Course Description: This comprehensive CEU course offers a deep dive into the complex relationship between trauma, neurobiology, and the profound impact trauma has on an individual’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Designed for mental health professionals, this course provides a thorough overview of trauma and its effects on the brain, including how adverse experiences shape neural pathways and influence behavior.

Participants will learn about the neurobiological mechanisms involved in trauma and how they contribute to the development of PTSD, poor coping mechanisms, and other mental health challenges. The course also explores the multidimensional effects of trauma, highlighting how trauma can impact various aspects of a person’s life, including relationships, self-esteem, and daily functioning.

In addition to foundational knowledge, the course will delve into effective evidence-based practices for working with individuals with PTSD. Best practices for trauma treatment, including cognitive-behavioral approaches and trauma-informed care, will be discussed. A significant portion of the course will focus on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), offering a deeper understanding of this powerful therapy, including its theoretical underpinnings, techniques, and research evidence supporting its efficacy in treating trauma and PTSD.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the neurobiological impact of trauma and its effects on brain function and behavior.
• Recognize how trauma affects an individual across multiple dimensions of their life, including emotional, cognitive, and relational aspects.
• Identify common maladaptive coping mechanisms associated with trauma and PTSD.
• Implement best practices for the treatment of PTSD, including trauma-focused therapeutic approaches.
• Gain in-depth knowledge of EMDR, including its techniques, applications, and evidence supporting its effectiveness in trauma recovery.
• Integrate trauma-informed care into their clinical practice to provide compassionate and effective support to clients with complex trauma histories.

This course is ideal for clinicians, therapists, and counselors working with trauma survivors, as well as those interested in expanding their knowledge of trauma treatment modalities.

Featuring Speaker: Sal Schittino, NCC, LCPC, a Certified EMDRIA Therapist. He earned his BA in Clinical Psychology at Washington College and his MS in Community Mental Health Counseling from McDaniel College. He has a deep commitment to continued education, earning advanced certifications in EMDR through The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy under the tutelage of Deany Laliotis who worked closely with Francine Shapiro, founder of EMDR therapy.

He also serves as a MD board certified supervisor and is an executive board member of The Mental Health Association in Frederick, MD. Sal is licensed in both Maryland and Virginia. He is a Maryland native, born and raised in Ellicott City and is a proud first-generation Sicilian-American. 

Sal has provided mental health services in diverse settings. For five years, Sal worked on the acute dual diagnosis unit at Sheppard Pratt Mental Health Hospital caring for patients suffering with psychiatric disorders in combination with substance abuse. For six years, he provided mental health services in private practice, counseling teens and adults with adjustment, trauma, and anxiety disorders.