Shame and Self-Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma
With
Dr. Janina Fisher
THIS PROGRAM HAS LIMITED APPROVAL FOR DISTANCE LEARNING CES. PLEASE CLICK ON THE SPECIFIC CE INFORMATION LINK BELOW FOR FULL PROFESSION/STATE DETAILS.
It is the participant's responsibility to check if their state is approved for CEs. No refunds will be given on CE purchases for failure to check state approval. Please click on the Specific CE Information link below for more details.
Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Instructor at the Trauma Center, an outpatient clinic and research center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known for her expertise as both a therapist and consultant, she is also a past president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, an EMDR International Association Credit Provider, a faculty member of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, and a former Instructor, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Fisher has been an invited speaker at the Cape Cod Institute, Harvard Medical School Conference Series, the EMDR International Association Annual Conference, University of Wisconsin, University of Westminster in London, the Psychotraumatology Institute of Europe, and the Esalen Institute. Dr. Fisher lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on topics related to the integration of research and treatment and how to introduce these newer trauma treatment paradigms in traditional therapeutic approaches.
Shame and Self-Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma
The traumatic legacy of shame prevents many clients from achieving full recovery and relief. Their feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy interfere with taking in any positive experiences, leaving only hopelessness. Attempts to increase their ability for self-assertion get undermined by beliefs that they do not deserve respect or care. Progress in the treatment or greater success in life often stimulate more shame rather than pride in their hard work. The client repeatedly takes two steps forward, then one step back.
This webinar series will introduce participants to understanding shame from a trauma perspective—as a survival strategy driving somatic responses of "total submission," disconnection, and numbing. Therapists can help clients learn to relate to their shame with curiosity rather than self-hatred. Understanding the role of shame in surviving trauma opens up new treatment possibilities and interventions. When traditional psychodyanamic and cognitive-behavioral techniques are integrated with somatic interventions and a parts perspective, issues of shame can become an avenue to transformation rather than a source of stuckness in treatment.
SHAME AND SELF-LOATHING
IN THE TREATMENT OF TRAUMA
with Dr. Janina Fisher
Course Agenda
Recording of Zoom Session 1: Understanding Shame in the Context of Trauma – 2 hours - 2 CEs
Trauma-related shame is often a barrier to progress and resolution, evoked as much by positive experiences as by embarrassing ones. In a traumatic environment, shame is often an important component of the submission response and necessary for women and children who are powerless to defend themselves. Understanding shame as adaptive can begin to change a client’s relationship to shame responses.
In this session, you will learn about:
Shame as an automatic survival response
How shame helps regulate risk for trauma survivors
Re-interpreting shame to evoke curiosity
The danger of thinking success is going to cure shame
Recording of Zoom Session 2: Shame, Cognitive Schemas, and the Body – 2 hours - 2 CEs
Human beings habitually attach words and meaning to their emotional and physical responses. The meaning attached to shame experiences reflect the trauma, resulting in cognitive schemas focused on worthlessness and defectiveness. Treating shame requires attention to both the physiological and the cognitive aspects.
In this session, you will learn about:
The belief systems that are created by shame
How shame beliefs result in physical responses
Disrupting shame-related patterns
Challenges to breaking the schema
Recording of Zoom Session 3: Mindfulness in the Treatment of Shame – 2 hours - 2 CEs
Mindful attention enhances clients’ ability to relate differently to both the physical and cognitive effects of shame. Research demonstrates that increased activity in the medial prefrontal cortex is associated with reduced activity in the amygdala, thereby regulating trauma responses. Helping clients learn to notice shame responses with interest and curiosity helps to regulate their intensity.
In this session, you will learn about:
The development of shame-based beliefs
The destructiveness of shame-based responses
How to interpret shame so it informs your treatment interventions
Three interventions to break the cycle of shame
Recording of Zoom Session 4: Addressing Shame as a Child Part of the Self - 2 hours – 2 CEs
Another approach to shame is to treat it as a dissociative issue. Using the Structural Dissociation model (Van der Hart et al, 2006), the experience of shame can be understood as representing an internal conflict between an accusative judgmental part and an ashamed part, usually a traumatized child. By differentiating the intrusive negative thoughts from the painful emotional experience and by humanizing both parts, clients are better able to access compassion.
In this session, you will learn about:
Addressing shame as a parts issue
How to challenge client’s unconditional acceptance of shame-based beliefs
Helping clients develop compassion for the ‘ashamed part’
Employing empathy as a therapist’s powerful intervention for shame
Recording of Zoom Session 5: Shame and Attachment - 2 hours – 2 CEs
Because shame responses originate in the context of traumatic attachment and are subcortical in nature, talking about a client’s shame often has little to no effect. Instead, a neurobiologically-informed approach emphasizes techniques drawn from the work of Allen Schore (2010) and Stephen Porges (2011). Implicit right brain exchanges are more helpful to shame clients than words of reassurance or clarification. Use of the social engagement system often has a beneficial effect on reducing shame.
In this session, you will learn about:
How to use our right-brain-to-right-brain communication as a tool
Capitalizing on an understanding of mirror neurons
Treating shame from the “bottom up”
Non-verbal as well as verbal interventions
Challenging the negativity bias
Shame and Self-Loathing in the Treatment of Trauma
with Dr. Janina Fisher
Learning Objectives
Recording of Zoom Session 1: Understanding Shame in the Context of Trauma – 2 hours – 2 CEs
- Describe the biological role of shame and self-loathing in traumatic environments
- Identify the benefits of re-interpreting shame as a defensive response
- Utilize cognitive restructuring techniques to challenge habitual shame responses
Recording of Zoom Session 2: Shame, Cognitive Schemas, and the Body - 2 hours – 2 CEs
- Differentiate physiological shame responses from cognitive schemas
- Identify two mindfulness techniques for shifting shame-based beliefs
- Describe two Sensorimotor interventions for shifting shame states somatically
Recording of Zoom Session 3: Mindfulness in the Treatment of Shame - 2 hours – 2 CEs
- Identify the functions of the medial prefrontal cortex and effects of its activation
- Differentiate client thoughts, feelings, and physical reactions
- Describe two mindfulness-based techniques for regulating shame
Recording of Zoom Session 4: Addressing Shame as a Child Part of the Self - 2 hours - 2 CEs
- Define and describe the Structural Dissociation trauma model
- Identify two trauma-related parts that stimulate shame responses
- Articulate interventions for increasing client self-compassion
Recording of Zoom Session 5: Shame and Attachment - 2 hours – 2 CEs
- Define and describe ‘right brain to right brain communication’
- Articulate the polyvagal concept of social engagement
- Identify two techniques that increase social engagement responses
For beginner, intermediate or advanced mental health professionals including Social Workers, LPCs, and LMFTs.
Continuing Education Credits
To receive Distance Learning/Home Study continuing education credit, applicants must complete all course materials, purchase the CEs, submit an evaluation form, and pass a post-test with a score of 80% or greater. It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if the CE credit offered by Academy of Therapy Wisdom meets the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.
Cost
There is a CE Processing Fee of $40 for the Distance Learning CEs, which will be available for purchase after the entire course has been completed.
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS OFFERED:
Psychology: Not offered for this training.
Counseling:
Academy of Therapy Wisdom has been approved by NBCC as an Approved
Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7370. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Academy of Therapy Wisdom is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. This program is approved for 10 CE Credit hours.
Social Work: This program has been approved for 10 Distance Learning Social Work Continuing Education hours for relicensure, in accordance with 258 CMR. NASW-MA Chapter CE Approving Program, Authorization Number D92050.
Marriage/Family Therapy: See below for CAMFT information.
California Professionals:
Academy of Therapy Wisdom, Provider #1032323, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. Academy of Therapy Wisdom maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 10 hours of continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
This course is $327. You can purchase it here.
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