The Art of Repair: Healing Trauma Through the Lens of Relationship

Content Description: 

Course Agenda

The Art of Repair: Healing Trauma Through the Lens of Relationship

with Benjamin Fry

Session Agenda

• 0:00-0:05 – Welcome and Introduction – Brief welcome, speaker introduction, outline of session goals, acknowledgement of audience expertise.
• 0:05-0:20 – My Story: Trauma, Loss and the Search for Connection – Sharing personal background, the impact of early loss (mother’s death), and how trauma disrupts the natural ease of relationships; setting up the lens for the session.
• 0:20-0:30 – What Trauma Does to Relationships – Exploring how abandonment, abuse, and neglect create adult needs for power, love, and attention; discussion of how trauma re-surfaces and morphs into relationship dynamics.
• 0:30-0:40 – Weather and Mountain: Metaphor for Relating with Trauma – Introducing the ‘mountain and weather’ metaphor; understanding the difference between our essence and our trauma-driven responses (weather); how to stay connected to the “mountain” in ourselves and our partner.
• 0:40-0:55 – From Transactional to Relational: The Power of the ‘Three Lists’ – Practical toolkit: Making lists of what makes us feel safe, loved, and have fun; how identifying needs is just the first step; importance of exploring the “why” behind each need, rooted in childhood experience.
• 0:55-1:10 – Case Studies: Compassion in Action – Walkthrough of anonymized real-life cases; demonstrations of how unpacking childhood wounds transforms couple dynamics; exercises for seeing the “child” in our partner.
• 1:10-1:20 – Integration: Building Connection, Polarity, and Growth – Synthesizing key learnings; how couples navigate “what I need, what you need, and what we need together”; the importance of symbolism, forgiveness, and continued growth.
• 1:20-1:30 – Q&A and Closing Reflection – Open floor for audience questions and live discussion; sharing concluding reflections, encouragement for clinicians and couples working with trauma.  

Live Online Zoom Session 2 – Why Boundaries are so Misunderstood – Friday, September 26th – 9-10:30am PDT/12-1:30pm EDT/5-6:30 BST

Session Agenda

• 0:00-0:05 – Welcome and Introduction – Greetings, introduction to the topic, scope and aims of the session.
• 0:05-0:15 – Personal Narrative: Boats & Boundaries – Storytelling to ground the body-based and relational impact of boundary experiences.
• 0:15-0:25 – Cultural Confusion & Generational Wisdom – A look at contemporary boundary discourse and insights from conversations with the next generation.
• 0:25-0:40 – Boundaries and the Dysregulated Nervous System – Neural and evolutionary perspectives: why threat cycles get interrupted, and what this means for boundaries.
• 0:40-0:50 – Triggers, Baggage, and Reactions: Why Boundaries Matter – Tracing how old wounds shape our responses, and how containment/boundary practices aim to help.
• 0:50-1:15 – The Four Levels of Boundary Response – Considerations for when and why each level may arise; limitations, risks, and the role of compassion.
• 1:15-1:25 – Synthesis: Differentiation, Linkage & Paradox – Reflections on systems theory, cellular and physics metaphors, and the balance of separation and connection.
• 1:25-1:35 – Q&A and Discussion – Inviting questions, sharing perspectives and challenges, application to therapy and life.  

The Art of Repair: Healing Trauma Through the Lens of Relationship

with Benjamin Fry

Learning Objectives

Session 1: Can you have Trauma and a Great Relationship?

1. Describe how childhood experiences of abandonment, abuse, and neglect shape adult attachment patterns, needs, and difficulties in intimate relationships.
2. Identify what constitutes transactional (needs-focused, defensive) versus relational (empathic, connecting) approaches within partnership, and explain why the latter promotes deeper healing and connection.
3. Utilize the metaphor of ‘mountain’ (self/essence) and ‘weather’ (trauma-driven reactions) to help clients (or oneself) separate enduring character from transient triggers in relationship stress.
   Implement the ‘Three Lists’ Tool
4. Explain the use of non-verbal, symbolic acts (such as tokens or transitional objects) to help regulate attachment anxiety and support relationship stability.
   

1. Distinguish among classic “hard no,” contained self-protection, vulnerable boundary sharing, and relational containment.
2. Apply cell membrane, gluon, and systems metaphors in psychoeducation.
   
3. Describe the possibility of boundaries supporting repair, resiliency, and a broader sense of belonging.
4. Explain why the highest evolution of boundaries-containing both self and “us”-is difficult, especially when triggered, but represents an aspirational ideal.

For Beginning/Introductory mental health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, LPCs, and LMFTs.

Continuing Education

This program offers limited Live CEs/Contact Hours.

Continuing education credit/Contact hours are awarded on a per-session basis, with full attendance required for the entire 90-minute duration.  There is no additional charge for the CEs.  Application forms and other required CE materials will be available to participants by the Academy of Therapy Wisdom.

NOTE:  To receive continuing education credit, applicants must complete all CE materials, comply with attendance regulations, and submit an evaluation form for the session attended.  It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if CE credit/contact hours offered by Academy of Therapy Wisdom meet the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.  

Psychology:  This course does NOT provide CEs for Psychologists.

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 1.5 CE Credit Hours for each live session for a possible total of 3 CE Credit Hours.

NY State Social Workers: Academy of Therapy Wisdom is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Workers as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. #SW-0814.

NY State Mental Health Counselors: Academy of Therapy Wisdom is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0285.

Marriage/Family Therapy: See below for CAMFT information.

This course is $87 per month or $684/year. You can purchase it here.