Readiness in PTSD treatment - September 2025

A 1.5-hour on-line training event

Supporting people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to take up the invitation of participating in a focussed intervention is often a major challenge.  Current PTSD treatments accepted by western scientific principles as ‘evidence-based’ are trauma-focussed CBT (particularly prolonged exposure and cognitive processing therapy), and eye-movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR, Lewis, Roberts, Andrew, Starling, & Bisson, 2020).  Metanalyses indicate that these interventions appear to have similar efficacy (Bisson, Roberts, Andrew, Cooper, & Lewis, 2013; Lewis et al., 2020).  However, as one treatment developer has noted, the idea of an intervention which often asks individuals with PTSD to do the opposite of what has helped them cope with the consequences of trauma for so long, is akin to ‘asking a cat to swim’ (Harned, 2022 p.64).

Individuals with severe PTSD often present with high-risk behaviours that are impulsive, pervasive, and function to reduce the immediate pain associated with PTSD symptoms. These behaviours often maintain those symptoms, and obstruct treatment.  This can feel like an impossible catch-22, where the very suffering they are seeking to relieve becomes the barrier to even beginning the process of intervention.  For service users and providers alike, the gap between where the person is, and where they need to be to begin treatment can feel like a gaping chasm.

This 1.5 hour event describes a practical and emotion-focussed pathway to supporting people to get ready to treat their PTSD, using the approach developed by Harned (2022). We will focus on the application of principles of the prolonged exposure protocol for dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT-PE) to working with individuals with complex PTSD. It is likely to be most relevant to people working with survivors with PTSD related to sexual assault/abuse, but is also applicable to practitioners working in other contexts that involve complicated trauma and impulsive behaviour.

Select readings:

• Bisson, J. I., Roberts, N. P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R., & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. Cochrane database of systematic reviews(12).
• Bohus, M., Kleindienst, N., Hahn, C., Müller-Engelmann, M., Ludäscher, P., Steil, R., . . . Stiglmayr, C. (2020). Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (DBT-PTSD) Compared With Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) in Complex Presentations of PTSD in Women Survivors of Childhood Abuse: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA psychiatry, 77(12), 1235-1245.
• Harned, M. S. (2022). Treating Trauma in Dialectical Behavior Therapy: The DBT Prolonged Exposure Protocol (DBT PE): Guilford Publications.
• Lewis, C., Roberts, N. P., Andrew, M., Starling, E., & Bisson, J. I. (2020). Psychological therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1729633

Notes:

• You can enrol for this training and the 'Crowd-sourcing acceptance: treating shame in PTSD' training for the total price of NZ$200+GST. To do so, first enrol in this training and you will receive a registration code to apply a discount when registering for the 'Crowd-sourcing acceptance: treating shame in PTSD' event.
• A 50% discount is available for practitioners who identify as Māori, Pasifika, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or for whom Māori, Pasifika, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander comprise more than 50% of your caseload. Before registering, please contact us using our contact page with 'attention Emily' in the subject line to sort the details of this. This web-based training includes sensitive and private material and examples. By registering, you agree to join in a confidential setting where others cannot see or hear the content of the training.

About our on-line training:

Our online live trainings are designed to support practitioners in their DBT-related practice and professional development. A single DBT trainer will present an area of DBT study and progress its application to your context. Events may involve activities, discussion and Q+A for participants. You will need a suitable device with a webcam and a reliable internet connection capable of streaming 'youtube' style video. When registered, we will send more information about the process of joining and participating in the Zoom meeting.

Training Level

This is an intermediate to advanced level training. This event is designed for mental health professionals and trainees who have familiarity with DBT and are interested in expanding their knowledge.

1. A registration is for one person. To successfully manage the event, we expect only one person to join the webinar as part of your registration.
2. You agree not to record the meeting in any way. You agree not to distribute materials to other persons without prior agreement.
3. Registrations are confirmed only when payment is received.
4. Payment must be made before the training. By registering you accept liability for the costs of the training.
5. Cancellations must be notified to us by email (or the website contact form) with full identifying information.
6. Cancellations received more than seven days before the event will receive a refund of the fees paid less an administration charge of $100+GST (for each event).
7. Refunds cannot be given after that date. Refunds will not be available until after the event.
8. A colleague may be substituted for no extra charge if we are notified at least two business days before the training event.
9. In the unlikely event the training is cancelled by the organisers, registration will be fully refunded but no liability will be accepted for travel, accommodation or other costs/expenses incurred to registrants.
10. Online statements of attendance can be downloaded by all participants from this page. Printed certificates of attendance are not available for this event.
11. You agree to join the online event from a quiet private location. Privacy is required in order for us to show confidential material which may include session videos.