Moments of crisis (as seen in dramatized therapy sessions) will be viewed and discussed with a focus on how therapists can handle the challenge of remaining attuned to intensely distressed clients while also recognizing and regulating their own stress reactions. When children or adult caregivers experience peaks of hyperarousal – as expressed in many varied forms including anger, terror, and dissociation – the therapist must maintain a dual focus of attunement with the client(s) and themselves. Experienced trauma therapists discuss their own stress reactions, the questions and dilemmas these reactions raise for them, and helpful strategies for remaining fully and effectively present with their clients.

This webinar will discuss how Therapist can remain attuned to their clients who are profoundly emotionally shut down or dissociating all while managing their own affect. Experienced trauma therapists discuss their reactions to these critical moments of disconnection and impasse in trauma therapy, the questions and dilemmas this raises for them, and ways they have found to engage with detached or dissociated clients while handling their secondary traumatic stress reactions.