We know from the research that trauma most often precedes addiction. We also know that cognitive techniques carry a bulk of the research evidence for safe and effective treatment of most co-occurring mental health disorders. Given these documented outcomes, clinicians are beginning to find new ways to employ cognitive therapy mechanisms that pack a bigger punch than vanilla CBT. Just when you think you had cognitive therapy all figured out – wait for this one!

The relationship between trauma and addiction is becoming increasingly well established in the literature. This is no surprise, as clinicians working “in the trenches” know all too well that people with unresolved trauma and emotional wounds often turn to substances as a way to “numb out,” forget, or otherwise self-medicate to regulate their emotions. Conversely, people with addictive behavior disorders may drive while impaired, gravitate towards toxic relationships, go to dangerous places to get their substance of choice, or engage in many other behaviors that increase their risk of being traumatized and elevate their vulnerability factors for developing PTSD or other trauma and stress related disorders. It is also known that when cooccurrence is involved, this presents clinicians with a more complicated course of treatment and less favorable treatment outcomes than we see when clients present with only one or the other. The good news is, there is hope! While neuroscience has taught us much about this phenomenon in recent years, evidence-based Cognitive treatments are still show to be at least as effective as many “newer” approaches, and in some circles seem to have almost gotten lost in the shuffle.

Recent protocols have attempted to incorporate PE (prolonged exposure) and other cognitive behavioral treatments with substance use disorder treatments. While further research is needed in this area, the mandate for integration of treatments when dealing with this population seems integral to obtain more favorable outcomes for individuals with these complex conceptualizations. Leave this full-day online training led by international CBT expert Jeff Riggenbach, PhD, with an improved understanding of the neuroscience of trauma, an integrated approach to treating PTSD and addictions, as well as armed with a plethora of evidence-based, yet practical new tools to equip and empower this group to find levels of recovery that have previously eluded them!

Cost: $180 – Want to attend this event and any future event or course from our CE library for FREE and unlimited for the cost of $34.99/month for 12 months??!! Check out our Everything Plan here.

Attendance and Location Details

Date and Time

Friday, February 7, 2025, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm CST / 10:00am – 5:30pm EST / 7:00am – 2:30pm PST

*Live Webinar Attendees: Zoom link will be made available to you 24-48 hours prior to event date

Agenda:

The Relationship Between Trauma and Addiction (9:00 – 9:30)
– The role of defectiveness schemas and shame
– Reciprocal nature of the relationship and co-occurrence

Trauma and PTSD (9:30 – 10:30)
– Neurobiology of trauma
– DSM 5 Current symptom clusters
– C-PTSD

Addictive Behavior Disorders (10:30 – 11:00)
– Biological and Environmental Risk Factors
– Motivation for Usage
– DSM 5 Current and Proposed Disorders
– Gambling as first behavioral addiction

**BREAK – 11:00 – 11:15

Integrated Cognitive Model (11:15 – 12:15)
– Dialectical Behavior Therapy
– Standard CT
– Schemas driving Shame and Addiction
– Behavioral Pattern Breaking

**LUNCH BREAK – 12:15 – 1:15

Types of Interventions (1:15 – 2:00)
– Environmental Interventions
– Behavioral Interventions
– Mindfulness-Based Interventions
– Distraction techniques and indications for use
– Restructuring cognitions related to impulse control and safety

Cognitive Model of Addiction (2:00 – 2:30)
– Breaking destructive behavioral cycles
– Cognitive cue cards
– Behavioral coping cards

**BREAK – 2:30 – 2:45

Trauma and PTSD (2:45 – 3:45)
– 3 Stages of Treatment
– Psychoeducation and obtaining Informed Consent
– Grounding Exercises, Soothing Strategies, and Distraction Techniques
– Trauma Narrative Work
– Nightmare Rescripting and Imagery Rehearsal Therapy
– Restructuring Cognitions Related to Guilt and Shame
– Moral Injury, developing resilience and facilitating post-traumatic growth

Relapse Prevention, Q&A, and Wrap-up (3:45 – 4:30)

Objectives:

This training will provide participants clinical knowledge and tools to:

a). Learn and understand the relationship between trauma and addiction.

b). Identify the role of early maladaptive schemas in maintaining behavioral styles that keep these clients stuck in shame.

c). Learn and practice behavioral pattern-breaking tools for disrupting lifelong patterns of negative behavior.

d). Learn and understand how to equip clients with soothing, grounding, and other de-escalation skills to prepare clients to directly face traumatic memories.

e). Learn and practice conducting complex chain analysis to facilitate development of client impulse control.

f). Describe the three types of avoidance and explain to clients how they perpetuate PTSD symptoms.

g). Learn and practice the technique of writing out trauma narratives to confront cognitive content necessary for recovery.

h). Learn how to use rescripting nightmares to decrease or discontinue recurrent distressing dreams.

i). Utilize the silver lining technique to help clients facilitate acceptance, reclaim aspects of former self, and contribute to society in new and unique ways.

j). Learn to help clients silence their shame, come out of hiding, and promote post-traumatic growth for whole person recovery.

Target Audience:

Mental Health Clinicians & Therapists, Social Workers, Psychologists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Counselors, School Personnel,  and Healthcare Workers.

Instructional Level: Intermediate

Instructor(s): Jeff Riggenbach, PhD

Material Author(s): Jeff Riggenbach, PhD

Jeff Riggenbach, PhD is a best-selling and award-winning author who has earned a reputation as an international expert in cognitive approaches to treating personality disorders. Over a 20-year period, he has developed and overseen CBT-based treatment programs for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive behavior disorders and personality disorders at two different psychiatric hospitals and clinics serving over 3,000 clients at multiple levels of care. Dr. Riggenbach trained at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, is a Diplomat of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and is a certified cognitive therapist. He has trained over 20,000 professionals worldwide including audiences in all 50 United States, The UK, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Riggenbach is the author of seven publications including his most recent clinical release The CBT Toolbox (2nd ed): A Workbook for Clients and Clinicians (2021) and his brand new general audiences book “Disarming High Conflict Personalities: Dealing with the 8 Most Difficult People in Your Life Before you Burnout!” (2022). Jeff is known for bridging the gap between academia, research findings, and day-to-day clinical practice, and his work has earned him the reputation for being “the practical tools guy.” His seminars on CBT, DBT, and Schema-Focused Cognitive Therapy routinely receive the highest evaluations from conference participants in terms of clinical utility as well as entertainment value.

For additional information about this course, the instructors, or the material authors, please contact Content Assistance at content@onlinececredits.com.

Featured Materials :

Course materials (including the link to view live events) are sent to webinar and in-person attendees 24-48 hours before the event start time. Course materials for online asynchronous courses are found in the Lesson module after a course is purchased.