Introduction to Childhood Traumatic Stress: Core Concepts

This half-day workshop provides an introduction to identifying and understanding childhood traumatic stress and its impact, as well as an overview of the theoretical foundations and core concepts related to childhood traumatic stress. Participants learn to distinguish between normal childhood adverse experiences and childhood traumatic stress, and they learn about the prevalence of trauma and the impact of various types of traumatic stressors on a child’s daily functioning. Attachment, attachment disruption, and the most common behavioral, emotional and cognitive sequelae are examined from a developmental and neurobehavioral perspective. Finally, key issues critical to effective treatment planning are highlighted. This workshop is appropriate for mental health professionals working with children and their families and/or those interested in learning more about childhood traumatic stress and its impact.