David provides teaching and training for professionals around the world who are working with traumatised children, young people and families. He offers training for professionals who are just learning about trauma and how it affects children, young people and their families, as well as for those who require highly specialised training including training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
At least a third of children and young people are exposed to potentially traumatic events, and a considerable proportion of those will develop Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex PTSD – distressing, debilitating and enduring conditions. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) has a strong evidence base supporting its use with children and young people with PTSD and is strongly recommended by the 2018 NICE PTSD guidelines as the first-line intervention.
This two-day workshop describes in detail the cognitive model of PTSD on which TF-CBT is based. The model is then used to consider:
1. How children, young people and their families react to traumatic events, including a particular focus on PTSD (both ICD-11 and DSM-5) and Complex PTSD.
2. How PTSD develops and is maintained.
3. How TF-CBT can be used to reduce symptoms of PTSD and Complex PTSD.
The workshop covers the importance of setting up the context around therapy, and then focuses on the core elements of TF-CBT. Specific difficulties in working with traumatised children and young people are considered, and the evidence supporting TF-CBT is presented and evaluated. Clinical examples and formulations are used throughout the training to illustrate how the model and the skills can be put into practice in particular with children and young people with different needs. In addition to direct teaching, there will be opportunities for questions and discussions as a whole group, as well as some small group discussion and exercises.
This course is suitable for any practitioners who have a therapeutic role with children and young people who have experienced traumatic events. Using the cognitive model, this course is intended to increase understanding of how traumatic events affect children and young people and what can be done to help.
Those with no previous knowledge or experience of CBT will develop an improved understanding of trauma which should influence their practice. This two-day workshop does not, on its own, equip a practitioner to offer TF-CBT for children and young people with PTSD. However, this training should equip those already suitably trained in CBT and who continue to receive adequate supervision to provide TF-CBT specifically for children and young people with PTSD and complex PTSD.
As noted on my in the EDI statement on this website, I am committed to being inclusive and equitable. This includes ensuring that this training is accessible to practitioners with different ways of learning and different ways of processing information. I have taken this into account when designing the course. However, if any participants would benefit from any additional reasonable adjustments to help you get the most from the course, please let me know in advance. All requests will be handled sensitively and confidentially.
The course will include discussion of traumatised children, young people and their families and some details of the traumatic events. Such discussions may trigger emotional reactions in participants. However, some participants may find themselves affected more strongly, for example if they have their own experiences of trauma or have other pressures on them. The course includes some discussion of the impact of the work on clinicians and how the model can be used to help clinicians manage that impact. Participants should carefully consider their own histories, current situations and responses to being exposed to accounts of other people’s traumatic experiences to decide if they are able to make the most of this course at this time. Throughout the course, the participants are actively encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their wellbeing and do whatever they need to take care of themselves.
The workshop has been approved through the BPS CPD Quality Mark Scheme for the purposes of continuing professional development.
The workshop has previously been approved by the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) and can contribute 20 points towards the ESTSS Certificate in Psychotraumatology on successful completion of 20 multiple choice questions (https://estss.org/estss-certification/). If you would like this workshop to count towards certification, please ensure that you make this clear in advance when making the booking.
TF-CBT has been used effectively with pre-schoolers, and although those working with pre-school age children should find aspects of the training that they can adapt, it is principally intended for those working with children of school age.
If you would like to commission this workshop, please do get in touch.