Clinical Topics & Methods Category

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

19 CE Hours
789 members have taken this course
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About the Course

This book provides the reader with an overview of the various types of events or circumstances that are experienced as trauma, many of which can lead to the development of PTSD.  The aim of this book is to demonstrate that there are predictable differences in the body, brain, and behavior patterns of those who are the victims of trauma, depending partly on the type of trauma experienced and the age (or developmental stage) at which it occurred, and to help practitioners understand how to approach these patients. This course will help practitioners identify behaviors that might be indicators of past trauma, understand the ways that patients access and express those memories, and learn about practices that can help their patients begin to integrate their experiences to lessen the impact of past trauma on their current functioning.

This course is based on the book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma created by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD in 2015.

Publication Details

Publication Date: 2015

Course Material Author

Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD

Dr. van der Kolk, a psychiatrist based in Boston, MA, has spent his career studying the effects of various types of trauma on our physical, psychological, and emotional development. He was the Founder, Director, and Research and Medical Director at Trauma Center, Professor at Harvard and Boston University, the Vice President of Research at the Justice Resource Institute, and the Co-Director of the Complex Trauma Treatment Network, National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Dr. van der Kolk’s work has included the intensive study of the various types of events or circumstances that are experienced as trauma.  He has helped to identify the predictable differences in the body, brain, and behavior patterns of those who are its victims, depending on the type of trauma experienced and the age (or developmental stage) at which it occurred. Dr. van der Kolk takes a holistic view of his patients, demonstrating that a singular diagnosis or set of specific diagnoses might not be sufficient to understand or treat them, because of the way that trauma impacts the full body, and mind.  The effects of trauma also can limit the emotional and practical resources that are available to children and adults with these experiences in their past. Dr. van der Kolk endorses treatment approaches which recognize and address all aspects and dimensions of the body and mind.

Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD authored the material only, and was not involved in creating this CE course. They are identified here for your own evaluation of the relevancy of the material this course is based on.

Course Creator

Nora R. Balint, MS, NCC

Nora Balint, MS, NCC, received her degree in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University and her National Certification in Counseling in 2002. Her volunteer and paid work in the counseling area has included creating and running parenting support groups (for birth through elementary aged children), work with the elderly, life coaching, support with the LGBTQ community, substance abuse groups, individual counseling, and technology consulting. Nora is currently a Post-Master's Fellow at The Refuge Center for Counseling in Franklin, Tennessee and is pursuing licensure as an LPC-MHSP.

Target Audience

Counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists and social workers. This course is appropriate for all levels of knowledge.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 The Rediscovery of Trauma - differentiate between the way PTSD is experienced and expressed in the mind, body, and behaviors of patients who have experienced acute vs. chronic trauma.
  2. 2 This is Your Brain on Trauma - identify the parts of the brain which are altered through the experience of trauma, and discuss how those changes translate into changes in behavior and functioning in everyday life.
  3. 3 The Minds of Children - describe the way that parental and social relationships can mitigate or exacerbate the effects of traumatic experiences for children.
  4. 4 The Imprint of Trauma - explain the way that traumatic memories are stored in the brain and experienced, in contrast to the way non-traumatic memories are stored and experienced.
  5. 5 Paths to Recovery - list multiple techniques which have proven to be effective with patients who have experienced trauma and / or developed PTSD as a result of traumatic experience, integrating some of these techniques into their counseling practice, and/or identifying areas for further education and training.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Material Authors

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Nora R. Balint, MS, NCC – No relevant financial relationships.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

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Course Material

Course Material

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