Online Self-Paced Courses
Please Join me!
Since the onset of Covid-19, requiring social distancing and increasing isolation, those struggling with addiction are losing their most important resource: “Connection.”
There has been a profound increase in the use of addictive and compulsive behaviors as a way of coping with ongoing, often unfamiliar stressors: Job loss, sudden illness, deaths of friends and loved ones, financial and food insecurity, and for some, homelessness.
The integration of EMDR therapy and “parts work,” informed by Internal Family Systems, is a powerful marriage of trauma models for these challenging times.
“Feeling stuck in your work with clients who are caught in the web of addiction, unable to stop, but desperately trying?”
Susan Brown in a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Board Certified Diplomate in private practice for more than 30 years in San Diego, CA, specializing in the treatment of complex developmental trauma and addictions. Her current focus is on the integration of EMDR Therapy with IFS Informed parts procedures. She was one of the Principal Investigators in a pilot study utilizing an Integrated Trauma Treatment Program (ITTP) in the Thurston County Drug Court in Washington State combining Seeking Safety and EMDR therapy. Susan has co-authored two book chapters and several articles on the subjects of trauma, addiction, and personality disorder. She has presented nationally on the use of EMDR therapy with co-occurring trauma and addiction. She is an EMDRIA-Approved Consultant and Basic Training Facilitator for the EMDR Institute and the Humanitarian Assistance Program.
“Susan Brown’s mastery of addictions is matched by her ability to integrate theory and research with practice in this ‘must-see’ workshop for all EMDR therapists. One of the best I’ve seen.”
“Susan’s integrated approach supplied the missing piece in my work using EMDR with addicted clients. I have observed significant improvement with this population as a direct result of this synthesized approach.”
“Videos of real sessions were riveting. It was so helpful to see how Susan integrated “parts work” within the EMDR protocol.”
“Of all the times I have attended your trainings, this has been my favorite. Loved EMDR and IFS integration.”
2. Identify three ways in which addictions may be viewed through the lens of maladaptive attachment.
An untreated complex trauma history can be a fundamental contributor to the development and maintenance of symptoms of addictive and compulsive behaviors. These include (but are not limited to) alcohol and drug abuse, compulsive gambling, food, pornography, sex, social media, shopping, internet, and self-harm. It is believed that people use substances and other behaviors to self-medicate trauma-driven symptoms such as flashbacks, avoidance, numbing, depression, and distressing body states that can trigger cravings and relapse. Several modified, addiction-specific EMDR protocols suggest that it is equally important to target positively associated feelings, memories, urges, and euphoric recall that are linked with addictive behaviors, thereby helping to break the cycle of “cue-driven” relapse. This audio-recorded, narrated PowerPoint workshop is intended for fully trained EMDR clinicians. It includes a focus on addiction as an attachment strategy, a neurobiological phenomenon, a dissociative experience, and a survival mechanism. Practice scripts and client video segments round out the distance learning experience.
Course Agenda (7 hours of narrated PowerPoint) = 7 Professional CEs and EMDRIA Credits
- Introduction to defining characteristics of addictive and compulsive symptoms; Addiction as an attachment disorder, a dissociative experience, a disorder of learning and memory
- Explore similarities and differences between chemical and behavioral addictions including video examples
- Adverse Childhood Experiences study as empirical support for the AIP predicting addictive and compulsive symptoms resulting from ACEs
- Epigenetics in addiction
- Phased Integrated Treatment for complex trauma and addiction: 1) History taking, case conceptualization and treatment planning; 2) Safety and stabilization; Trauma reprocessing using EMDR plus modified addiction targets synthesized within standard EMDR protocol; 4) Relapse prevention
- Use of “positive affect” or “positive feeling-states” as essential targets within standard protocol
- Working with addicted clients: “What gets triggered in you?”
- Integrating EMDR and Positive Feeling-State (‘Karen’ Video and discussion)
- Basic neurobiology of addiction and the role of memory and learning
- Review and differentiate between current ‘Addiction-Specific’ target modifications and protocols for the treatment of this population (Popky, Knipe, Hase, Miller)
- The Feeling-State Addiction Protocol (FSAP) including scripted practice and video examples
- Risks and benefits of timing trauma work with addicted clients including brief video clips
- EMDR and its protocol modifications as “Organic Relapse Prevention” model
- Video clips of post EMDR clients
“Susan Brown is a skilled clinician with EMDR mastery. Her vast EMDR knowledge and effortless deconstruction of the most challenging cases makes her trainings and consultation invaluable. Post certification, Susan remains my primary resource for EMDR learning, clinical growth, and skill acquisition.”
Wendy Ashley., Psy.D, LCSW
“One of the finest teachers I have ever experienced, hands down. This trainer offers deep compassion and a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between addictions and trauma. This is the trainer that I return to again and again when her courses are offered. You will not regret making this choice: none better.”
Judith S., PhD
” Susan’s wisdom, guidance, and encouragement is going to help me give hope to my addicted clients in their journey. The videos of case examples and handouts were fantastic–very helpful.”
David W., LMFT, Psy.D
“I have sponsored EMDR trainings and have been utilizing EMDR Therapy for over 20 years. Susan’s workshops are the most succinct and packed with more information than any I have sponsored or attended. Many kudos to you Susan, for the quality you provide. I recommend your trainings to anyone needing advanced treatment skills in addiction.”
Laurie Tetrault. LCSW
“Susan Brown communicates a wealth of knowledge concerning addiction along with immediately accessible tools for clinicians. Her expertise comes from years of experience combined with true concern for the client who struggles with addiction. We’re honored to call her both colleague and friend.”
Curt Rouanzoin, Ph.D., and Michelle Gottlieb, Psy.D. – EMDR Professional Trainingä
Susan Brown’s course has radically changed the way I use EMDR and working with compulsive/addictive behaviors. It has made such a difference to my clients’ process. By offering a more IFS-based approach, I see and hear more of my client’s internal dialogue and experiences, and provide so much more room for healing. I highly recommend this course!
Cecily Criminale, MS, MEd, MA
Workshop Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Describe addiction as a complex, neurodevelopmental disorder of attachment, responses to adverse childhood experiences, learning, memory, and genetic vulnerability
- Describe 3 ways in which childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences create conditions for symptoms of addictive and compulsive behaviors to develop and become treatment-resistant
- Create a treatment plan for mitigating addictive and compulsive symptoms based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model, using both positively and negatively charged targets.
- Identify 3 neurobiological mechanisms thought to be involved in the development and maintenance of addictive and compulsive symptoms
- Integrate existing AIP-informed addiction treatment elements (DeTUR, Positive Affect, Feeling-States, Avoidance, and Addiction Memory) seamlessly within EMDR therapy’s 8 phase, 3 prong protocol
- Develop an addiction-specific AIP informed treatment plan including identification of both rewarding and disturbing memory elements, as well as timing of targeting: What to do and when to do it.
Healing the Wounds of Addiction: IFS informed EMDR as an Integrated
Approach to Relapse Prevention and Recovery
3 EMDRIA and Academic CEUs
This intermediate online distance learning workshop will teach the integration of IFS (Internal Family Systems) informed procedures within the 8 phases of EMDR therapy for the specialized treatment of addictions. The workshop focuses a particular lens on relapse prevention and recovery, utilizing parts work to help create a more collaborative, compassionate internal system. The liberal use of videos, case examples, and experiential will be used to demonstrate this integration.
Please join me for this timely workshop when so many clinicians struggle to find compassionate and effective ways to deal with addicted and complex trauma clients.
Sign up below to be on my mailing list:
When you sign up for our mailing list, you'll receive emails for upcoming live and on-demand workshops by Susan Brown, LCSW. Thank you for your interest in her specialized IFS informed EMDR specialty addiction workshops.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact