This workshop addresses how trauma symptoms can be understood as part of the family emotional process as a whole even as events that have overwhelmed the individual may have emanated from outside the family system itself. A Bowen family systems approach for working with people impacted by trauma will be presented taking into account the neurobiology of trauma and post trauma symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

DAY 1:            

                                       An Overview of trauma

• A brief history of trauma
• Trauma and neurobiology

                                       Trauma from a Bowen family systems perspective

• The development of Bowen's theory
• Chronic vs acute anxiety.
• Differentiation of self
• The family emotional process
• Violence and the “non-observing” or “abusive” system
• Variations in trauma responses                       

 DAY 2:

                                       Application to therapy in relation to level of differentiation

• Anxiety reduction and self regulation
• Dissociation and self-harm as emotional cutoff
• Challenging fusion – the effect of defining self
• Self regulation: the intra-psychic and interpersonal components of managing anxiety.

                                       Healer or Coach?

• Implications of Attachment theory and Bowen family systems theory
• Therapist reactivity and vicarious traumatisation
• Issues of safety
• From managing transference to promoting functioning.

Trainer:

Dr Linda Mackay has extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families. She has a particular specialty in assisting those who have suffered trauma. And those who wish to understand and resolve issues from their families of origin. Linda has a PhD in Critical Psychology (Trauma and Psychotherapy) and is a clinical member of Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association NSW (CAPA).

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