How should we approach psychological assessment, formulation and intervention?

How should psychological therapists work with clients who have Complex PTSD?

It is a question that psychologists, therapists, and authors of practice guidelines have struggled with for years. The issue has huge relevance for clinicians in Northern Ireland considering the overrepresentation of complex trauma-related mental health difficulties as a legacy of the “Troubles”, and the recognition of Complex PTSD as a formal diagnosis in the upcoming ICD-11 diagnostic system.

This 1-day workshop provides practical, clinically-applicable training and materials that will support therapists working with adults who have Complex PTSD symptoms. Case studies and empirical findings from Northern Ireland-based research programmes will be used to assist clinicians in developing treatment models for clients in the local population. The morning session will explore relevant theoretical and phenomenological mechanisms of Complex PTSD as well as effective methods of assessment. The afternoon session centres on case conceptualisations, formulations, and interventions. A specific focus will be placed on integrating unimodal therapies (e.g., Trauma-Focussed CBT) into overarching phased treatment plans that can be tailored to individual clients with complex mental health difficulties.

Audience

Suitable for all qualified psychological therapists (e.g., Clinical Psychologists, Counselling Psychologists, CBT therapists etc.) and prequalification Trainee Clinical/Counselling Psychologists.

Experience in cognitive-behavioural approaches and providing psychological therapy to clients with PTSD may be helpful, but not essential.

Learning Outcomes

• Develop an understanding of up-to-date theories and features of Complex PTSD, as well as the current research evidence.
• Explore the issues of assessing individuals with complex trauma and develop assessment methods for Complex PTSD.
• Develop case conceptualisation and formulation skills as applied to complex trauma populations.
• Discuss the challenges of developing effective interventions for individuals with Complex PTSD and develop skills in creating tailored, integrative treatment plans within this population.
• Reflect on the personal and professional experience of working with individuals who have Complex PTSD, as well as the implications for clinical practice.

About The Presenter

Dr Kevin Dyer is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Psychology Lead of the Northern Ireland Regional Trauma Network – a new initiative to develop a world-leading PTSD intervention service across Northern Ireland. He is also Clinical Lead of the Psychological Therapies Service in the Northern HSC Trust. In his time in the Psychological Therapies Service, Dr Dyer pioneered a number of initiatives that led to the service being the first therapy department in Northern Ireland to obtain full APPTS Accreditation. It is currently the only service in the United Kingdom to have achieved 100% of accreditation standards set by the British Psychological Society and Royal College of Psychiatry.

From 2009 to 2018, Dr Dyer was an Assistant Course Director of the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) DClinPsych course. He was also Course Director of the first Assistant/ Associate Psychologist training programme in Northern Ireland at the university.  Dr Dyer has a specialist background in complex trauma and PTSD after working in QUB and the Belfast HSC Trust Trauma Resource Centre. He has developed a comprehensive trauma research programme that has yielded publications in a number of peer-reviewed journals.

For his clinical and academic achievements, Dr Dyer was presented the 2015 May Davidson Award by the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology for clinicians who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of clinical psychology within the first 10 years of their work as a qualified practitioner.