Building the Foundations
Session 1 of the 5-Day Intensive Training for Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation
Helping Complex Trauma Clients Feel Present, Safe, and Ready to Heal!
Many trauma therapists have experienced it: sessions that feel stuck, clients who seem disconnected or emotionally unreachable, and uncertainty about how to help someone who cannot fully stay present in the room. Dissociation is one of the most common—and most overlooked—barriers to successful trauma treatment, leaving many clinicians feeling frustrated despite their best therapeutic efforts.
This first session of the Finding Solid Ground Intensive Training provides a powerful, neuroscience-informed foundation for understanding and treating complex trauma and dissociation. Finding Solid Ground is the first research-supported intervention shown to improve outcomes for individuals with severe dissociation, providing clinicians with a practical roadmap for addressing one of the greatest challenges in trauma therapy.
Participants will learn how to recognize both obvious and subtle signs of dissociation, understand why many clients struggle to feel grounded and present, and apply practical, evidence-based strategies that can be integrated immediately into virtually any psychotherapy approach. Rather than replacing your current therapeutic model, Finding Solid Ground strengthens it by providing the foundational skills clients need to fully engage in treatment and benefit from deeper therapeutic work.
Through an accessible blend of neuroscience, clinical demonstrations, and practical interventions, this session will help clinicians feel more confident, more effective, and less overwhelmed when working with their most complex clients. Participants will leave with concrete tools for increasing grounding, emotional awareness, and self-compassion while helping clients distinguish past from present and build the stability needed for lasting recovery.
Participants will be able to:
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Explain the core principles and structure of the Finding Solid Ground program.
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Apply practical grounding strategies to help clients distinguish past from present and increase their capacity for safety and presence.
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Understand how trauma reshapes the brain and use neuroscience to guide treatment decisions.
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Help clients recognize and work more effectively with trauma-driven thoughts, emotions, and beliefs.
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Foster greater emotional awareness, regulation, and self-compassion in clients with complex trauma and dissociation.
Course Facilitators
Ruth Lanius, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Lanius is a Psychiatry Professor and Harris-Woodman Chair at Western University of Canada, where she is the director of the Clinical Research Program for PTSD. Ruth has over 25 years of clinical and research experience with trauma-related disorders. She established the Traumatic Stress Service at London Health Sciences Center, a program that specializes in the treatment of psychological trauma. Ruth has received numerous research and teaching awards, including the Banting Award for Military Health Research. She has published over 200 research articles and book chapters focusing on brain adaptations to psychological trauma and novel adjunct treatments for PTSD. Ruth regularly lectures on the topic of psychological trauma both nationally and internationally. Ruth has co-authored four books: The Effects of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease: The Hidden Epidemic, Healing the Traumatized Self: Consciousness, Neuroscience, Treatment, and Finding Solid Ground (textbook and workbook). Ruth is a passionate clinician scientist who endeavours to understand the first-person experience of traumatized individuals throughout treatment and how it relates to brain functioning.
Bethany Brand, Ph.D.
Dr. Brand is Emerita Psychology Professor at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She has over 30 years of experience in researching, assessing, and treating the impact of psychological trauma with a specialization in dissociation. Dr. Brand has been honored with the endowed Martha E. Mitten Professorship as well as teaching, research and clinical awards including the Outstanding Contribution to the Science of Trauma Psychology from the American Psychological Association. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. Dr. Brand has served on national and international task forces that developed guidelines for the assessment and treatment of trauma-related disorders. She has published over 130 peer reviewed papers and three research-based books about assessing and treating dissociation, The Concise Guide to Assessing and Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation, Finding Solid Ground: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Treatment and The Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook. Dr. Brand is the Principal Investigator on the largest treatment outcome studies to date of dissociative disorders (the TOP DD studies). She has delivered hundreds of clinical and research presentations at national and international conferences. In addition to treating patients in her private practice, Dr. Brand serves as a forensic expert in trauma-related cases including state, federal and capital cases and an international Supreme Court case.
Continuing Education Credits
5 CE credits available for live attendance & recorded sessions
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Bridgepoint Psychology Center (BPC) is co-sponsoring Finding Solid Ground and is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.
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You must be in attendance for the full live program or watch the full recording and pass a quiz to receive CE credit. Partial credit will not be available. BPC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
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Please check with your governing board to verify your continuing education license requirements. For additional information regarding CEs, email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are these courses accredited for CE credits?
Yes, our courses are through APA for continuing education credits. Please check each course description for specific accreditation details.
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How do I receive my CE certificate after completing a course?
Upon successful completion of the course and any required assessments, you'll be able to download your CE certificate directly from your account under the "Completed Courses" section.
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What is the process for reporting my CE credits to my licensing board?
We provide a CE certificate that includes all necessary details (course title, hours, provider information). Please submit this certificate according to your licensing board’s requirements. It's important to verify your board's guidelines to ensure proper credit reporting.
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How long do I have to complete the course and earn CE credits?
180 days
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Can I use these CE credits to meet my state licensure requirements?
While our courses are APA, CE credit requirements vary by state and licensing board. We recommend checking with your specific licensing board to ensure our courses meet their criteria.
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What are the technical requirements for taking the courses?
You will need a computer or mobile device with internet access, an updated web browser, and in some cases, specific software like Adobe Reader or Zoom for interactive sessions. A stable internet connection is recommended for smooth streaming of video content.
