The Power of Context
Description
Neuroscience is demonstrating that some of the most challenging behaviors connected with treating trauma are actually biologically based fear responses more related to fear-based dysregulation than intractable behavior. As Maureen Walker reminds, “Strategies for disconnection are an intense yearning for connection in an atmosphere of fear.” When we switch the question from, “What’s wrong with you?” (uniformed) to “What’s happened to you?” (trauma Informed) and then to “What did you do to survive?” (trauma responsive), we can more clearly see trauma’s effect on brain chemistry, development, and relationships. Since trauma is processed and stored in nonverbal parts of the brain, expressive and relational strategies will be identified to assist people of all ages and ability levels with regulation and cooperation.
Specific Learning Objectives and Agenda:
- Explore traditional and emerging neuroscience-based understandings of chronic, challenging behaviors like aggression, self-harm, suicidality, risk taking, oppositional-defiance.
- Practice a collaborative, non-adversarial approach to addressing chronic, challenging behaviors.
Presenters
Mary Vicario Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor
As a former teacher, clinician and clinical director and now as the founder of Finding Hope Consulting, LLC, Mary has many years’ experience working with trauma survivors, addictions and training. Receiving ongoing training at international trauma conferences, The Jean Baker Miller Training Institute at Wellesley College, The International Center for Growth in Connection, and Harvard Medical School since 1992, she has been bringing home to Ohio the latest in neuroscience and trauma research to create cutting edge training and programming for individuals of all ages and ability levels and the systems that work with them. Based on her training in Relational-Cultural Theory and Relational Neuroscience, Ms. Vicario’s work centers around the knowledge that all growth occurs in relationship and all relationships are embedded in culture.
Ms. Vicario is a trainer and coach for the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program and co-authored the Foster Parents' Survival Guide, a textbook chapter in Counseling Children and Adolescents: Connecting Theory, Development and Diversity bySondra Smith-Adcock and Catherine Tucker Eds through Sage Publishing, and other trauma informed articles and curricula. She has been an expert witness on abuse since 1989, has been honored with a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Award for cooperative casework, and clinically managed a program assisting Hamilton County Ohio for eight years creating cross system care for the 300 most at-risk youth in the county. Mary is a proud participant in multiple grants to further develop and link trauma informed care across systems and communities in the United States and is honored to provide Trauma Responsive Care Certification through the Tristate Trauma Network for anyone working with trauma survivors.
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