Bespoke Members
Introduction
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is an understandable response to traumatic experienciences and is often extremely debilitating. It is a common presentation across mental health settings and population groups. NICE guidance recommends therapy that is specifically trauma-focussed and Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (Ehlers & Clark, 2005) is an effective intervention that can be applied with positive outcomes to both more straightforward and complex presentations across Talking Therapies, secondary and specialist care settings. This workshop will present the core CT for PTSD model as developed by Ehlers and Clark, briefly outlining the background and theory underpinning the model and focussing primarily on clinical skills and application of the model to practice. The workshop will also address traumatic grief and how to apply this model when it seems like the worst really has happened.
The event will be equivalent to 5.1/2hrs of CPD.
Content
The full-day workshop will describe key cognitive and behavioural maintenance factors in PTSD and outline and illustrate key interventions including; assessment, developing a collaborative understanding of the presenting problem, sharing a rationale for trauma-focussed work, reliving and narrative methods of processing trauma memories, identifying, modifying and updating and updating trauma appraisals and maintanence behaviours using cognitive restructuring, imagery and behavioural experiments, identifying and working with trauma triggers and revisiting the site of the trauma. The workshop will assume prior training in and experience of the theory and application of CBT at an individual “high intensity” or “step 3” level.
Learning Objectives
• Understanding of the CT for PTSD model and key maintenance factors
• Understanding of the core CT for PTSD intervention techniques
• Understanding of how to apply CT for PTSD techniques collaboratively and flexibly according to the individual’s formulation
• Familiarity with interventions used in cases of traumatic grief and loss
Training Modalities
The workshop will utilise demonstrations, anonymised case examples and filmed roleplay examples of therapy techniques and invite audience participation through interactive polls, self-reflective exercises and Q&A.
Key References
Ehlers, A. & Clark, D.M. (2000) A cognitive model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38, 319-345
Ehlers, A, Grey, N., Stott, R., Wild, J., Liness, S., Deale, A., Handley, R., Albert, I., Cullen, D., Manley, J., Brady, F., McManus, F., Hackmann, A. & Clark, D. (2013). Implementation of Cognitive Therapy for PTSD into an NHS Service Clinic: Effectiveness and Moderators of Treatment Outcome. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51, 742-752
Duffy, M. & Wild, J. (2023). Living with loss: a cognitive approach to prolonged grief disorder – incorporating complicated, enduring and traumatic grief, Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Grey, N. (2009) A casebook of PTSD treatment. Hove: Routledge.
Murray, H., Merritt, C., & Grey, N. (2015). Returning to the scene of the trauma in PTSD treatment – why, how and when? The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 8, E28. doi:10.1017/S1754470X15000677
Murray, H. & El-Leithy, S., (2022). Working with Complexity in PTSD. Oxford: Routledge.
Wild, J., Duffy, M. & Ehlers, A. (2023). Moving forward with the loss of a loved one: treating PTSD following traumatic bereavement with cognitive therapy, The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 16
About the presenter
Rachel Handley is a Clinical Psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist who has specialised in the application of CT for PTSD since her first clinical role with the Ehlers and Clark clinical-research team, treating survivors of the 7/7 London bombings. Since that time she has continued to treat, supervise, research, write and teach in the area. She co-wrote the curriculum for and co-delivers the Talking Therapies PTSD top up training and has supervising clinicians across England and Wales. She currently works clinically as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with the Ministry of Defence where most of her clients present with PTSD with a high-level of complexity including, for example, multiple events, childhood and adulthood trauma, traumatic bereavement and loss, guilt, shame and moral injury, dissociation and complex co-morbid presentations such as functional neurological disorder.
Who should attend
This workshop is suitable for clinicians who have training in and experience of application of high-intensity CBT working with clients with PTSD in any setting. As the workshop will cover the fundamentals of the CT-PTSD model a high-level of familiarity with the PTSD model or frequent application of the treatment will not be assumed but it may be a useful refresher for those who have trained some time ago or have not worked with PTSD for some time.