Complex Trauma and Dissociation: A Relational, Neurobiological and Body-centered Approach

Small succulent growing in dry soil, closeup

Whether they specialize in it or not, all therapists will encounter complex trauma in their practice.

According to the CDC 1 in 7 children in the United States suffered abuse or neglect in the past year, most often at the hands of those who are supposed to love and care for them.

Though we have no official DSM diagnosis for the consequences of early harm, its prevalence means that it is essential that therapists be able to competently assess for and treat complex trauma. 

Complex trauma may show up in our offices in the form of clients who are experiencing relationship difficulties, feeling a lack of interest in the world, struggling to keep a job, or feeling like life isn’t worth living. Its treatment requires that therapists address not only the wound that was suffered, but also the strategies that folks have developed in order to survive.

Complex trauma also touches our own experience, history, and feelings about suffering in the world, which can be overwhelming. This means that it is essential that mental health practitioners have adequate support and resources in their work.

In this workshop, we will explore all of this complexity together, from both from a theoretical perspective and a sense of what it is like to be on the journey with someone for whom trauma has shaped their experience of the world.

In this workshop we will:

  •  Define Complex Trauma and how it shows up in clinical practice
  • Understand Dissociation, it’s definitions and how it is a creative adaptation to traumatic wounding
  • Identify the clinical skills and personal resources needed to treat complex trauma and dissociation
  • Discuss working with attachment wounding and how it shows up in the therapeutic relationship
  • Learn present centered approaches to working with parts of experience

Event Details

Facilitator: Amy Zajakowski Uhll, LCPC
March 10, 2023 9:00am – 4:30pm
(rescheduled from January 27th)
The Hive Dance Studio, 4706 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

6 CEUs  are offered for LCPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, and Clinical Psychologists.

Fee: $195

CCIH strives to make training accessible for as many participants as possible. For this workshop, we are offering a lowered fee of $150 for students or other participants in need of a reduced fee. Contact Victoria at officemanager@theccih.com to request. 

This workshop is sold out.

E-mail officemanager@theccih.com to join the waitlist and be notified if space becomes available.
Consider registering for one of our other offerings or visiting our Online Library for on-demand CEUs.

Amy Zajakowski Uhll, LCPC

amy-uuhl-web (1)

Amy Zajakowski Uhll is the founder and director of the Chicago Center for Integration and Healing.  For more than 30 years, Amy has been committed to exploring the harm caused by traumatic experiences. She helps individuals discover their own unique journey toward healing and supports other therapists in their work with trauma.

Amy spent the early years of her career working in community mental health. Her experience there deepened her awareness that there is no single approach that can treat all of human suffering, and she began her career-long interest in integrating body-centered and neurobiological approaches with more relational and developmental work. She specializes in complex and developmental trauma and dissociative disorders.

Share this article