Employing Alternate States to Alter States of Consciousness in Trauma and Dissociation

Abstract
It has long been recognized that various states of consciousness characterize traumatization and dissociation. Diverse forms of dissociation – amnesia, depersonalization, derealization – are themselves examples of altered states of consciousness. Similarly, major components of traumatization – flashbacks, hypervigilance, hyperarousal – indicate the presence of alterations in consciousness. Moreover, the evocation of altered states via hypnosis has been identified as a potentially invaluable tool in the treatment of trauma and dissociation as far back as the late nineteenth century. The upsurge in the popularity mindfulness practices in the West over the past few decades has led to recognition of their therapeutic utility and especially of their applicability to ameliorating trauma-related and dissociative difficulties. Even more recently the revival of research on therapy enhanced by the administration of a number of psychedelic drugs – such as MDMA, ketamine, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline, and ayahuasca – has especially targeted trauma-related disorders. This workshop will present a model of how the functions of three major large brain networks – the salience network (SN), central executive network (CEN), and default mode network (DMN) – map onto various manifestations of trauma and dissociation. The ways in which these proposed relationships can help identify the relevance and guide the application of relaxation exercises, hypnosis interventions, mindfulness practices and psychedelic assisted therapy to resolve diverse aspects of traumatization and dissociation. Case material will be employed to provide illustrative examples of how these alternate states can be appropriated to construct and implement strategies aimed at transforming problematic states of consciousness among individuals experiencing trauma-related and dissociative difficulties.
 

Timed Outline
15 Minutes - Brief history of altered states of consciousness in psychology and application in psychotherapy
20 Minutes - Phenomenology and types of altered states of consciousness
20 Minutes - Neurobiology of altered states of consciousness
20 Minutes - Altered States as a lens for conceptualizing trauma & dissociation
15 Minutes - Neurobiology of trauma & dissociation
25 Minutes - Overview of Contextual Trauma Therapy & Complex PTSD & Dissociative Disorders
25 Minutes - Empirical support for the use of altered states of consciousness in the treatment of trauma-related disorders
25 Minutes - Contextual Trauma Therapy and the utilization of altered states of consciousness: A Case Study
15 Minutes - Question and Answer (from original live audience)

The session was originally presented as a live conference session in April 2021.

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:

  • Differentiate altered states of consciousness associated with traumatization (e.g. hyper-arousal, flashbacks, depersonalization, derealization)
  • Explain the function of the SN, CEN and DMN brain networks
  • Identify the differential effects of relaxation exercises, hypnosis, mindfulness and psychedelic drugs
  • Construct an intervention for dissociation using mindfulness
  • Use hypnosis to disrupt and eliminate flashbacks
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 3.00 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 3.00 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ISSTD maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2021 – 08/20/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 continuing education credits.
  • 3.00 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 3.00 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program.
Course opens: 
12/31/2020
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$59.00
Your Price:
$59.00
Rating: 
0

Presenter: Michael A. Quinones, PhD
Presenter Bio: Michael Quinones, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of Trauma, Dissociation, and related disorders. He received his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University with concentration in forensic psychology. During his education, Dr. Quinones received intensive training in forensic and trauma psychology with a focus on the assessment and treatment of trauma-related disorders. Dr. Quinones completed his predoctoral internship at a local community hospital's inpatient psychiatric unit where his training focused on crisis stabilization and the assessment and treatment of co-occurring disorders including trauma, dissociation, and substance use. His research and clinical interests include the study and application of clinical hypnosis and mindfulness-based approaches to psychotherapy. His interests also include the application of attachment and developmental theory to a range of topics, including trauma, substance use, forensic settings, and contextual-based models of treatment.

Presenter: Steven N. Gold, PhD
Presenter Bio: Steven N Gold, PhD is Professor Emeritus at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) College of Psychology. He founded and for 30 years served as Director of NSU’s Trauma Resolution & Integration Program. He served as President of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Trauma Psychology (56) in 2009, as inaugural editor of Division 56’s scientific journal, Psychological Trauma, from 2008 through 2014, received the Division 56 Award for Outstanding Service to the Field of Trauma Psychology in 2014, and served Division 56 on the APA Council of Representatives from 2014 through 2019. In 2004 Dr. Gold served as ISSTD President and in 2020 he was recipient of ISSTD’s Cornelia B Wilbur Award for outstanding clinical contributions to the treatment of dissociative disorders. He is a Fellow of ISSTD and of APA. He has published over 100 articles in professional journals and chapters in edited volumes and made numerous presentations at professional conferences. He is Editor-in-Chief of the APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology, and authored the books Not Trauma Alone and Contextual Trauma Therapy. Dr. Gold was founding co-editor of the Journal of Trauma Practice, and guest edited a special issue of the APA journal Psychotherapy on trauma assessment and treatment. He has been an invited speaker throughout the U.S. and in Canada, Colombia, Argentina, Spain, and Austria. Dr. Gold maintains an independent psychology practice in Plantation, Florida and is regularly retained as an expert witness in legal cases in which trauma and dissociation are relevant issues.

Available Credit

  • 3.00 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 3.00 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ISSTD maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2021 – 08/20/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 3.00 continuing education credits.
  • 3.00 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 3.00 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$59.00
Your Price:
$59.00
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"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status and career level. 

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

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