The Pain Paradox: The “Third Wave” of Mindfulness-Compassion Based Approaches for PTSD & Complex Trauma

Presented by John Briere, Ph.D.

Wednesday, May 31, 2017 – Thursday, June 1, 2017  |  Edmonton, ab

Date & Location

As our field matures, and currently-promoted therapies are tested in the real world, the limitations of some approaches to PTSD and complex trauma are becoming clear. Fortunately, researchers and clinical practitioners are discovering the power of new affect regulation interventions, interpersonal therapies, and empirically-based mindfulness and compassion models that, in combination with newer approaches to therapeutic exposure, are generating a “third wave” of effective approaches to trauma.

As importantly, clinicians are increasingly discovering the limits of medical model approaches to trauma-related difficulties, and are moving beyond the need to “fix” or “cure” problems that are not diseases or disabilities in the first place. As it turns out, acceptance, growth, and wisdom – all achievable by the trauma survivor – are natural complements to symptom reduction techniques, and often bring the client to new levels of awareness and appreciation.

This workshop presents the Pain Paradox, an East-West theory of trauma-related suffering that suggests that the “solution” to unwanted states is not to avoid, suppress, or intellectualize, but rather to carefully engage, accept, process, and even use painful material in the context of a compassionate therapeutic environment.

Building on his most recent books with valued co-authors Principles of Trauma Therapy, 2nd edition, DSM-5 Update (2014) and Mindfulness-oriented Interventions for Trauma: Integrating Contemplative Practices (2015)], this two day presentation offers new approaches, insights, and perspectives described in John Briere’s book-in- progress, The Pain Paradox: Embracing the unwanted in the search for well-being.

Who Should Attend

Clinical Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to Clinical Counsellors, Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Hospice and Palliative Care Workers, School Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Addiction Specialists, Marital & Family Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Vocational Rehabilitation Consultants and all professionals looking to enhance their therapeutic skills.

Agenda

DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2017

Brief Overview of Complex Trauma

• Complex trauma characteristics
• Effects
• Substance abuse, dissociation, tension-reduction behaviours, suicidality

Modern Western Approaches to Trauma Effects

• CBT and exposure-based models, including EMD R
• Affect regulation approaches
• Relational psychotherapy

Problems with Western Models

• Incomplete efficacy
• Misidentification of problems
• Inadequate attention to growth
• Insufficient attention to developments in therapeutic mindfulness

Eastern or More Existential Approaches to Trauma

• Focus more on suffering than pain
• Mindfulness
• Attention to engaging and allowing distress
• Intentional fostering of compassion in both therapist and client
• Growth, wisdom, & happiness as primary goals

The Pain Paradox

• Why avoidance often doesn’t work
• Why seeking pleasure doesn’t help

The Four Species of Pain and the Results of Suppressing Each

• Physical pain
• Cognitive/emotional pain due to events
• Culturally-related pain
• Existential pain

DAY 2 – THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 2017

The Perception Problem

• Snakes versus ropes
• Metacognitive awareness

Inviting Your Memories and Pain to Tea

• Processing conditioned emotions from maltreatment
• Explicit processing

Mindfulness

Affect Regulation Training

• Mindfulness-based breath techniques
• Meditation
• Urge and emotion surfing
• Trigger management
• RAINing

Relational Work

• Activation of attachment schema and cultural traumas in the context of compassion
• Neurobiology of compassionate treatment
• Detoxifying relationships

Special Issues

• Bad guys and evil
• Recovery versus growth

Learning Objectives

• Describe the clinical implications of the pain paradox
• Define metacognitive awareness
• Describe “urge surfing” and “trigger management” as they relate to changed identification with internal states and processes
• Describe the neurobiology of activated attachment schema
• Implement a model of client-therapist interaction that is nonauthoritarian and yet empirically-based

Your Presenter

John Briere, Ph.D.

John Briere, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, and Director of the USC Adolescent Trauma Training Center of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.  A past president of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, he is recipient of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology from the American Psychological Association, the Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award for Scientific Achievement from ISTSS, and the William N. Friedrich Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Child Psychology, from the Mayo Clinic.  He is author or co-author of over 120 articles and chapters, 15 books, and 9 trauma-related psychological tests. At USC, he teaches and consults in the burn unit, inpatient psychiatry, and emergency services.

 

Testimonials

“Dr. Briere engages very well with diverse audiences. John’s presentation skills are exceptional and I am grateful that he draws on stories, humour & everyday clinical experiences to connect with clinicians taking this workshop.”
– Dr. Jassal | Vancouver, BC | May 29-30, 2017

 

“Dr. Briere is an easy-to-listen to speaker. His knowledge is wide and he conveys it well. Humour helps a sometimes difficult topic. I am very glad I came to this workshop! Thank you.”
– Leana Brady-Algor | Vancouver, BC | May 29-30, 2017

 

“Very knowledgeable speaker, relatable with a great presence. I’m leaving this workshop with an understanding/working knowledge of complex trauma. More focus/time on strategies @ the end would have been helpful.”
– Edmonton, AB | May 31-June 1, 2017

 

“This training was great, helped provide me concrete ways to deal with trauma – but in a way that feels good for me (compassion, safety and letting the client lead). Additionally, it validated techniques I was already using! Thanks.”
– Edmonton, AB | May 31-June 1, 2017

 

“Thank you. Very informative and excellent presentation style.”
– Edmonton, AB | May 31-June 1, 2017

 

Registration & Fees