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Leslie Wilkin, MSW – The Importance of Engaging Social-Relational Systems in Trauma Treatment

Edward Dangerfield – Trauma and Subconscious Breathing Patterns

November 27, 2018

Speakers:

Dr. Lynn Alden // Current Treatment Perspectives of PTSD

PTSD has been described as a disorder of recovery. Dr. Alden’s talk will present current perspectives on the development of PTSD with particular emphasis on the processes that maintain traumatic stress symptoms. Treatment strategies and outcomes will also be discussed.

Leslie Wilkin, MSW // The Importance of Engaging Social-Relational Systems in Trauma Treatment

With ever advancing research in the areas of neurobiology and trauma treatment, we are learning the necessity of activating the ventral vagal branch of the nervous system, also known as our Social Engagement system, to facilitate healing. Drawing on Polyvagal theory, attachment, and ecological approaches, Leslie will highlight the science behind activating systems of social engagement in treatment, the role of relationships in learning, and the importance of attending to the social context in which trauma occurs.

Edward Dangerfield // Trauma and Subconscious Breathing Patterns

Edward will explore how thinking can influence our breathing. He will then unpack how the connections between subconscious breathing patterns, the nervous system, and the endocrine system interact to inform trauma response.

Panel discussion and catered networking to follow!

These talks are now live on Youtube!

October 22, 2018

Speakers:

Dr. Michael Kobor – Epigenetic Consequences for Chronic Disease and Mental Health

How do early life experiences get “under the skin” to affect heath and behaviour across the lifespan? We are engaged in a number of studies that look at how the environment shapes the human epigenome, and how this in turn might affect children’s susceptibilities to chronic disease and their mental health.

Dr. Liisa Galea – Maternal Adversity: different effects on sons and daughters

Sex differences exist in the incidence and timeline of manifestation of psychiatric disease. Interestingly stress exposure can affect brain plasticity and behavior in males and females differentially depending on when during the lifespan stress exposure occurs. This may be one explanatory factor to why there are sex differences in adult psychiatric diseases.

Dr. Adele Diamond – Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Brain

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) pose a risk to brain development, physical health, mental health, and psychological development. These experiences disrupt communication between the brain’s prefrontal cortex and amygdala, making it far more difficult to be calm rather than anxious. Historically, doctors and teachers receive minimial training in how to recognize when someone has experienced one or more ACES and in how to then help that person. The single greatest mitigating factor to early adversity is responsive parenting by a caring, warm adult.

Panel discussion and catered networking to follow!