The Link Between Trauma and Addiction: A Rationale for Dyadic Treatment

In this 3-hour 15 minute FREE virtual seminar, we will discuss the link between trauma and addiction or substance use disorder (SUD) as a rationale for dyadic treatment. Research indicates that many cases of addiction and mental illness begin as compensations and adaptations to developmental and childhood trauma (Cicchetti & Handley, 2019). Integrating these areas is critical to effectively support mothers and fathers during and after pregnancy. Mothers and fathers with multiple ACEs and with substance use disorders (SUD) often show difficulties in understanding the meaning of their young child’s emotions and behavior, and in responding appropriately and sensitively to the child’s cues (Suchman et al., 2011). Both trauma and substance use disorders can disrupt a parent's capacity to offer attuned, responsive care—an essential task in the perinatal period. Yet this period also represents a time of heightened motivation and possibility for change, offering a unique opportunity to support recovery and nurture the parent-infant relationship through Perinatal and Child-Parent Psychotherapy.

This training is for community behavioral health providers, CYFD staff, and other community stakeholders who work with children, youth, and families. 

3 Social Work CEUs

Trainer:
Jane Clarke, Ph.D.

Trainer Bio:

Dr. Jane Clarke has a Ph.D. in Special Education with a focus on Early Childhood Language/Learning Disabilities, alongside master's degrees in Speech/Language Pathology and Learning Disabilities. She has completed post-doctoral work at Fielding University and fellowships in Infant-Parent Mental Health. Recently, she finished a fellowship in Reflective Supervision Consultation at UC-Davis. With extensive experience supporting high-risk infants and families, she is trained in various assessment procedures and interventions, and has developed innovative assessment tools such as DIAPER and DOVE. Currently, Jane serves as a statewide trainer and consultant for the NM-CYFD BHS – Infant Mental Health program and has been endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor since 2007.

• Participants will be able to recognize how trauma and substance use disorders affect parenting.
• Participants will be able to discuss how prenatal drug exposure and caregiver substance use and trauma affect child development.
• Participants will learn how parental reflective functioning and coordinated social behavior have implications for intervention with substance use disorders and trauma.
• Participants will be able to discuss how to support moment-to-moment caregiver-child interactions and promote resilience.
• Participants will be able to recognize the benefits of dyadic treatment in supporting the parent-child relationship when addressing substance use disorders and trauma.

This training brought to you through a partnership with the State of New Mexico's Children, Youth, and Families Department.