Adverse Childhood Experiences 2.0

Course overview

This course, designed for licensed mental health professionals, will look at trauma through the lens of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which is an assessment and study that has produced a great wealth of knowledge about how trauma is often experienced in childhood and how it can manifest in adulthood. The Kaiser/CDC study will be described, and its results will be examined. The ACEs questionnaire will be introduced, and how it can be used to assess for childhood history of ACEs. Furthermore, participants will learn how to assess for dissociative symptoms to identify possible ACEs for which survivors have amnesia and proper referral sources if needed. The three-phase treatment model for complex trauma will be discussed as a valuable way to help those who have experienced ACEs. The importance of the spiritual and faith components of a person's healing will also be discussed with careful descriptions for prevention, such as developing trauma-informed churches or faith-based organizations and working towards building family resilience.