The Struggle for Recognition: Developmental Trauma Disorder

There has been a recent scurry of activity regarding the inclusion of Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) in the soon-to-be-released DSM V (DSM, 5th edition). It is hoped by countless adoptive/ foster/ biological parents, therapists and other treatment professionals working with children who have attachment difficulties, that effective identification and recognition of this disorder will provide guidance and intervention policies for this misdiagnosed population.

The following article chronicles the struggle for the inclusion of DTD in the DSM V. http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/magazine/currentissue/810-the-long...

Stay tuned for a review of this and current research on DTD in the next Tapestry.
Kim Bird, H.B.A.(Psych), Dip. A.T., O.A.T.R.

Ontario Coalition of Mental Health Professionals Information Bulletin

www.mentalhealthcoalition.com

2010. The Transitional Council is in place! As of November 2009, members were appointed and they held their first meeting. At that meeting, the Registrar for the College of Psychotherapists and Registered Mental Health Professionals, Joyce Rowlands presented the draft work plan for the Transitional Council.

The Transitional Council will have three years to complete its work at which time the College will be ready to accept members. Up to that time the Coalition plans to remain active in supporting the work of the Transitional Council and will continue to utilize the support of the lobbyists we have enlisted. Hill and Knowlton have been retained by the Coalition to ensure that the lines of communication remain open and transparent throughout this process. They are assisting the Coalition to facilitate key messages and information to the government and to the Transitional Council. The common goal is to establish a College that not only meets the needs of its potential members, but equally important the public at large.

There are two committees that have been formed within the Transitional Council. The first is the Registration committee and the second is the Professional Practice committee. It has been suggested by the Steering Committee that, as the work of these committees unfolds, it may be prudent to collect input from the member associations and be prepared to advocate for specific needs. This may be done by forming parallel committees within our own associations (Registration and Professional Practice task groups), that will parallel the work of the Transitional Council and provide a forum for discussion and input.

Paramount to the success of an inclusive and multi-dimensional college is the education and engagement of its potential members. It will be important for art therapists to remain current to the developments of the College and to advocate for the issues that support our unique representation within its membership.

Prepared by Sandi Deschambault, Member at Large, Coalition Steering Committee.

 - More Coalition Information

Roots and Branches of the Healing Arts:
Coast Salish Traditions Meet Creative Arts Therapies CATA Conference 2010

Call for Submissions: Deadline May 31, 2010

The Canadian Art Therapy Association is planning to hold its 2010 Conference on August 12-14, 2010, in Duncan, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

We invite you to submit proposals for experiential workshops, papers, or poster presentations. We welcome proposals from all creative arts modalities on the following themes:
• Roots of the creative arts therapies
• New approaches and applications of creative arts therapies
• Transpersonal/spiritual aspects of the creative arts therapies
• Self-Care: Strengthening and protecting the arts therapist before, during and after sessions
• Working with boys and men
• Neuroscience and the arts therapies

The conference will be held at the Quw'utsun Cultural Conference Center. For more information on this beautiful location please see their site at http://www.quwutsun.ca
Submission Form: see “Call for Papers” at www.catainfo.ca

Intensive Sandplay Training
with Barbara Turner, PhD
Author of The Handbook of Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay I & Sandplay II: Introduction & Foundations Intermediate Training
10 Days 70 Hours $1,000/Training
Monday-Friday August 9-20, 2010 & March 7-18, 2011
Northern California Wine Country

Barbara Turner, PhD, is the author of The Handbook of Sandplay Therapy, the definitive text of Jungian sandplay. Recognized as an outstanding scholar, practitioner and trainer in this field, Dr. Turner teaches sandplay throughout the world. Join Dr. Turner in her charming Northern California wine country home of Cloverdale for two in-depth and personal trainings in sandplay. Entrance by Application.  For Details & Application Visit www.barbaraturner.org

A National Conference on Traumatic Stress, PTSD, Loss and Grief

Grounding Trauma – Moncton – 2010
Sponsored by: CAST Canada www.cast-canada.ca
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Conference dates: June 21 – 23, 2010
Location: New Brunswick Community College, Moncton, NB, Canada

Background:
Our collective understanding and acceptance of trauma, loss and unresolved grief is growing. But is that enough? Are care providers well equipped to support survivors of traumatic events? What happens when our frontline workers struggle to deal with continual exposure to trauma work?

Research has shown that frontline professionals working with trauma often feel afraid and inadequate. Education and life experience do not necessarily give workers enough strategies, tools and frameworks to support their clients. Frustration levels rise as workers struggle with seemingly insurmountable obstacles and approach their own life with trepidation. This situation can lead to negative behaviours, like anger, substance abuse and eating disorders. The high levels of stress are evident in worker absence and other job performance difficulties. Because of both internal and external stigma, the worker is often hesitant to ask for help.

A worker’s own internal conflict, stress and secondary trauma can all result in poor service for the client, sometimes even re-traumatizing the person they are supposed to be helping. The stakes - for both the worker and client - are high.

Extremely unique and uniquely extreme”. Without a doubt, the military experience is borh unique and extreme. The stresses place on military members and their families are beyond compare.

At Grounding Trauma Moncton 2010 we will explore the unique stresses laced on our military members, their families and their communities – Why does one join the military? How does it affect loved ones? How does it change the people who train others for the challenging demands of live action? How are commanders, policy makers and politicians changed by sending individuals into action? And how are communities transformed when numbers of military members leave or are lost?

Around the world there is a growing understanding of the numerous and diverse effects of the military experience on individuals and communities. We will explore current practices to prepare all those involved, and explore new approaches to treat those with PTSD, trauma, depression and other effects.

At Grounding Trauma Moncton 2010 we want to propel change. Be a part of it.
Details can be found at www.cast-canada.ca

Trauma Informed Care

Treating Severe Behaviours in Traumatized Children
Using Emotional Regulatory Healing

With Juli Alvarado
For Parents & Professionals

June 17th & 18th
The Marconi Club, 120 Clarke Road, London, Ontario
9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Cost $245 (early bird) includes breakfast & lunch, group rates apply

Experiences shape and influence the early wiring of the brain and body system which influences all aspects of emotional, social, cognitive, and physiologic functioning. The experience of traumatic stress can create impairment within a child’s body mind system with the capacity for influence throughout the lifespan. Such experiences often get diagnosed in children as reactive attachment disorder.

Treating or parenting children with severe behaviors often leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless. These one or two day workshop will examine closely the latest neuroscientific findings regarding the brain, creating a clear understanding for how trauma within any family member can create potentially traumatic experiencing for all of the family as well as offer specific strategies for increasing affect regulation and peace in our offices and homes.

For more information and to download the registration form click here.

ArteVida Program

Dear Friends:

The ArteVida program continues to be in need of art supplies for their program. They need all kinds of art supplies:
watercolors, tempera, acrylic, sketchbooks, water based paint, brushes, paper, canvas, acrylic, artists graphite pencils, prismacolour pencils, charcoal, sculpting materials, modeling clay, plasticene, modelling tools, claycrete paper mache, glue sticks, spray fixative, acrylic gesso, palettes, easels, glue guns, developing solution for the pin hole camera project.
If you know of anybody who wishes to make a donation, please encourage them to do so.

If you know of anybody who is going to Havana, and who is willing to take some art supplies in their luggage, there are some art supplies that are ready to go to Havana. Anyone willing to take them can call me at (416) 690-0343, and arrangements will be made to get the supplies to them, and delivery documentation will be provided.

Regards,
Bill Polski   (416) 690-0343