Ph.D. Dr. Brand maintains a private practice in Towson.
Richard A. Chefetz, MD., is a member of the faculties of: Psychotherapy Training Program/Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis, Advanced Psychotherapy Training Program/ Washington School of Psychiatry, Modern Perspective in Psychoanalysis and New Directions in Psychoanalysis/Washington Center for Psychoanalysis; Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at the William Alanson White Institute, NYC. He is also past-president of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and is a Co-Director of their Dissociative Disorders Psychotherapy Training Program. Dr Chefetz is an internationally recognized lecturer, he is Listowner of the Dissociative Disorders Listserv, a topical listserv with over 500 members. He has published many journal articles and book chapters on the dissociative disorders.
Marylene Cloitre, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Institute for Trauma and Resilience at the NYU Child Study Center. She is also the Cathy and Stephen Graham Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. Her clinical work and research focus on the assessment and treatment of the effects of childhood maltreatment on emotional and social functioning across the lifespan. Dr. Cloitre has published widely and received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health and other agencies to assess and intervene in the psychological and social effects of complex trauma in children and adults.
Bessel van der Kolk, MD., is a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of posttraumatic stress. In 1982 he founded the Trauma Center in Boston, which specializes in the treatment of traumatized children and adults. He is Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Medical School, and director of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Community Program in Boston. Dr van der Kolk has done a great deal of research; including the first neuron-imaging study of PTSD and the recently completed the first NIMH funded study of EMDR for the treatment of PTSD. He was co-principal investigator of the DSM IV Field Trial for PTSD, in which he and his colleagues delineated the impact of trauma across the life span, and the differential impact of interpersonal trauma. He is very interested in how trauma affects the entire human organism, has led to his current work on the use of yoga and theater groups. Dr. van der Kolk has taught in hospitals and clinics around the world, and is past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
Lorie Morris, Psy.D., retired from the United States Army in 1996, where her primary duties were as a helicopter pilot and aviation logistics officer. She received her Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Argosy University/DC in 2002. Dr. Morris’ clinical interests include combat and sexual trauma recovery, ethics, and providing clinical supervision. She currently coordinates a 10-bed PTSD/SUD residential recovery program at the Baltimore VA, coordinates the VA Maryland Health Care System psychology extern program, and provides outpatient services for veterans in the Trauma Recovery Programs.
Joyanna Silberg, Ph.D., is the coordinator of Trauma Disorder Services for children and Adolescents at Sheppard Pratt Health System and the Executive Vice-President of the Leadership Council on Child Abuse & Interpersonal Violence. Her psychotherapy practice specializes in children and adolescents suffering from dissociative symptoms and disorders, and her forensic practice specializes in child sexual abuse. She is past-president of the International Society for the study of Dissociation (ISSD) and contributing editor to the society’s journal, the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. She is the recipient of the 1992 Walter P. Klopfer Award for her research, and the 1997 Cornelia Wilbur Award for clinical excellence. Dr. Silberg is the editor of The Dissociative Child and co-editor of Misinformation Concerning Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Survivors. She has written numerous articles on trauma and dissociation in children and adolescents and has presented nationally and internationally on child abuse, psychotherapy, and protecting abused children in family court.
Applications for enrollment in the Trauma PDI are now being taken from all doctoral level mental health professionals in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, DC, and Delaware. Space is limited to 30 PDI fellows. Applications (see form below) should be accompanied by a $500.00 down-payment. The down payment is credited toward tuition if the applicant is accepted and once accepted the down-payment is non-refundable. Once the application is received by MPA it will be reviewed for acceptance. Notification to applicant will occur within two weeks. If accepted, a formal PDI Fellow Contract will be sent to the accepted applicant. This contract will detail the cost, payment options and obligations of the PDI fellow participants.
The cost of the total PDI is $1300.00 for MPA members and $1690.00 for non-members. This fee covers attendance at all workshops plus: eleven (11) hours of small group seminar time (detailed above). This fee includes the initial down-payment of $500.00 per PDI fellow registration. Vouchers are not accepted for full PDI fellows since discounts are built into the PDI program fee. The fee can be paid in full at once or the registrant can pay the down-payment first and have the remaining fees spread out monthly over the total PDI period. For example: an MPA member fee of $1300.00 would be paid as follows: $500.00 down-payment and then $53.00 each month from October 2007 through November 2008 with a final payment due in December 2008 of $58.00.
Certificates for CE credit will be awarded at the end of each individual workshop and/or small group seminar, for all participants in attendance. Also, all doctoral level mental health professionals enrolled in the entire PDI will receive a special Post-Doctoral Certificate of Completion (for display purposes) indicating their participation in an in-depth continuing education program on Treating Trauma Survivors. This certificate will indicate that they completed a total of 50 hours of continuing education in the area of assessment and treatment of trauma survivors.
PLEASE NOTE: APA Standards for awarding credit prohibit offering variable credit for partial attendance, i.e., those arriving late and/or leaving a workshop early will not receive CE credit.
The Maryland Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Maryland Psychological Association maintains responsibility for the program and its content. The Maryland Psychological Association is approved by the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists as a sponsor of Continuing Education. The Maryland Psychological Association is approved by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners as a sponsor of Continuing Education.
Should a PDI fellow be forced to withdraw from the PDI after initial acceptance into the program, the fellow must give notice in writing (can be faxed) to MPA at least two weeks before the next scheduled workshop or small group seminar. Once proper notice is given and withdrawal accepted by MPA, anyone who paid the full fee up front will receive a refund equal to an amount based on the remaining monthly payment schedule. All previous payments including the initial down-payment are not refundable at this time.
Maryland Psychological Association Post Doctoral Institute Policy on Absences
You may miss six (6) hours of workshop time and one (1) small group seminar due to emergency or illness, and still qualify for the PDI Certificate of Completion if you attend the small group seminar related to that workshop; however, you will not qualify for the Continuing Education Credit for the missed workshop or seminar.
At the beginning and at the end of the PDI, participants will be asked to take a self-assessment “instrument” (to be developed by the PDI co-directors) with which they can evaluate their knowledge of theory and research on trauma and its application to trauma treatment and research. The initial meeting of the small groups will allow participants to identify their goals for the PDI to fill in gaps in knowledge/skill that were identified in the self-assessment. Midway through the PDI, they will be asked to assess their progress towards meeting their goals and set future goals and directions for their work with trauma survivors. During the final small group meeting, participants will again complete the self-assessment to determine how well they mastered the knowledge and skills presented throughout the PDI.
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2007-2008 MPA POST-DOCTORAL INSTITUTE:
TREATING TRAUMA SURVIVORS
APPLICATIONS AND REGISTRATION FORM
Name _____________________________________________________________________Degree_____________
Home Address _________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Business Address ______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Work Phone ______________________ Home ______________________Fax______________________________
Email address__________________________________________________________________________________
MPA/MSPA Member ____ Non-Member ____
Please answer the following questions as part of the application process for this PDI.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
COST
MPA Member - $1300.00
Non-Members - $1690.00
____Please accept my application for the complete PDI on Treating Trauma.
____Enclosed is my check for the $500.00 down-payment, payable to MPAF, to be applied toward tuition if application is accepted.
____Enclosed is my check for the entire tuition of $1300.00/member or $1690.00/non-member, payable to MPAF, to be applied toward tuition if application is accepted.
____Please charge the down-payment to my VISA/MC # ______________________________________
____Please charge the entire tuition to my VISA/MC# ________________________________________
Expiration Date ____________ Signature ____________________________________________
I understand that the remaining balance can be paid in full or will be due in monthly installments from October 2007 through December 2008 as detailed above. Further, I understand that if I am not accepted into the PDI, my deposit of $500.00 will be refunded in full.
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Initials
Fax form to: 410-992-7732