Complex-PTSD: Perspective of a Clinician with Lived Experience

About the event

While C-PTSD as a presentation is widespread, there is no DSM-5 C-PTSD classification and most clinicians are not trained to recognise or treat it. As a result, C-PTSD survivors are generally not diagnosed at all or misdiagnosed with the symptoms of their condition (depression, anxiety, substance or process addictions, relationship problems, eating disorders, personality disorders etc.). The outcome is unnecessary suffering and opportunity for healing lost as C-PTSD survivors spend a lifetime treating surface symptoms with the underpinning aetiology left unaddressed. Even when C-PTSD is identified, treatment is often inappropriate, leading at best to minimal progress and at worst to further traumatisation.

The aim of this interactive webinar, based on research and the facilitator’s clinical and personal experience of recovery, is to unpack and differentiate the relational trauma of Complex-PTSD from single-event trauma (i.e. PTSD) and help clinicians to understand its unique aetiology, manifestations and appropriate treatment so that their clients’ recovery is supported. Areas covered include:

- Case study of C-PTSD: the facilitator’s recovery trajectory

- Importance of appropriate diagnosis and psychoeducation

- Adverse Childhood Experiences test

- Co-dependent and Persecutor adaptations

- Parentification and its impact

- Important traits and symptoms not normally associated with C-PTSD

- Things to watch out for when treating C-PTSD survivors

- Treatment modalities suited for different stages of the recovery process

- Contraindicated treatment modalities and approaches

- Important non-clinical supports

- Recommended reading and resources 

About the facilitator

Michael is an addiction and interpersonal process group therapist as well as a psycho-education facilitator and clinical educator. His clinical background includes working for Royal North Shore Hospital Herbert Street Clinic and Northside Clinic as an addiction therapist, as well as teaching trauma-informed care and counselling skills at Diploma and Master level.

Michael is a member of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia, and his qualifications include Master of Adult Education (HR Development), Master of Ethics and Legal Studies (Managing Change) and Master of Counselling and Psychotherapy. He has completed training in Gestalt and Psychodynamic counselling skills, among others.

Michael is a childhood trauma survivor and a recovering co-dependent who has completed extensive course of his own 1:1 and group psychotherapy. He is an active member of the Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families 12-step fellowship and has a deep commitment to raising awareness of, and facilitating recovery from, Complex-PTSD. Michael has 30 years of Complex-PTSD recovery experience, which has included various wrong-turns as well as breakthroughs, and is uniquely placed to speak on the topic of Complex-PTSD. 

This course counts towards 2 hours of category A CPD.

Click here to register.