Live Webinars

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 2nd February, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEDT

This short webinar outlines the current state of psychedelics therapy research internationally and in Australia. More specifically, a brief survey of ‘which drug’ for ‘which condition’ will be provided. In particular, we will look at implications for treatment resistant conditions such depression and PTSD and two particular areas will be highlighted: (1) possible relaxation of implicit ‘tightened beliefs’ arising from trauma and chronic maladaptive uncertainty, and (2) the generation of ‘meaning enhancement’. The role of neurobiological plasticity will be considered as one hopeful mechanism for change. Finally, risks for such trials as well as for vulnerable cohorts will be clarified.

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 2nd March, 2023

6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. AEDT

This webinar introduces current evidence-based perspectives on a few key features from infant and childhood development, containing some ideas not typically covered in much of our academic and clinical training. What exactly is understood today by temperament? And how might these be comprised? Are these heritable and therefore remain stable over time? And more importantly, what role/impact do they play/have on the umbrella notion of ’emerging personality’ through childhood and beyond?

Dr Kris Rao

Thursday, 2nd March, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEDT

‘Our memory has no guarantees at all, and yet we bow more often than is objectively justified to the compulsion to believe what it says.” — Sigmund Freud

Our memory is not the most reliable recording keeping tool. Therapists have long relied on notes to track client progress and maintain continuity from session to session. Remembering previous sessions is a basic demonstration of respect for our clients. Recordkeeping, however, is more than just a memory aid. Case notes and other records in therapy can help us track ongoing conceptualisations, make better decision, keep our clients safe, and enable accurate information sharing with other practitioners. Keeping good records is a requirement of all employing agencies. In private practice, conscientious and accurate recordkeeping can shield us from legal risks.

Dr Kevin Keith

Tuesday, 7th March, 2023

6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. AEDT

This webinar will explore three overlapping relational emotion processes explored first by the Boston Change Process Study Group (BCPSG) – ‘implicit relational knowing’, ‘engagement & a charged other’ and ‘being moved’. The first has emerged as a fruitful application of caregiver-infant interactions (mutually regulatory ones) to adult psychotherapy suggesting a causal role for the therapeutic relationship in adult treatment. The second process, ‘engagement with a charged other’ represents an explicit deepening of the first concept and clarifies three contributions: a) a core positive affective investment; b) prioritization; and c) continuity. In the last of the three, ‘moving through and being moved by’, the BCPSG expands previous work by identifying a shared emotional process depicted as ‘body-based interaffectivity.’ Noteworthy here is how embodiment and meaning making are brought together as part of a single relational emotion process.

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 22nd March, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m  AEDT

Transference and countertransference are useful and powerful instruments in psychotherapy. As therapists, we need to use them productively and compassionately to help our clients. Transference presents a microcosm of the client’s psychological life and the continuing influence of their early formative experiences. The client’s defensive aims and methods also contribute to the manifestation of transference. Countertransference is now also regarded as an important source of information on the client’s inner life and habitual ways of responding. It is widely acknowledged that countertransference is jointly created by the client and the therapist. The subjectivity of the therapist influences and informs the countertransference. As such, countertransference also tells us something about ourselves. That may explain why the majority therapists find it difficult to deal with countertransference in the room. Awareness of them by the therapist is crucial to successful work. This webinar will discuss interpreting transference and managing countertransference in therapy.

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 23rd March, 2023

6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. AEDT

Attachment Theory has provided a vast research foundation for understanding lifespan development. Although Bowlby did not live long enough to see his hopes for an attachment-informed adult psychotherapy emerge, great progress has since been made. Initial notable clinical success has long supported improvements in attachments between infants/toddlers and their caregivers. More recently, if not belatedly, the field has also begun to impact the practice of adult psychotherapy. After a general introduction to attachment theory, focus will turn to three subjects: (1) evidence-based therapy with children-caregiver attachments, (2) the use of attachment theory for general assessment in therapy with adolescents and adults, (3) three examples of attachment-informed therapy with adolescents/adults (relational/ psychodynamic therapies, emotion focussed therapies and attachment narrative therapies.) Clinical vignettes and case studies will be provided throughout. The discussion will also identify accessible resources for further support/exploration beyond the session.

Prof Andrew Moskowitz

Saturday, 1st April, 2023

10.00 a.m to 12: 00 p.m AEDT

Almost 20 years ago, psychologist Andrew Moskowitz published a pair of articles on the relationship between dissociation and violent crime (Moskowitz, 2004a, 2004b). At that time, the relevance of trauma to violence had been recognized (e.g., The Cycle of Violence, Widom, 1989), but the important corollary role of dissociation had hardly been noted. In these two articles – a broad review of the relationship between dissociation and violence and an analysis of the role of dissociation in different types of offenders – a range of important issues were considered, including: a) the prevalence of dissociation in violent offenders, b) the frequency of amnesia after violent crime and its relation to dissociation, c) violence committed by individuals with dissociative disorders, d) dissociation as a mediator between childhood trauma and adulthood violence, e) peri-traumatic dissociation during violent episodes, and f) the role of dissociation in violent fantasies and Amok-style mass murders. Since 2004, these two seminal articles have been referenced hundreds of times in subsequent reviews and empirical investigations. The continued relevance and importance of the issues raised there will be discussed in the context of recent research and publications, along with implications for research, clinical work and forensic evaluation. For the first time in Australia, Prof Andrew Moskowitz will provide a comprehensive overview of the links and overlaps between the trauma, dissociation and violence.

Dr Kevin Keith

Wednesday, 5th of April, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

This webinar on personality will familiarise participants with the field of adult personality, especially where possible applications for therapy may exist. After a general introduction to the field and trait notions, a survey of mental health findings from several competing personality models is offered. Included here are three neurobiological systems—Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) traits, Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (formerly BIS/BAS), and Affective Neuroscience Personality Scales (ANPS)—, the Big Five lexical system as well as Attachment anxiety/avoidance systems. Particular consideration will be given to efforts within integrative studies that seek to compare and combine insights from various systems. A more narrative lifespan approach to personality—longitudinal study of interactive effects of life events and personality traits—will also be engaged. Focus will also be given to practical clinical implications of the most-studied adult trait model: the Big Five traits: Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness.

Dr Valerie Sinason

20th April 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m  AEST

When words fail, cannot be thought, formed, uttered or heard, some patients can communicate with their bodies. This applies especially to patients with an intellectual disability and those who have experienced extreme trauma. Head-banging, defecation, spit, blood can become the mode of communication, all of which bring a powerful counter-transference. Our response to infantile physical communications in adults can take us by surprise and can take us into areas never reached previously in therapy and analysis. However, when honestly faced and thought about remarkable transformations could happen. This webinar will explore these issues using examples from profound multiple disability, trauma including refugee experience and cult abuse.

Dr Joan Haliburn

Saturday, 22nd April, 2023

11.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m  AEST

Concerns about weight, shape and size are major concerns for adolescents with Anorexia and Bulimia. The origins are multifactorial – biological, sociocultural as in anxiety about how one is seen by others, family factors as in Insecure attachment styles feature predominantly, while fears of rejection and abandonment which cannot be expressed, add to negative affect. Alexithymia as a construct must be understood in the context of personality development and resulting food restriction. These and other important aspects of the major eating disorders will be discussed with clinical examples, and time will be available for questions.

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 4th May, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

This webinar takes up therapist vulnerability with a view to exploring a range practical, clinical applications. Three specific topics with accompanying case vignettes will be employed for practical exploration of key content topics, as well as our own historical-, practice- and current self-reflection. (1) A first look examines possible roles of therapist early personal history and specific implications for our practice. How are our motivations influenced by specific early experiences? And what might be the implications for current practice? A case example will assist in helping us to explore our own challenges in balancing empathic support and appropriate challenge. (2) A second matter will explore issues around self-disclosure and narcissistic vulnerability. Therapist disclosure is increasingly seen in more contextual and flexible manners these days. But awareness of appropriate personal needs [sometimes termed ‘healthy narcissism’] may inevitably be accompanied by less aware needs. (3) Finally, a last topic engages the slightly more nebulous topic of enactments. What are they within the current discussion? Are they inevitable? How do we best assess options for repair? As with the other topics, a case vignette will be engaged and personal reflection considered. The webinar concludes with a reminder of the role for affect regulation in embracing the therapist’s vulnerability in a more relational therapeutic world.

Dr Kris Rao

Saturday, 6th May, 2023

10.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

With multiple individuals involved, working with couples and family groups is inherently complex as it involves multiple and shifting relationships. Having more than one person in the room changes the dynamics of our relationship and brings in additional ethical responsibilities. How does our existing training and competencies prepare us for this? To whom do we owe professional responsibilities when treating a family or a couple? Consider: Who is the client? Who determines the goals? Is that the partner who made the booking? Is it the relationship itself? Or perhaps the oldest person in the family group? Is it the most educated or knowledgeable person? Or the one paying for therapy? Whose side should you, could you, take? What happens if you get caught up in family power games? How do you work with multicultural members within the same family? How do we navigate confidentiality and Informed Consent?, How do we navigate issues of infidelity and betrayal? What if there are children involved? Who has access to the case notes and records? Under what circumstances can such information be released? Is it appropriate to treat a couple or family as a unified entity when there has been violence? The intersection of multiple personalities can rapidly complexify and exacerbate ethical issues. Are you ready to tackle them when working with couples and families? This webinar will prepare you to navigate potential ethical challenges when working with couple and families. The webinar will integrate contemporary cases studies to the concepts discussed

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 17th May, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 AEST

Dropouts represent a significant challenge in therapy. Recent research indicates that anywhere between 20 and 57 percent of therapy clients do not return after their initial session and around 37 to 45 percent only attend therapy a total of two times (Binnie & Boden, 2016). Studies have also shown that there are no differences in early termination amongst various approaches (such as CBT, Psychodynamic, Humanistic, etc) but mainly due to client’s factors, their expectations, therapist factors and the nature of therapeutic relationship (Swift & Greenberg, 2012). This webinar will look at the range of issues experienced by clients that leads to premature disengagement/dropout from therapy. It will also look at therapist limitations and non‐curative factors of psychotherapy. We will also look at strategies and framework which a therapist can apply right from the first session to mitigate early disengagement from therapy.

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 25th May, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

Supervision of practitioners is a requirement for most professional mental health workers. However, unlike many areas of treatment, very little evidence exists as to what might count as effective supervision. Nonetheless, this story may not be as dire as it might first read. After survey of the brief research on supervision effectiveness, the webinar focus will turn to a second more fertile discussion of supervision research. Helpful theoretical models, expert surveys and research on the developmental needs of novice practitioners will provide the concepts for discussion of a possible ‘how to’ list. What activities might be required for constructive supervision? What might be included under term, ‘contract’? What might the marks of good therapist/therapy and a good supervision look like? A brief look at the notion of a novice closes out the webinar content. This will consider a fresh look at what might define a novice and what does a novice become after they are no longer a novice. What changes: possibly the gradual internalisation of habits of good practice? The session will close off with a Q&A where more specific questions regarding supervision practice.

Dr Kris Rao

Saturday, 3rd June, 2023

11.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

Run-ins with the law are only exciting in the movies. Despite your best intentions, there may come a time when the law comes knocking on your door (or inbox.) A legal situation may arise in circumstances such as: a client raises a legal complaint against you, when a duty of care is breached, you suffer a data/privacy breach, you fail to disclose an offence or failing mandatory report, you have a dispute with your insurance company, or you receive a subpoena for client notes. Do you understand what terms like liability and indemnity mean? And what could happen to your business and possibly private assets if someone sues you? Preparation is the best protection. There are proactive steps you can build into the day-to-day operation of your practice to protect you should in legal eventualities. Having the right processes in place frees you to do what you love – looking after your clients!

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 8th June, 2023

6.30. p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

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Dr Daniel Goldin

Saturday, 17th June, 2023

11.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

Before YouTube and TikTok, before books and poetry, before writing, humans put their stories together in conversation in order to share experiences and make sense of them. In our prehistory, the story never became a concrete artifact capable of being reproduced in a precise way and disseminated. It lived only in talk. And our ancestors continually tweaked their stories to meet current circumstances, to understand more and better, whether those stories were mythic explanations handed down from the past or current stories about the goings-on in contemporary life. Therapists and patients put together stories in a similarly dynamic way, intensifying a process we have engaged in since humans began to herd together on this earth.

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 21st June, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

The current emergencies & COVID pandemic has highlighted the fragility of the systems we take for granted every day, as well as our own mortality. What if we were to die unexpectedly? Where would that leave our clients? Consider what may need to happen after our unscheduled passing. Clients will need to be informed and appointments cancelled. Emergency referrals may need to be made for clients who require critical care. Client records will need to be removed from the office and archived lawfully. Final invoices will need to be sent, outstanding expenses paid, and the books closed. Banks, superannuation funds, accreditation, and other bodies will need to be notified. If you have business partners, the appropriate processes will need to be triggered to avoid business disruptions. Dying is hard work!

Developing a professional will is one way to address these concerns.

Dr Jackie Amos

Saturday, 1st July, 2023

11.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m AEST

This webinar will present an attachment-based model of intergenerational maternal neglect and abuse of children. The model integrates two novel hypotheses with existing evolutionary research in the areas of attachment and interpersonal trauma. The first hypothesis is that ‘shame-without-solution’ is as important as ‘fright-without-solution’ in understanding traumatising attachment relationships in infancy. The second addresses the controlling adaptations to traumatising attachments in middle childhood and the corresponding hostile, helpless states of mind in adults with histories of chronic interpersonal traumatisation in important caregiving relationships. These adaptations are increasing recognised empirically as integral to the transmission pathway, and although attachment theory provides an evolutionary explanation of development during infancy few attempts have been made to extend an evolutionary understanding to these important observations in middle childhood and adulthood.

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 5th July,, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

Our memory is not the most reliable recording keeping tool. Counsellors and psychotherapists have long relied on notes to track client progress and maintain continuity from session to session. Remembering previous sessions is a basic demonstration of respect for our clients. Recordkeeping, however, is more than just a memory aid. Case notes and other records in counselling and psychotherapy can help us track ongoing conceptualisations, make better decision, keep our clients safe, and enable accurate information sharing with other practitioners. Keeping good records is a requirement of all employing agencies. In private practice, conscientious and accurate recordkeeping can shield us from legal risks.

Dr Kevin Keith

Wednesday, 2nd August, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

Our current best understanding of stress first emerged from with a Sterling & Eyer (1988) proposal for an Allostasis ‘wear and tear’ model for biological ageing, followed up by the McEwan & Stellar (1993) accompanying notion for cumulative risk: Allostatic Load. Both advance our understanding of multi-factor contributions to the resolution of current stress and possible long-term risks associated with “chronic, toxic stress.” The webinar begins with a brief review of stress research, especially the allostasis model and its interplay with the activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The next part of the webinar extrapolates three clinical opportunities for consideration: (1) development of an assessment approach and possible planning, 2) an inventory on stressors and resilience to be conducted with clients, and (3) a possible engagement of the Allostasis model for psychoeducation in therapy. Three practical activities will follow. First, each of us will have a chance to complete our own inventory on stress. Then identification of stressors and resilience in clients and further options for client work along with valuable consideration of psychoeducation with a focus on our ethical duty to do no harm will be considered. A final Q&A will conclude the session.

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Dr Lisa Cohen

Saturday, 5th August, 2023

9.00 a.m to 11.00 a.m AEST

There is today a veritable smorgasbord of psychotherapeutic treatments available, leaving the clinician at a loss to know how to select the appropriate treatment for each patient. In response, clinicians tend to either pick one model and stick to it religiously, like the Hindu parable of the blind men and the elephant, or develop a grab bag approach with no unifying explanatory framework to guide their choices. Emergent Systems Theory is an integrative model that addresses the issues of differential diagnosis and treatment selection from a neuro-evolutionary framework. The human psyche is conceptualized as a complex system, one which developed in layers across our evolutionary history and that even now carries the record of that history in its very structure. We will discuss five proposed layers of the mind/brain, each of which reflects a different point in human evolution, is characterized by distinct psychological processes, breaks down into distinct forms of psychopathology, and therefore requires specific therapeutic techniques. As such, these layers can offer a general map for differential diagnosis and treatment selection.  In this webinar, from the vantage point of Emergent Systems Theory, Dr. Cohen will explore common types of clinical presentations and treatment approaches, with an emphasis on personality disorders.

Dr Daniel Goldin

Saturday, 19th Augus, 2023

11.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

Before YouTube and TikTok, before books and poetry, before writing, humans put their stories together in conversation in order to share experiences and make sense of them. In our prehistory, the story never became a concrete artifact capable of being reproduced in a precise way and disseminated. It lived only in talk. And our ancestors continually tweaked their stories to meet current circumstances, to understand more and better, whether those stories were mythic explanations handed down from the past or current stories about the goings-on in contemporary life. Therapists and patients put together stories in a similarly dynamic way, intensifying a process we have engaged in since humans began to herd together on this earth.

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 21st August, 2023

6.00 p.m to 7.30 p.m AEST

Are you about to, or have just graduated? Practical clinical experience is crucial to help new clinicians secure employment and transition to professional practice. Many employers desire clinical experience beyond training placements. Don’t let insufficient practical clinical experience limit your employment prospects! Volunteering is one way. But it may not suit every practitioner as we all have different theoretical, methodological, and client demographic preferences. This webinar presents five practical ways, including how to approach volunteering, to help you gain employment-ready practical clinical experience.

Dr Joan Haliburn

Saturday, 26th August, 2023

11.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

There is overwhelming evidence to show that early trauma disrupts the normal integrity of Self and that constant thwarting of the infant’s biological propensity to attach to a caregiver gives rise to a traumatic attachment – varying from insecure to disorganised. Somatisation has been described as an adaptive psychophysiological response to trauma where there is repeated threat of inescapable physical injury, the symptoms of which cannot be explained medically, or may accompany other psychiatric disorders such as severe depression and anxiety. Somatisation involves dissociation when cumulative experiences of chronic devaluation, emotional neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse compound its complexity. In this webinar, Dr Joan Haliburn will discuss the relationships between early trauma and somatisation. She will also provide a brief historical over-view, the changes in DSM-5 leading to its being renamed, Somatic Symptom Disorder, and in more depth, the principles of psychotherapy relating to a case of Somatization Disorder. The webinar will conclude with Q & A

Dr Kris Rao

Saturday, 9 September, 2023

10.00 a.m to 12.30 p.m AEST

With multiple individuals involved, working with couples and family groups is inherently complex as it involves multiple and shifting relationships. Having more than one person in the room changes the dynamics of our relationship and brings in additional ethical responsibilities. How does our existing training and competencies prepare us for this? To whom do we owe professional responsibilities when treating a family or a couple? Consider: Who is the client? Who determines the goals? Is that the partner who made the booking? Is it the relationship itself? Or perhaps the oldest person in the family group? Is it the most educated or knowledgeable person? Or the one paying for therapy? Whose side should you, could you, take? What happens if you get caught up in family power games? How do you work with multicultural members within the same family? How do we navigate confidentiality and Informed Consent?, How do we navigate issues of infidelity and betrayal? What if there are children involved? Who has access to the case notes and records? Under what circumstances can such information be released? Is it appropriate to treat a couple or family as a unified entity when there has been violence? The intersection of multiple personalities can rapidly complexify and exacerbate ethical issues. Are you ready to tackle them when working with couples and families? This webinar will prepare you to navigate potential ethical challenges when working with couple and families. The webinar will integrate contemporary cases studies to the concepts discussed.

Dr Kevin Keith

Wednesday, 20th September, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

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Dr Kris Rao

Thursday, 21st September, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEST

We are sometimes called to write clinical case reports as part of our therapy practice. These reports support insurance claims, court proceedings, NDIS applications, and information sharing with agencies and other practitioners. Best practice case reports must meet a range of requirements. They must be fit for purpose (provide the needed information concisely), accessible (effective writing using appropriate clinical language), ethical (fair and accurate representation), and compliant with legal and other professional standards. Every report we write is an ambassador for who we are as a person, as well as for our proficiency. It may be the first and only source whereby others form an impression of our expertise and professionalism. It is also a vital way to differentiate ourselves business-wise, whether self-employed or representing our employer.

This webinar will show you how to write best-practice clinical case reports. You will receive free templates to use in your practice

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 11th October, 2023

6.00 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEDT

Running your own business can be immensely rewarding. Being a great counsellor or psychotherapist is only the beginning. A successful private practice requires careful planning, a good understanding of the market, compelling branding ad marketing, effective sales/referrals, and diligent ongoing management. This 150 minute webinar will prepare you to set-up and manage your successful counselling and psychotherapy private practice. This webinar is ideal for students exploring post-graduation options, as well as new graduates or working professionals looking at working for themselves.

Dr Kris Rao

Wednesday, 25th October, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEDT

Defence mechanisms were initially thought to be ways in which the person kept from awareness their sexual and aggressive drives, and managed internal conflict. The contemporary relational view is that these unconscious mechanisms are initially protective and adaptive and serve their purpose well, that is, prevent overwhelming fragmentation of self in the relatively helpless child. However, as they continue to be used into adulthood, they prove to be maladaptive and unhelpful to the patient. Defences are almost always embedded in relatedness when one evaluates the personality of a patient. Specific defences are typicall correlated with specific personality types or, in some cases, personality disorders. In therapy (and in daily life), defence mechanisms are always in-play. It is important for the therapist to be aware of the patient’s defence mechanisms, and the purposes they serve, and to work empathically with the patient to recognise and identify the mechanisms, improve their self-awareness and gain a new enduring understanding and control of their own behaviours. This process constitutes the ‘working through’.

In this webinar, we will learn about the psychological function behind the use of defence mechanisms, the unconscious motives for protecting oneself and appropriate interventions to moderate such mechanisms.

Dr Paul Martin

Saturday, 28th October, 2023

10.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m AEDT

Loss, grief and mourning are ubiquitous human experiences that pervade the work of therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers alike. Helping those who have experienced a significant loss can be challenging and confusing. In what ways can we tailor our interventions to accommodate the specific temperaments and psychological needs of our bereaved clients? Dr. Paul M Martin will explore research on the topics of complicated bereavement and attachment theory. He will then share his thoughts on the importance of taking attachment style into consideration when designing treatment plans for bereaved clients. Lastly, Dr. Martin will discuss how grief-focused therapy can be strengthened by working with clients to create personal grief rituals that are catered to their unique psychological needs and grounded in meaning about the specific relationship they are attempting to mourn.

Dr Kevin Keith

Saturday, 4th November

11.00 a.m to 1:00 p.m AEDT

Development in adolescence is increasingly being shown to occur across a sensitive period—a time-period of crucial experience-expectant growth. This important time can also be differentiated between an early and later adolescence, approximately reflecting sexual maturation and growth in socio-emotionality respectively. Attachment(s) experiences shifts significantly across both periods. First, a global attachment style emerges for the first time. Peer attachments—including both friends and romantic partners—emerge as one’s attachment network expands. Finally, ongoing attachment with parents and key caregivers continue to influence adolescent developmental outcomes. Attachment research is demonstrating interesting new insights for mental health. After exploring this important theoretical terrain, the webinar will look at specific clinical challenges that professionals may face when working with an adolescent cohort. Two case studies will be engaged: one looking at early adolescence, the second considering later adolescence. Self-esteem, peer competence, risk taking are a few of the important outcomes where attachment demonstrates important influence. Finally, innovative therapeutic assessment and treatment options are continuing to evolve. The webinar therefore offers practitioners an opportunity to build and refresh their skills for working with adolescent attachment.

Prof Onno van der Hart

Thursday, 16th November, 2023

7.00 p.m to 9.00 p.m AEDT

A survivor with a complex trauma-related dissociative disorder once remarked that therapists should realize that dissociative people have a great capacity for imagination, which often remains greatly under-utilized. However, imagination may also act as a liability, playing a major role in the maintenance of trauma-related dissociation of the personality, which consists of dissociative parts mainly functioning in daily life (Apparently Normal Parts of the Personality; ANPs) and parts stuck in trauma-time (Emotional Parts; EPs). EPs may intensely and involuntarily imagine, even hallucinate, that the traumas of the past occur again. Such experiences can be regarded as malignant hypnotic trance states, in which the involved part of the personality is caught, having no possibility to reflect on the experience. Indeed, hypnotic states are characterized by a narrowed field of consciousness, absorption, and (often but not always) suggestibility. In this webinar Prof Van der Hart will discuss the application of two types of hypnotic-like guided imagery work in which clients are assisted in voluntary and deliberately realize reaching mutually agreed positive treatment goals.

The two-session webinar will cover theoretical literature, case illustrations, and practical guidelines.

Dr Kevin Keith

Thursday, 23rd November, 2023

6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m AEDT

Supervision of practitioners is a requirement for most professional mental health workers. However, unlike many areas of treatment, very little evidence exists as to what might count as effective supervision. Nonetheless, this story may not be as dire as it might first read. After survey of the brief research on supervision effectiveness, the webinar focus will turn to a second more fertile discussion of supervision research. Helpful theoretical models, expert surveys and research on the developmental needs of novice practitioners will provide the concepts for discussion of a possible ‘how to’ list. What activities might be required for constructive supervision? What might be included under term, ‘contract’? What might the marks of good therapist/therapy and a good supervision look like? A brief look at the notion of a novice closes out the webinar content. This will consider a fresh look at what might define a novice and what does a novice become after they are no longer a novice. What changes: possibly the gradual internalisation of habits of good practice? The session will close off with a Q&A where more specific questions regarding supervision practice are discussed.

Prof Andrew Moskowitz

Saturday, 2nd December, 2023

10.00 a.m to 12.00 p.m AEDT

This workshop will present evidence for the above, along with explanations for the presence of psychotic symptoms in posttraumatic (including ICD-11 Complex PTSD) and dissociative disorders (Moskowitz, Heinimaa & Van der Hart, 2019). While the presence of psychotic symptoms is not useful as a differential diagnostic tool, certain aspects of delusions and hallucinations may aid in differential diagnosis. Dissociative symptoms provide a more solid foundation on which to distinguish between psychotic, posttraumatic and dissociative disorders; the most relevant dissociative symptoms in this regard will be highlighted. These clues to differential diagnosis, and the conceptual and clinical implications of these differences, will be discussed and important unanswered questions raised.

Prof Onno van der Hart

Thursday, 7th Dec, 2023

7.30 p.m to 9.30 p.m AEDT

A survivor with a complex trauma-related dissociative disorder once remarked that therapists should realize that dissociative people have a great capacity for imagination, which often remains greatly under-utilized. However, imagination may also act as a liability, playing a major role in the maintenance of trauma-related dissociation of the personality, which consists of dissociative parts mainly functioning in daily life (Apparently Normal Parts of the Personality; ANPs) and parts stuck in trauma-time (Emotional Parts; EPs). EPs may intensely and involuntarily imagine, even hallucinate, that the traumas of the past occur again. Such experiences can be regarded as malignant hypnotic trance states, in which the involved part of the personality is caught, having no possibility to reflect on the experience. Indeed, hypnotic states are characterized by a narrowed field of consciousness, absorption, and (often but not always) suggestibility. In this webinar Prof Van der Hart will discuss the application of two types of hypnotic-like guided imagery work in which clients are assisted in voluntary and deliberately realize reaching mutually agreed positive treatment goals:

The two-session webinar will cover theoretical literature, case illustrations, and practical guidelines.