Managing and Discharging Activation

The Managing and Discharging Activation course will focus on the instinctual survival roll of activation/arousal and the mechanisms that perpetuate it once the traumatic incident or threat has passed. Procedures that will directly aid in managing and reducing and discharging activation that occurs during a traumatic incident will be demonstrated and discussed. Understanding how to reduce and allow for gradual discharge of Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) hyperarousal enhances the success of resolving the trauma and aids in restoration of homeostasis and balance, and a return to normal functioning..

This course is a requirement for Level-2 Certification. You do not need to be enrolled in the Certification Program to attend this course.

Brief Description of Instructional Format:

Videotaped segments of interviews with traumatized children are used to demonstrate intervention process. Didactic presentation provides information and framework related to PTSD; break out sessions provide participants opportunities to practice strategies presented. Multiple handouts provide checklists and more.

Goal:

To teach participants varied approaches for deactivating the arousal state so as to help restore normal, affective, cognitive and behavioral functions.

Session Objectives:

To explore our innate survival reflex, the arousal state and the influence of the Autonomic Nervous System on affect, images, memory and behavior as a result of traumatization and the interventions which are designed to “deactivate the arousal state” so as to restore normal affective, cognitive and behavioral functions

Learning Objectives:

Learner will be able to:

• Identify survival reflexes of the Autonomic Nervous System and its relationship to Autonomic Hyperarousal.
• Identify the mechanisms of the “trauma vortex” and “healing vortex”.
• Identify sensory based interventions as ways to modulate “arousal”.
• Identify strategies for working with images, affect, and behavior related to trauma.