The Aging Trauma Therapist Treating an Aging Caseload

Abstract
As clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists age, many of us choose to practice much longer than other professionals. The sedentary nature of the work allows us to continue to use our wealth of experience in the service of helping others. As we age, many of us find ourselves treating aging patients. The advent of telemedicine has made it easier for us to see patients and for them to see us despite mobility issues. Perhaps we have been treating them for many years and thus have aged together. Others have come to us more recently as they sought out an older clinician whom they felt would better understand the issues that trouble them. These older patients might be trauma survivors with or without a dissociative disorders diagnosis. They may have come to us for anxiety, depression or adjustment to changes in the life cycle such as ill health, death of a spouse, or loneliness when retired or adult children live far away. Helping them navigate these changes may force us, whether consciously or not, to face our own. When we do so, and judiciously share some of these as we feel appropriate, we can be of great help to our older patients.

Drs Maves and Hochberg have been treating some of their patients for decades. We discuss the effects of our work with them as we come to grips with our own aging process, such as losing loved ones or facing health crises. We discuss the challenges some of our aging patients face as cognitive abilities begin to decline and they or others question whether or not they are developing dementia. Both clinicians have been treating trauma and the dissociative disorders in particular for many years. Both no longer accept new strictly DID patients. Dr Maves engages in forensic cases and provides consultation to other clinicians treating dissociative patients. Having lost her husband to Alzheimer’s disease, Dr Hochberg now also treats couples where one spouse has been diagnosed with dementia, works with the bereaved, and provides consultation to younger clinicians treating dissociation. During the COVID pandemic, she undertook certification as an end-of-life doula to assist the dying and their families prepare for death.

This workshop will cover the recent literature on treating the older patient, and on the older therapist. We will also address the differential diagnosis of dissociation and dementia in the older patient. Each of us will discuss what we have dealt with in the past and at this time in our practice lives. There will be ample time for questions and comments.

Potential to Distress: No

This recorded conference session was originally presented as part of a live conference in March 2025.

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 content is at the beginning/introductory level.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

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

  • Recognize when referral for a definitive assessment of dementia is indicated
  • Discuss the pros and cons of their own aging process on their clinician work
  • Explain tactfully and effectively their concerns about possible dementia to their aging patient
  • Identify the possibility of dementia in their patient without judgment or fear of creating distress
  • Examine how their own aging needs require changes in scheduling, patient workload and degree of difficulty in new cases accepted

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: 
01/21/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Part of: 
From Invisible to Visible - Day One
Rating: 
0

Dr Shielagh Shusta-Hochberg

Dr Shielagh Shusta-Hochberg is an ISSTD fellow and member since 1997 who earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Adelphi University in 1994. Among other professional positions, she was assistant professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. In 2021 she obtained certification as an End-of-Life-Doula through the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. She maintains a private practice in Naples, Florida, providing general psychotherapy and working with individuals, couples and families dealing with challenges across the lifespan, as well as dementia and bereavement. She practices hypnotherapy and EMDR. In 2020 she lost her husband to Alzheimer’s disease.

Peter Maves, PhD

Dr. Maves is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, in practice since 1982 with his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He was the Assistant Director of the Boulder Emergency Psychiatric Service and the psychologist for the Boulder Sheriff’s Department. He was Clinical Director of Adams Community Mental Health Center. He designed and was Clinical Director of Centennial Peaks Hospital’s Trauma and Dissociative Disorders Treatment Program and Director of Columbine Hospital’s National Trauma Treatment Center. He was the founder of the Rocky Mountain Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. He was a Practice Monitor and oral licensing examiner for the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners. He is a Fellow, Board member and Immediate Past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and frequent presenter at regional and international conferences on trauma and dissociation and is a member of the European Society for Trauma and Dissociation. He is an instructor with the ISSTD Professional Training Program, and has served on the PTP curriculum review committee, and serves on a variety of ISSTD’s committees, including the Finance Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Regional and Virtual Conference Committee. He has served as a consultant to insurance and managed care companies regarding the treatment of dissociative conditions, complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe personality disorders. As an expert witness, he assists with forensic cases involving dissociative disorders. Dr. Maves also assists in immigration cases with assessments, consultations and expert testimony, working with both immigration attornies and court-related personnel.

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

All purchases of recorded content are final.

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