1-day workshop

Complex Trauma: working with challenging cases

This practical workshop covers the unique challenges of working with complex trauma cases, including shutdown and dissociation, and gives you clear guidance on the most effective ways to help

Advanced CPD

Course Factfile

Complex Trauma Training

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  • Price: £198.00 per person

Price includes lunch, refreshments and course notes
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£198.00

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Absolutely jam-packed with techniques/information and resources. Ros is superlative. A calm, confident and articulate trainer...

J Yap, Therapist

> LAST CHANCE to attend in person
Join trauma expert Ros Townsend in London on Fri 15th November for this invaluable day’s training on working with challenging cases, complex trauma, dissociation and the shutdown response – book your place online now or call our friendly team on 01323 811690.

Why take this course

CPD Provider LogoClients suffering from Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) or who have experienced trauma in a shutdown or dissociative state, can present unique challenges to practitioners working with them – but with the right knowledge and skills we can help sufferers move forward in their lives.

In this hands-on, experiential workshop you will learn more about what makes trauma ‘complex’, why shutdown or dissociation are often experienced by sufferers, and how to best work with such presentations using the Human Givens framework of understanding. You will also have the chance to collaborate with other experienced practitioners and clinicians during exercises designed to further your understanding, add to your existing skillsets, and bring wider context to an often-misunderstood area of work.

During this intensive day of live, in-person training, experienced psychotherapist Ros Townsend will introduce you to a framework within which you can set your understanding of complex trauma presentations and discover the opportunities that we have to help clients move forward from their difficulties. You will learn more about the neurobiology of the automatic survival options that we have available to us, especially dissociative and ‘shutdown’ states, and leave with an understanding of how to use this knowledge to inform your work, giving you greater confidence to work creatively and flexibly with such presentations.

From understanding the symptoms that are now recognised as distinguishing C-PTSD, to adapting existing HG techniques and strategies and introducing new tools and skills, this course will explore how we, as clinicians, can approach such complex presentations without getting lost in the complexity ourselves. Using case histories and discussion you will have the chance to understand more about the unique challenges that such work presents and to leave feeling more confident in your ability as a therapist to work effectively and contextually with these.

Such a thought-provoking and informative day. Complex PTSD is a real buzz word at present, this took the mystery out of it in a clear and understandable way – highly recommend...

Melissa Derricourt

What will you learn

  • What Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is
  • What other symptoms a client may present with in addition to those meeting the criteria for ‘classic’ PTSD
  • How to effectively work with these within the Human Givens framework of understanding
  • Vital tools for psycho-education – both adding to your own understanding and to pass on to clients
  • Why individuals enter into a dissociative or ‘shutdown’ state
  • The difference between ‘freeze’ and ‘shutdown’
  • Why anger can present when an individual comes out of a ‘shutdown’ state
  • How to help a client deal effectively with anger if it does arise
  • The crucial role of the pattern-matching processes in the brain in post-traumatic stress symptoms – and how the kinds of templates stored can subtly differ in more complex trauma
  • How to adapt existing techniques – such as rewind and deconditioning molar memories – to work creatively with such presentations
  • The Dos and Don’ts when working with Guided Imagery in complex presentations
  • How to refine your Guided Imagery skillset to powerfully benefit clients who have experienced trauma in a shutdown state
  • Why any work that we do must be informed by the innate ability we all have to recover from trauma
  • How to avoid negatively reframing trauma and making symptoms worse
  • The most effective ways to help clients towards recovery and post-traumatic growth

Under careful guidance from the tutor, you will:

  • Explore and discuss the different survival options available to us as humans in traumatic situations
  • Learn more about the neurobiology of these states – including our passive survival responses
  • Develop a new framework of understanding within which to set your work with all kinds of trauma
  • Understand more about why ‘shutdown’ or ‘dissociation’ are often associated with complex presentations
  • Understand why addictions and self-harming behaviours are often a part of the picture
  • Work collaboratively with peers and colleagues to extend and develop your own skillsets and knowledge
  • Explore how guided imagery can be adapted and used to most powerfully benefit clients suffering in this way

You will leave with:

  • The confidence to work creatively and flexibly with a wider range of presentations
  • A clear understanding of a framework within which you can work and continue to develop and adapt your tools and skillsets
  • An appreciation of the importance of taking your time with such work and proceeding at a pace right for each individual client
  • An understanding of how to support clients in moving forward from the use of faulty coping strategies – such as addiction and self-harm
  • Greater confidence in creating metaphors that work powerfully for clients
  • An understanding of how helping a client to meet their emotional needs is particularly key to recovery in the most complex cases

Throughout the day there will be plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions and to engage in collaborative work and discussion with the tutor and with experienced colleagues and practitioners.

Dates and venues

Important note

Important note

Working with Complex PTSD requires specific skills and experience and thus is only suitable for practitioners either already working in this area and looking to extend their skillset or those who are already practicing as therapists and wish to begin working in this area.

If you are an experienced practitioner from another modality, we recommend you familiarise yourself a little with the HG approach before you attend, see: About HG therapy, benefits of the approach, and what is RIGAAR.

Who is this course suitable for?

Course Programme

This intense 1-day training proceeds through a blend of talks, skill-developing exercises, discussions and deconstruction of real-life case-studies. There is also plenty of opportunity for networking and discussion during the breaks.

The training runs from 9.30am–4.00pm.

CPD Provider LogoThis course on working with complex trauma cases, dissociation and the shutdown response has been independently accredited by the internationally recognised CPD Standards Office for 6 hours of CPD training.

On completion of this training you’ll receive CPD certificates from the College and the CPD Standards Office.

Register your interest – next date

If you can’t make this course, please complete the form below and we’ll email you when another date becomes available.

Reviews for this course

4.9/5 (51 Reviews)
  1. Julie Somerset, Counsellor

    Outstanding course – Ros was excellent in her knowledge and delivery of the content.

  2. Therapist

    Excellent day – sharing ideas, very helpful.

  3. Trina Parker, Counsellor

    Very knowledgeable, polished facilitator. Good opportunities for discussion.

  4. Delegate

    Excellent course providing easy to digest, yet in-depth, information that can help to transform ways of working with people with complex trauma.

  5. Counsellor

    Great tools to take home.

  6. Psychologist

    Excellent! Thank you!

  7. Helen Prosper, Counsellor / Play therapist

    An excellent course – taking understanding of trauma to a deeper level with wonderful practical examples of how we can further help clients. Very useful also to look at other ‘trauma’ therapies through the HG lens, creative rewinds, and molar memories showing up.

  8. Sarah Denning, IVF Counsellor

    One of the best days I have been to. Ros is a fantastic tutor, really engaging, completely without ego. The explanation of complex trauma was so clear in its execution.

  9. Counsellor

    Very informative, well structured and clear teaching. Thank you

  10. Tanya Lee, HG Therapist

    This was an engaging and interesting course. Roz has a wealth of experience and shares examples that illuminate the material perfectly. A very worthwhile course, with refreshing new insights on traditional HG methods.

  11. Anna Tingle, HG Therapist

    An extremely helpful explanation of how to apply HG princples to work with complex trauma. It was helpful to investigate specific case studies and then return each time to underlying principles of our training.

  12. Janette Houghton, Psychotherapist

    An excellent refresher for me as a new supervisor. It crystalised some areas and gave me some new ideas to use exisiting training in new ways.

  13. Cathy Green, Midwife

    Practical, good pace. Liked the info on other therapies and linking to HG. Really liked the case studies.

  14. Therapist / Psychosexual Therapist / Supervisor

    As with the Rewind course previously attended, this has given me further valuable tools for my kit bag – thank you!

  15. Jyoti Sagar, Counsellor / Psychotherapist

    Excellent and sufficiently challenging! Interested in ongoing course on Rewind. All very useful, particularly the fundamentals of complex trauma.

  16. HG Therapist

    Ros is a model of lucidity, making this day an excellent learning experience.

  17. Johanne Harrison, Charity Manager / Therapist

    Very well presented and great content

  18. Counsellor

    Very informative

  19. Caroline Cawston, HG Therapist

    Wonderfully presented by Ros who was knowledgeable, inclusive and made the day fun, my understanding has developed and the information will definitely help me in my work. Rethinking about the shutdown and dissociative states and the recap on molar memories was particularly useful, adding to the layers of understanding

  20. Counsellor

    Brilliant and informative! Ros is patient and always happy to answer questions.

  21. Vix Avery, HG Psychotherapist

    Excellent course

  22. Therapy Practitioner

    Very helpful in expanding my understanding.

  23. Tina Hamilton-James, Psychologist

    A day filled with creative, fascinating and useful information. It will be extremely useful going forward.

  24. Holistic Counsellor

    Real-life solutions to working with complex trauma. Great techniques to put in my toolbox.

  25. Ingrid Steele, Therapist

    Comprehensive in reviewing and integrating different approaches into the HG framework.

  26. J Yap, Therapist

    Absolutely jam-packed with techniques/information and resources. The best HG course so far, including notes – and I’ve been on a few! Ros is superlative. A calm, confident and articulate trainer.

  27. Bunty Dann, HG Therapist

    The importance on understanding the latest and most effective approaches for people who have been affected with CPTSD is crucial. The gain in my confidence in providing the best opportunity for my clients to heal, arm themselves for meeting their future well has increased.

  28. Liz Barr, HG Therapist

    An excellent, structured training day that added real depth to the understanding gained in the diploma training on trauma and treatment approaches. Would definitely recommend!

  29. HG Therapist

    It has given me the confidence to work out of my comfort zone. A great review of HG practice in general with lots of additional understanding.

  30. HG Psychotherapist

    Ros is an excellent presenter who is very experienced in the field of trauma. As an experienced psychotherapist I learnt a lot on this day. Good mix of theory and practical application.

  31. Therapist

    A very good 1 day workshop on how to use the Human Givens techniques and understandings to work with CPTSD.

  32. Kate Curtin, MH Nurse

    Great course – really interesting discussions.

  33. Counsellor

    Has helped me with ideas for adapting my toolkit for working with complex trauma. Excellent course and course handouts.

  34. Counselling Psychologist/Psychotherapist

    Straightforward and good pace presented throughout the course. Effective group discussion and learning from other delegates.

  35. Claire Hynd, HG Therapist/cabin crew/Sex therapist in training

    Fantastic! Lots of ideas and extra support – I can offer support with more complex trauma cases.

  36. Catherine Neil, HG Therapist

    A thorough, dense and interest analysis and explanation of complex trauma delivered expertly by Ros.

  37. Melissa Derricourt, HG Therapist

    Such a thought-provoking and informative day. Complex PTSD is such a buzz word at present, this took the mystery out of it in a clear and understandable way. I learnt a lot from Ros, but also other colleagues. Highly recommend!

  38. Jackie Karpeek, RTT Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist

    Clear, concise, understandable – delivered at a perfect tempo. Ros was engaging, thought-provoking and interesting.

  39. Elaine Curtin, HG Counsellor

    Simplifying a complex issue. I feel more confident now unpacking and supporting ‘complex’ trauma clients.

  40. HG Therapist

    Ros was clear, engaging, relaxed and knowledgeable. The course was well structured with a mix of group work and listening. Adapting RIGAAR for complex trauma, the flow charts explaining brain processes clearly and simply for clients, the explanation of freeze/dissociative states were really helpful.

  41. Don Elwick, Psychotherapist (HG)

    So good to be able to take part in updating my understanding of trauma in its many forms, and ways of helping clients regain control of their lives. Ros is an accomplished presenter, making the concepts and insights really accessible, along with the sharings from other attendees. Aspects of presenting the Rewind, and accessing Molar Memories were very useful. Hearing the experiences of other therapists, in person, makes all the difference to grasping greater depth.

  42. Jo Cullen, Psychologist

    Very good, stimulating and practical. Good balance of discussion and teacher-led activity.

  43. Kat Marlow

    Another excellent course from Ros. Helped to cement my understanding of complex trauma and developed some more creative ways of working with molar memories in particular.

  44. Life Coach

    Very helpful, very insightful, very stimulating to be around HG therapists. I found the routes to recovery, response routes in stress – high stress and comparison of HG to other schools of thought particularly useful.

  45. Judith Desbonne, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner / HG Therapist

    This is clearly a well thought out course and extremely relevant to my work as an experienced HG therapist. Discussion of sub-threshold trauma & molar memories, and comparison of HG with other modalities were really useful.

  46. Des Howden, HG Therapist

    Great course, glad I came. Everything was useful.

  47. Clinical hypnotherapist

    Excellent lecturer with layers of experience and knowledge.

  48. HG Therapist / Educational Psychologist

    The content was excellent for established HG therapists. The knowledge and richness of Ros’ presentation was really good. All of the presented content was useful, as was the contribution of other HG therapists.

  49. HG Therapist

    Very good. Well presented overview of CPTSD. I enjoyed Ros’ teaching. Description of freeze and shutdown states was particularly useful, as was looking at other approaches with HG lense.

  50. HG Therapist

    Excellent CPD for experienced HGT to be a more effective, safe, resourceful, skilled therapist when I have a client with complex trauma. Good balance of discussion, evidence and thought-provoking exercises and tools to use.

  51. Therapist

    Excellent day. Thank you.

Write a review

Your review will be sent for moderation and published at the discretion of Human Givens. We do not guarantee to publish every review we receive. Your email address will not be published.

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Reviews for this course

4.9/5 (51 Reviews)
  1. Julie Somerset, Counsellor

    Outstanding course – Ros was excellent in her knowledge and delivery of the content.

  2. Therapist

    Excellent day – sharing ideas, very helpful.

  3. Trina Parker, Counsellor

    Very knowledgeable, polished facilitator. Good opportunities for discussion.

  4. Delegate

    Excellent course providing easy to digest, yet in-depth, information that can help to transform ways of working with people with complex trauma.

  5. Counsellor

    Great tools to take home.

  6. Psychologist

    Excellent! Thank you!

  7. Helen Prosper, Counsellor / Play therapist

    An excellent course – taking understanding of trauma to a deeper level with wonderful practical examples of how we can further help clients. Very useful also to look at other ‘trauma’ therapies through the HG lens, creative rewinds, and molar memories showing up.

  8. Sarah Denning, IVF Counsellor

    One of the best days I have been to. Ros is a fantastic tutor, really engaging, completely without ego. The explanation of complex trauma was so clear in its execution.

  9. Counsellor

    Very informative, well structured and clear teaching. Thank you

  10. Tanya Lee, HG Therapist

    This was an engaging and interesting course. Roz has a wealth of experience and shares examples that illuminate the material perfectly. A very worthwhile course, with refreshing new insights on traditional HG methods.

  11. Anna Tingle, HG Therapist

    An extremely helpful explanation of how to apply HG princples to work with complex trauma. It was helpful to investigate specific case studies and then return each time to underlying principles of our training.

  12. Janette Houghton, Psychotherapist

    An excellent refresher for me as a new supervisor. It crystalised some areas and gave me some new ideas to use exisiting training in new ways.

  13. Cathy Green, Midwife

    Practical, good pace. Liked the info on other therapies and linking to HG. Really liked the case studies.

  14. Therapist / Psychosexual Therapist / Supervisor

    As with the Rewind course previously attended, this has given me further valuable tools for my kit bag – thank you!

  15. Jyoti Sagar, Counsellor / Psychotherapist

    Excellent and sufficiently challenging! Interested in ongoing course on Rewind. All very useful, particularly the fundamentals of complex trauma.

  16. HG Therapist

    Ros is a model of lucidity, making this day an excellent learning experience.

  17. Johanne Harrison, Charity Manager / Therapist

    Very well presented and great content

  18. Counsellor

    Very informative

  19. Caroline Cawston, HG Therapist

    Wonderfully presented by Ros who was knowledgeable, inclusive and made the day fun, my understanding has developed and the information will definitely help me in my work. Rethinking about the shutdown and dissociative states and the recap on molar memories was particularly useful, adding to the layers of understanding

  20. Counsellor

    Brilliant and informative! Ros is patient and always happy to answer questions.

  21. Vix Avery, HG Psychotherapist

    Excellent course

  22. Therapy Practitioner

    Very helpful in expanding my understanding.

  23. Tina Hamilton-James, Psychologist

    A day filled with creative, fascinating and useful information. It will be extremely useful going forward.

  24. Holistic Counsellor

    Real-life solutions to working with complex trauma. Great techniques to put in my toolbox.

  25. Ingrid Steele, Therapist

    Comprehensive in reviewing and integrating different approaches into the HG framework.

  26. J Yap, Therapist

    Absolutely jam-packed with techniques/information and resources. The best HG course so far, including notes – and I’ve been on a few! Ros is superlative. A calm, confident and articulate trainer.

  27. Bunty Dann, HG Therapist

    The importance on understanding the latest and most effective approaches for people who have been affected with CPTSD is crucial. The gain in my confidence in providing the best opportunity for my clients to heal, arm themselves for meeting their future well has increased.

  28. Liz Barr, HG Therapist

    An excellent, structured training day that added real depth to the understanding gained in the diploma training on trauma and treatment approaches. Would definitely recommend!

  29. HG Therapist

    It has given me the confidence to work out of my comfort zone. A great review of HG practice in general with lots of additional understanding.

  30. HG Psychotherapist

    Ros is an excellent presenter who is very experienced in the field of trauma. As an experienced psychotherapist I learnt a lot on this day. Good mix of theory and practical application.

  31. Therapist

    A very good 1 day workshop on how to use the Human Givens techniques and understandings to work with CPTSD.

  32. Kate Curtin, MH Nurse

    Great course – really interesting discussions.

  33. Counsellor

    Has helped me with ideas for adapting my toolkit for working with complex trauma. Excellent course and course handouts.

  34. Counselling Psychologist/Psychotherapist

    Straightforward and good pace presented throughout the course. Effective group discussion and learning from other delegates.

  35. Claire Hynd, HG Therapist/cabin crew/Sex therapist in training

    Fantastic! Lots of ideas and extra support – I can offer support with more complex trauma cases.

  36. Catherine Neil, HG Therapist

    A thorough, dense and interest analysis and explanation of complex trauma delivered expertly by Ros.

  37. Melissa Derricourt, HG Therapist

    Such a thought-provoking and informative day. Complex PTSD is such a buzz word at present, this took the mystery out of it in a clear and understandable way. I learnt a lot from Ros, but also other colleagues. Highly recommend!

  38. Jackie Karpeek, RTT Therapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist

    Clear, concise, understandable – delivered at a perfect tempo. Ros was engaging, thought-provoking and interesting.

  39. Elaine Curtin, HG Counsellor

    Simplifying a complex issue. I feel more confident now unpacking and supporting ‘complex’ trauma clients.

  40. HG Therapist

    Ros was clear, engaging, relaxed and knowledgeable. The course was well structured with a mix of group work and listening. Adapting RIGAAR for complex trauma, the flow charts explaining brain processes clearly and simply for clients, the explanation of freeze/dissociative states were really helpful.

  41. Don Elwick, Psychotherapist (HG)

    So good to be able to take part in updating my understanding of trauma in its many forms, and ways of helping clients regain control of their lives. Ros is an accomplished presenter, making the concepts and insights really accessible, along with the sharings from other attendees. Aspects of presenting the Rewind, and accessing Molar Memories were very useful. Hearing the experiences of other therapists, in person, makes all the difference to grasping greater depth.

  42. Jo Cullen, Psychologist

    Very good, stimulating and practical. Good balance of discussion and teacher-led activity.

  43. Kat Marlow

    Another excellent course from Ros. Helped to cement my understanding of complex trauma and developed some more creative ways of working with molar memories in particular.

  44. Life Coach

    Very helpful, very insightful, very stimulating to be around HG therapists. I found the routes to recovery, response routes in stress – high stress and comparison of HG to other schools of thought particularly useful.

  45. Judith Desbonne, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner / HG Therapist

    This is clearly a well thought out course and extremely relevant to my work as an experienced HG therapist. Discussion of sub-threshold trauma & molar memories, and comparison of HG with other modalities were really useful.

  46. Des Howden, HG Therapist

    Great course, glad I came. Everything was useful.

  47. Clinical hypnotherapist

    Excellent lecturer with layers of experience and knowledge.

  48. HG Therapist / Educational Psychologist

    The content was excellent for established HG therapists. The knowledge and richness of Ros’ presentation was really good. All of the presented content was useful, as was the contribution of other HG therapists.

  49. HG Therapist

    Very good. Well presented overview of CPTSD. I enjoyed Ros’ teaching. Description of freeze and shutdown states was particularly useful, as was looking at other approaches with HG lense.

  50. HG Therapist

    Excellent CPD for experienced HGT to be a more effective, safe, resourceful, skilled therapist when I have a client with complex trauma. Good balance of discussion, evidence and thought-provoking exercises and tools to use.

  51. Therapist

    Excellent day. Thank you.

Write a review

Your review will be sent for moderation and published at the discretion of Human Givens. We do not guarantee to publish every review we receive. Your email address will not be published.

Please complete all fields.

Complex Trauma: how to work effectively with challenging cases | In-person training
Complex Trauma: working with challenging cases
£198.00
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