Trails in the Fog: Using Case Formulation to Map Interventions with Youth Who Dissociate

November 20, 2026

Abstract
Youth with trauma and dissociation often present with complex presentations involving interacting co-occurring disorders, high-risk behaviours, and challenging social circumstances. Identifying dissociative processes and matching treatment to diagnosis are crucial steps to initiating effective treatment with these youth. However, interventions with these youth and their caregivers can feel like playing whack-a-mole, with shifting symptoms and treatment priorities undermining the youth’s and caregivers’ confidence and motivation to continue the therapeutic work. In this case, a stable, collaborative and concrete treatment plan can serve as a map that provides hope and consistency throughout the treatment process. Traditional assessment and diagnosis is essential—but not sufficient—in informing an effective treatment plan when working with youth and families with complex trauma and dissociation. This workshop outlines an individualized and holistic approach to treatment planning with youth and their caregivers that integrates the assessment process, case formulation, developmental and intergenerational considerations, and best practices for treating the underlying mechanisms maintaining the youth’s instability within the context of treating complex trauma and dissociation.

This session opens with an overview of the assessment process and case formulation with youth. As part of this, the session briefly reviews trauma- and dissociation-specific assessment tools for use with youth and their caregivers, and highlights the ways in which the assessment process complements the assessment content. The focus then shifts to translating assessment results into an integrated, holistic and developmentally-sensitive case formulation. Emphasis is then placed on the direct application of case formulation to initial treatment planning, including: identifying and accentuating resources and protective factors; prioritizing treatment targets; selecting appropriate psychological, pharmacological and social interventions that address the mechanisms maintaining the youth’s challenge; and returning to the case formulation to guide treatment over time.

Rather than focusing on any particular therapeutic orientation or type of therapy for understanding and treating trauma and dissociation, this session emphasizes the intentional clinical thought processes underlying treatment planning and intervention implementation across treatment modalities. Composite case examples are used to illustrate these concepts. The session will end with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, and discussions are encouraged.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Those seeking to participate in this webinar must be licensed mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, accredited psychotherapists, etc.). ISSTD staff will audit license information prior to the start of the course and may request additional documentation for your license.

We do accept students 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. Students must submit proof of student status such as a transcript or registration record. For those who have completed their degree and are currently in the pre-licensure stage practicing under the license of another clinician, you must provide the name and license information for the person you are working with. Documentation should be sent to ISSTD staff at [email protected] before registering. 

This webinar is at the intermediate learning level.

Learning Objectives

Upon Completion of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

  • Critique two key models of case conceptualization
  • Explain five benefits of using an individualized case formulation to guide treatment with clients who have complex trauma and dissociation
  • Discuss two reasons for why it is important to include caregiver factors in the youth’s case conceptualization
  • Describe the process of using the client’s case conceptualization to identify the mechanisms underlying a client’s symptoms
  • Apply the case conceptualization to treatment planning within the context of a three-phased trauma treatment approach
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 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.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
06/01/2026
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
Event starts: 
11/20/2026 - 1:00pm EST
Event ends: 
11/20/2026 - 2:30pm EST
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Rating: 
0

Presenter: Alexis E. Arbuthnott, PhD, RDPsych
Presenter Bio: Alexis Arbuthnott, PhD. RDPsych, is a clinical psychologist with the Saskatchewan Health Authority in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. She received her doctoral degree through the Clinical Psychology: Applied Developmental Emphasis program at the University of Guelph in 2018. She has experience providing psychological assessments and interventions with children, adolescents, emerging adults and families across the continuum of outpatient, acute inpatient, and residential care. Dr. Arbuthnott's current position with the Saskatchewan Health Authority is on the Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at the Regina General Hospital. Here she is involved in direct client care within a multidisciplinary inpatient team, she supervises clinical psychology graduate students and psychiatry residents, and she provides consultation to other mental health professionals and community agencies. She is also an Adjunct Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Arbuthnott has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in psychology, she has published research articles on the topics of nonsuicidal self-injury and equipping parents to support youth with complex mental health needs, and she is an author in The Handbook of Complex Trauma and Dissociation in Children: Theory, Research and Clinical Applications, edited by Ana Gomez and Jill Hosey. She is currently conducting research on trauma and dissociation among youth within an inpatient setting. She also volunteers her time on several ISSTD committees, including the Education and Training Oversight Committee, the Child and Adolescent Treatment Guidelines Workgroup, and the Webinar Committee. She is also the current editor of ISSTD News. With these platforms, she is a strong advocate for compassionate and collaborative trauma-informed care.

Presenter: Fiyinfoluwa Peluola, MD, FRCPC
Presenter Bio: Fiyin Peluola is a practicing Child and Adolescent psychiatrist in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. Peluola completed his Doctor of Medicine through the All Saints University School of Medicine in 2016, following which he completed his residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry through the University of Saskatchewan. His current practice is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he splits his time between inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Peluola’s clinical interests include psychosis, neurodevelopmental disorders, and acute inpatient mental health care. Dr. Peluola has a strong interest in training future clinicians. He is an Associate Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Saskatchewan, a CanReach faculty member, and the Regina Area Division Lead in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is also engaged in conducting research on trauma and dissociation among youth within an inpatient setting, and he has presented at past ISSTD Annual Conferences. For leisure, Dr. Peluola is learning how to play golf and loves perusing grocery stores for ingredients to use in his culinary exploits. He is happily married to a fellow physician who also practices in Regina. They are proud parents to a baby boy named Nathaniel and a 6-year-old Shiba Inu.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 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.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Please login or register to take this course.

"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. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code.

Registration Policies

Cancellations prior to the webinar are subject to a $10 cancellation fee. No refunds are provided for no shows. The deadline for cancellations with a refund is November 16, 2026 at 5:00pm US Eastern Time. Requests for cancellation should be sent to [email protected].

For additional webinar policies including completion requirements, filing grievances, requesting a disability accommodation, and awarding of certificates of credits, please visit our Webinar Policies page.