Upcoming Seminars

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Course Information

Concussions and PTSD

Minor Traumatic Brain Injuries, or concussions, are significantly more common than is realized and often missed on diagnosis. There is also significant similarity in symptoms with those of PTSD but this, too, is often overlooked. They can lead to disorientation, cognitive problems, social issues, emotional lability, sensory motor problems, headaches, forgetfulness and “not feeling like myself” afterwards. While more is gradually being understood about the mechanisms causing a concussion, trauma knowledgeable practitioners are in a unique position to treat people who have suffered them and dramatically change the symptoms by alleviating the autonomic dysregulation and structural shock caused by the injury to the brain.

There are actually multiple injuries with a concussion—at least 3 impact injuries (external and internal) autonomic shock (PTSD), physical injury and brain structure shock. And, part of the shock includes shock trauma. There is also potential relational trauma and impact on social/relational/emotional functioning. Concussive and PTSD symptoms can co-mingle with and potentiate each other.

This workshop will focus understanding what a concussion is and its overlap with PTSD in terms of symptoms, mechanism of injury and treatment interventions. The effects of integrating these aspects are significant and life changing for clients/patients. The multiple shock traumas to the structures of the brain are changeable and correctable as is the autonomic dysregulation from PTSD.

  • Recognize similarities and differences between post concussive symptoms and PTSD
  • Learn strategies and interventions to treat Post Concussive trauma and PTSD
  • Therapeutic Attunement
  • Clinically and ethically appropriate use of touch
  • Polyvagal theory and clinical application related to concussions
  • Bodywork/touch as a relational process

      • This course is for 18CE

      There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.

 

Presenter


Dave Berger, MA, MFT, LCMHC, PT, SEP
Dave Berger, MFT, PT, LCMHC, MA, SEP is a physical therapist and somatic psychotherapist. Dave is also a consultant and teacher of Somatic Experiencing®, a neurobehavioral intervention for recovery from the effects of emotional and physical trauma. Dave’s own BASE™: Bodywork and Somatic Education Training for trauma therapists is an integration of his life’s clinical work. As a therapist, teacher, consultant and mentor, Dave’s passion and commitment to deep healing guide his work. Click here to learn more about Dave.
 

Target Audience:

Psychologists, Psychoanalysts, Psychiatrists (←only partial credit for MDs via APA), Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Substance Abuse Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Dentists - All Levels

 

Course Objectives:

- Define what a concussion is
- Describe how a concussion occurs
- Describe the symptoms of a concussion
- Identify the methods used to diagnose a concussion
- Describe the symptoms of PTSD
- Explain cases of PTSD
- Identify the overlap between post concussive and post traumatic stress syndromes
- Define a high impact injury/failure of physical defense
- Define Global High Intensity Activation trauma
- List the elements that need to be treated for mild TBI and PTSD
- Describe the Survival Response Cycle
- Define Kineshphere
- Demonstrate 3 boundary ruptures and repair interventions
- Describe basic Polyvagal theory and structures of the polyvagal system
- Explain the basic elements of BASE™ touch work
- Implement BASE™ touch with bone
- Apply BASE™ concepts to working with structures of the cranium
- Describe 3 motor reflexes affected by concussive injuries
- Demonstrate 2 sounds used to renegotiate cranium dysregulation

 

Agenda

Concussions and PTSD

One three-day workshop, 18 CE’s

Teaching methods will include lecture, video, demo’s, experiential exercises and practice

Friday 9:30-5:30  (6 hours)
9:30-11 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Defining and describing causes of a Concussion, Defining and describing causes of PTSD, basic cranium anatomy, Introduction to Polyvagal Theory
11-11:15 Break
11:15-12:30 Practice Time: Polyvagal exercises
12:30-2 Lunch
2-3:30 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Survival Response cycle, PTSD, Kinesphere and Boundaries, High Impact Trauma, Global High Intensity Trauma
3:30- 3:45 Break
3:45-5:15 Kinesphere and Boundary Assessment and Repair, touch without physical contact
5:15-5:30 Q & A, wrap up, review
Saturday 9:30-5:30 (6 hours)
9:30-11 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Basics of BASE, Introduction to therapeutic attunement and touch, Using touch to support stabilization.
11-11:15 Break
11:15-12:30 Practice Time: Touch readiness exercises,
12:30-2 Lunch
2-3:30 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Using attuned touch to shift brain ‘freeze’, Bone/skull and it’s role in protecting the brain
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-5:15 Practice Time: Strategies and Intervention with bone/skull
5:15-5:30 Q & A, wrap up, review
Sunday 9:30-5:30 (6 hours)
9:30-11 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Motor reflexes supporting survival responses, Concussion and PTSD,
11-11:15 Break
11:15-12:30 Practice Time: Strategies related to motor reflexes
12:30-2 Lunch
2-3:30 Lecture, Experiential Exercises and Demo: Sounds to support neurological stabilization after a concussion
3:30-3:45 Break
5:15-5:30 Q & A, wrap up, review