The Restoration of the Self
Session 5 of the 5-Day Intensive Training for Treating Complex Trauma and Dissociation
Synchronising Brain, Mind, and Body for Lasting Recovery
Why do some trauma survivors fear feeling their emotions more than remembering the trauma itself? Why can simply noticing a heartbeat, muscle tension, or tears feel overwhelming or even dangerous? And how can clinicians safely help clients reconnect with their emotional and bodily experiences without increasing distress or dissociation?
In this final session, participants will bring together the knowledge and skills developed throughout the Finding Solid Ground Intensive Training to address one of the greatest challenges in complex trauma treatment: helping clients safely reconnect with themselves. Clinicians will explore the neuroscience of emotional and somatic avoidance and learn why dissociation often develops as a powerful survival strategy that protects individuals from experiences once perceived as unbearable.
Building on the skills introduced throughout the series, participants will learn practical, evidence-informed interventions for helping clients identify emotions, increase tolerance for bodily sensations, and gradually develop the capacity to experience feelings with greater safety, curiosity, and self-compassion. The session also provides a practical framework for developing individualized Finding Solid Ground safety plans that help clients anticipate and manage periods of increased distress while strengthening resilience and reducing the risk of crisis.
Through engaging clinical role plays and demonstrations, participants will observe practical interventions for working with clients who fear emotions, avoid bodily sensations, or become overwhelmed by positive emotional experiences. The session also provides a basic introduction to leading Finding Solid Ground psychoeducational groups, enabling participants to confidently implement the program in outpatient, inpatient, community, and private practice settings.
As the capstone to the Finding Solid Ground training series, this session brings together the core principles of the model into a flexible, neuroscience-informed framework that can be immediately integrated into virtually any psychotherapy approach. Participants will leave with greater confidence, practical skills, and a research-supported roadmap for helping even their most complex clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate their emotions, and move toward lasting recovery.
Participants will be able to:
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Explain why individuals with complex dissociation often fear emotions and bodily sensations and how this maintains trauma-related symptoms.
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Apply practical strategies to help clients identify, understand, and tolerate emotions while remaining grounded and regulated.
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Demonstrate evidence-informed interventions for working with clients who are afraid of experiencing bodily sensations.
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Develop a comprehensive, individualized safety plan using the Finding Solid Ground framework.
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.
