IN-PERSON-Best Practices in Responding to Trauma and PTSD

Friday, March 31, 2023, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM-$219 including CEUs
Best Practices for Responding to Trauma and PTSD
Elizabeth Plante, LMHC and Andrea Wolloff, LMHC

In this training, we will differentiate between the diagnosis of PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder. Participants will learn what leads an individual to develop PTSD and what helps foster resilience. We will discuss common co-occurring diagnoses and how to distinguish these presentations from PTSD. Participants will learn how to complete an assessment for PTSD and will be provided with an overview of the various evidence-based treatment models for treating PTSD. The trainers will teach a variety of “in the moment” strategies that practitioners can use with individuals who are experience active symptoms of PTSD and acute stress. Participants will have opportunities to practice these strategies in the training. Finally, the trainers will address vicarious trauma in the practitioner and the importance of developing and maintaining self- care when working with individuals who have experienced trauma.

Following this training the participants will be able to:

• Participants will gain an understanding of the diagnosis and how to provide an assessment for PTSD.
• Participants will gain knowledge of various evidence- based treatment options for PTSD.
• Participants will learn strategies for how to respond effectively with someone who is experience acute traumatic stress and for someone who is experiencing active symptoms of PTSD.
• Participants will gain an understanding of vicarious trauma and develop strategies for self-care.

Elizabeth Plante, MA, LMHC, DBTC is a certified Dialectical Behavior Therapy clinician through the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. Ms. Plante received her Master’s Degree from Assumption College with a concentration in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Children and Families. Ms. Plante was also awarded a certificate in CBT through the Aaron T. Beck Institute in Cognitive Studies at Assumption College. Ms. Plante has received intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy under Charlie Swenson and advanced intensive training under Marsha Linehan.

Ms. Plante is the Director of DBT and Trauma Services at Open Sky Community Services. In this capacity, she oversees implementation of DBT and Trauma Services throughout the agency including training, supervision, and consultation.

Ms. Plante has provided DBT and CBT to individuals for the past 18 years. She leads several consultation teams, both within the agency as well as in the community. She co-developed and facilitated the Training Institute’s DBT series as well the agency’s internal staff and clinical training series. She has facilitated both day-long trainings as well as shorter trainings individually tailored to meet the needs of specific programs. Ms. Plante has experiencing in doing DBT consultation and training for the Department of Youth Services, school systems, and other non-profit agencies. Ms. Plante is also trained in CR for PTSD and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD. In addition, she is working toward becoming a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Teacher.

Andrea Wolloff, MA, LMHC received her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Assumption College. She also received additional certifications in CBT for children and families and general CBT from The Aaron T. Beck Institute for Cognitive Studies at Assumption College.

Ms. Wolloff is a Private Practitioner who provides counseling, consultation, training, and supervision. The treatment modality she provides is CBT. Her specialties include PTSD and trauma, anxiety disorders, and depression. She uses evidence-based treatment models to treat PTSD, including Cognitive Restructuring for PTSD, Prolonged Exposure, and Written Exposure Therapy.

Ms. Wolloff also delivers consultation and training in Cognitive Restructuring for PTSD.  

In this capacity, Ms. Wolloff provides training and direct supervision to clinicians including providing fidelity assessments of audio recorded sessions for newly trained CR clinicians. In 2014, Ms. Wolloff lead a team that was awarded the Association for Behavioral Health’s Excellence in Outcomes award for their strong outcomes in CR for PTSD. Ms. Wolloff co-authored a research poster for these outcomes at the ABCT conference in 2018. She also provides consultation and supervision in CBT.

Prior to Private Practice, Ms. Wolloff worked at Open Sky Community Services for 18 years. During this time, she developed a specialty in working with those who experience serious and persistent mental illness. She received intensive training in Recovery Oriented CBT for Schizophrenia, CBT for Psychosis, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Restructuring for PTSD, and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD. She served as a treatment provider, training developer, trainer, consultant, and supervisor in these practices.