Annual Boston International Trauma Conference
May 1st - 4th, 2024
Advanced Registration Rate! In-Person tickets now $699, down from $899! Limited spaces available. Secure your place today.
Play Video
Join Bessel van der Kolk and the Trauma Research Foundation from May 1st to 4th for the 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference. With a legacy spanning over three decades, our commitment to seamlessly integrate scientific exploration with clinical practice has guided the evolution of this conference. From exploring body rhythms to discussing arts, science, theatre, and the latest findings in psychedelics and neurofeedback, this year’s program reflects our dedication to innovation and practical insights from diverse practitioners.
The conference provides a valuable opportunity for a genuine exchange of knowledge. Engage in scientific exploration, participate in hands-on experiential sessions, and connect with colleagues who share a passion for shaping the trajectory of trauma research and care. It’s not just about learning; it’s a chance to grow and connect with like-minded professionals actively contributing to the field.
Event starts in
Limited spaces remaining
Days
Hours
Minutes
JOIN US WITH...
+ 40 Global Trauma Experts
With over 40 trauma experts in attendance the wealth of knowledge and experience they can provide is invaluable. These experts have dedicated their careers to understanding and treating trauma, and their collective expertise can help educate you. With such a diverse group of experts, attendees can learn about different approaches to trauma treatment and gain insights from a range of perspectives.
Bessel van der Kolk, MD
Julian Thayer, PhD
Gul Dolen, MD, PhD
Marlen Gonzalez, PhD
Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD
Pat Ogden, PhD
Alicia Lieberman, PhD
Mirjana Askovic, PhD
Amy Arnsten, PhD
Cathy Malchiodi, PhD
Wendy D'Andrea, PhD
Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD
NEW LOCATION
Sheraton Boston Hotel, 39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA, 02199.
This year’s conference is steadily approaching – and our venue of choice is bigger and better than ever! Set in the heart of Historic Boston, attendees will find themselves next to Boston Common, in full bloom. The hotel also gives you direct access to Prudential Tower, plus easy access to eateries, shopping streets, Duck Tours, and the Boston Public Library and Church.
Conference Rate is $329 per night plus tax.
Select nights have sold out!
Call the hotel directly for availability 800-325-3535 or 617-236-2000
ALTERNATIVE HOTEL OPTION
Consider staying at the Hilton Back Bay, located directly across the street at 40 Dalton Street, Boston, MA 02115. The Hilton provides a convenient alternative within close proximity to the conference venue.
Rate is $400 per night plus tax.
For Online Bookings click here
For Group Bookings click here
Main Schedule
Subject to change
- 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Registration
- 8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Full Day Workshops (includes 15 minute break AM/PM & Lunch)
- Workshop 1
Trauma and social repair in times of conflict, violence, and division
with Mike Niconchuk, MSc, Donna Harati, JD, Frank Buckley, PhD, Marta Alquijay, PhD, Maribel Mejia, PhD, Justine Hardy, Cindy Salazar, LMFT, Shirley Torres, MSW, Inez Salcido, BA, Gabriel Lopez, BA
X
Violent conflict is at a 30-year high around the world. Political polarization, extremism, and unprecedented social unrest continue to add to collective uncertainty, set against a backdrop of seismic shifts in climate and economies. As this unfolds, “trauma” is thus emerging as a relevant concept for folks engaged in community development, peacebuilding, and justice work; however designing, implementing, and assessing trauma healing or trauma-responsive work in communities in conflict is a complex task, as intergenerational cycles of violence and systemic injustice call into question the efficacy and utility of many traditional care models.
Furthermore, as we seek scalable solutions, local nuance and cultural precision often gets lost, complicating our collective ability to honor and integrate the wisdom of communities, cultures, and history.
Bringing together expert practitioners working in wildly different contexts around the globe, this full day workshop will delve into the conceptual and practical challenges of working in settings of violent conflict, social division, and intergenerational injustice. From Los Angeles, to the Middle East, and South Asia, contexts highlighted will explore universal challenges in building safety in the self, families, and communities in contexts of material destruction and unrest.
Through narrative, immersive practice, lecture, and panels, this workshop will span diverse contexts to highlight some universal concepts, such as:
- Violence, division, and cycles of trauma
- Coping, violence, and cyclical “perpetration”
- Systemic failures of care
- Building contextual, sustainable, and equitable interventions and teams
- Workshop 2
Fostering self relationship, embodied awareness and the neurobiology of love and healing: An experiential and scientific exploration
with Licia Sky, Sue Carter, PhD, Donnalea Goelz, PhD
X
This experiential workshop will offer a detailed exploration of body sensations, orienting attention, breath, sound, and self-connection in stillness, standing, and movement as a gateway to interoceptive, proprioceptive awareness. Participants will learn, through guided focused exercises in the present moment, to notice subtle inner shifts, and pay attention to our senses, including the ways we habitually ignore our physical reactions. We will explore and activate the innate self-regulatory capacities that we all carry within us to more fully engage with our bodies, thoughts, feelings, and selves. These explorations are all non-verbal, but time is provided after each exercise to process the experience and unpack ways they can be practiced to build the skills of self-awareness, and enhance meaningful engagement.
Please come dressed in clothes appropriate for comfortable movement.
- Workshop 4
Trauma 101: An introduction to the field of traumatic stress studies and neuroscience
with Wendy D’Andrea, PhD , CJ Healy, MA, Scott McKernan, MA, Chantel Ebrahimi, MA
X
This pre conference workshop is geared towards attendees who are new to the trauma field or who are at the beginning of their careers. Wendy d'Andrea is the Chief Science Officer for the Trauma Research Foundation as well as an Associate professor of psychology at The New School in New York City, where she directs the trauma and affective psychophysiology lab. Dr. d'Andrea has been teaching trauma and psychobiology to audiences from high school through graduate and medical school for fifteen years. She is known for her ability to bring science to life, and for making complex constructs, such as psychobiology, accessible without sacrificing scientific rigor. This preconference is geared towards people who want a basic overview of the major controversies, treatment approaches, and well-established psychobiology in the complex trauma field. After describing core constructs (such as the definitions and manifestations of trauma) we will walk through basic neuroscience (from brain through the autonomic nervous system) so that audience members feel comfortable with the language of the brain. We will also give an overview of current evidence-based treatment approaches (with a critical eye towards what counts as evidence) and novel and emerging interventions. We will specifically attend to the representation of underrepresented groups in trauma research and clinical practice. Attending this preconference is designed as an intensive day-long course that will make the rest of the conference, geared towards an intermediate-to-advanced knowledge level, more accessible and interpretable.
- 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Morning Workshops (includes 15 minute break)
- Workshop 3
Attachment and repair: What the inevitable disruptions in parent/child attunement and repair can inform us about the reparative processes in trauma focused therapy
with Ed Tronick, PhD
X
The processes driving development of the child, primarily those embedded in the parent-child relationship, are the most striking mechanisms of human change. Therapy too works to change the functioning of individuals. The suggestion is advanced that the qualities of the parent-child relationship that promote change and growth can aid our understanding of the success or failure of patient-therapist relationship to induce change. While the differences between therapy and the parent-child relationship are significant, the basic characteristics of the parent-child relationship are similar. The issues of the necessity of dyadic organization, the fundamental messy process of meaning making, and reparation are discussed and illustrated using videos from research on the Still-Face and parent-child interactions.
- Workshop 5
Why nothing matters: Introducing neglect informed psychotherapy
with Ruth Cohn, MFT
X
Neglect is a long-neglected category of developmental trauma: neglected in the world, and in our field. Survivors typically say, “But nothing happened to me!” which is precisely the problem. Neglect is a vast universe of nothing: of missing experiences. In this workshop participants will learn the rudiments of the neuroscience of neglect; the signature markers or “neglect profile”, how to recognize neglect, and begin to outline the essential tasks and steps of treatment and recovery, providing a practical and applicable guide for working with this long-overlooked population.
- Workshop 6
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for post-traumatic stress syndromes
with Shai Efrati MD, Keren Doenyas-Barak MD, Ilan Kutz MD
X
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a treatment method that involves inhaling 100% oxygen under pressures exceeding one atmosphere absolute (1 ATA). This elevated oxygen level in body tissues has traditionally been used to address chronic non-healing wounds. However, recent clinical studies have illuminated a paradigm shift in HBOT's application. A fascinating phenomenon, known as "The Hyperoxic-Hypoxic Paradox," has emerged. With the new HBOT protocol, intermittent oxygen surges mimic cellular mechanisms typically associated with hypoxia but without the harmful effects of true hypoxia. Emerging evidence suggests that HBOT may serve as a promising neurotherapeutic approach for conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). HBOT initiates a host of cellular and tissue mechanisms, promoting neuroplasticity and reactivation of malfunctioning brain regions. Both pre-clinical and clinical studies indicate the healing potential of HBOT on the brain damages associated with PTSD. The presentation will also discuss a unique feature of HBOT; the surfacing of deeply buried traumatic memories during treatment.
- 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)
- 1:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Afternoon Workshops (includes 15 minute break)
- Workshop 7
Family therapy from an attachment perspective: focusing on the parent-child dyad to heal intergenerational trauma
with Dafna Lender, LCSW
X
Clinicians treating humans tend to focus on working with the individual alone. We also prefer to conceptualize problems as housed within the individual and, implicitly, the problems are theirs to solve. This workshop will highlight the importance of working with parents and children together from an attachment perspective. It will offer clinicians working with all types of client ages and problems, the prospect that facilitating real, in-vivo conversations between parents and children (no matter the child's age) that can have a meaningful impact on improving people's lives.
Specifically. this workshop will illustrate how to set up dialogues between parents and children that focuses on attachment security, using the P.A.C.E. Attitude from Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. Additionally, the workshop will suggest that facilitating pleasurable play interactions can change the feeling between parent and child feel connected and open to one another. These communication and play interactions form the basis of attachment based work and can offer a path to healing intergenerational trauma. The workshop will use case studies and participants will practice exercises to gain tangible skills to apply in their practice.
- Workshop 8
Transcending trauma with Internal Family Systems therapy
with Frank Anderson, MD
X
Working with clients who suffer from complex PTSD can often feel like being on a roller coaster. The extreme reactions, multiple comorbidities, difficulty with boundary issues and volatility in relationships make these clients challenging even for the most skilled therapists. Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy has a unique way of addressing and overcoming the complexities of relational trauma. It deals with the cognitive by addressing and unloading distorted thoughts and beliefs, it incorporates the body as it supports the movement and discharge of physical sensations, and it facilitates the release of painful feelings (such as unworthiness, loneliness, and unlovability) by healing the wounds that parts of us carry.
- Workshop 20
Music and Trauma Healing: Processing The Processing Series
with Kevin Becker, PsyD, Lucy Dhegrae, Psyche Loui, PhD
X
This workshop brings together a performing artist, a music neuroscientist, and a clinician who will examine how brain science, performing arts and clinical knowledge can combine to use music as a healing tool in recovery from trauma.
- 5:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Booksigning
with Bessel van der Kolk and Stephen Porges
- 7.15 PM - 9.00 PM
AfroFlow Yoga - Experience the ultimate fusion of African Dance, Yoga, and Soul-Stirring Music to Elevate your Body, Mind & Spirit
with Jeff Jones and Leslie Salmon Jones
- 7.15 PM - 9.30 PM
Evening Movie: 3 Days 2 Nights
Followed by a discussion with Mark and Andy Godfrey, and J. Walter Freiberg, III, JD, PhD, and
Amy Banks, MD
Imagine the defining moment of your life. Then imagine never talking about it with anyone.
This is a film about two brothers coming to grips with the defining moment of their lives. Their story is one of cathartic discovery in hopes of reconciling such a tragedy. It’s about how the twin beacons of love and family can help overcome even the greatest of losses.
- 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Registration
- 8:30 AM - 5:15 PM
Full Day Workshops (includes 15 minute break AM/PM & Lunch)
- Workshop 9
Loving-Awareness-In-Action: Artificial intelligence, technology, and ancestral embodiment practices towards healing intergenerational trauma
with Sará King, PhD, Selma Quist-Møller, PhD, Andrew Villamil, PhD
X
Join us for a transformative event exploring the "Science of Social Justice," a pioneering research framework that merges the pursuit of social justice with the path to individual, collective, and planetary Well-Being and healing. This workshop will delve into the intricate relationship between the ancestral intelligence and embodiment practices, inner-awareness and our capacity for healing, drawing from the depths of trauma healing practices, and the impact of technology on our daily lives. Participants will gain insights into the future of well-being, compassion, and the role of positive technology frameworks as they inform MindHeart AI in developing innovative technologies like AI in fostering human flourishing and strategies for leveraging technology towards positive outcomes such as healing intergenerational trauma. Engage with the presenters to uncover the potential for post-traumatic growth as a mechanism for individual and collective transformation.
- 8:30 AM - 12:15 PM
Morning Workshops (includes 15 minute break)
- Workshop 10
An introduction to Neurofeedback: Bridging neuroscience and clinical practice in trauma treatment
with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, Angelika Y. Sadar, MA, Matthew Fleischman, PhD, Roxana Sasu MD, Mirjana Askovic, PhD, Bernhard Wandernoth, PhD
X
Join us for a transformative workshop exploring the innovative treatment method of neurofeedback, a pivotal approach for addressing trauma-induced alterations and dysregulations in brain activity. This workshop is tailored for researchers, clinicians, and neurofeedback practitioners interested in the practical application of neuroscientific insights into trauma within clinical settings.
Key Highlights:
- Introduction to Neurofeedback: Understand the basics of neurofeedback, its historical evolution, and the neuroscientific research supporting its efficacy in trauma treatment.
- Impact on Trauma: Learn how neurofeedback specifically targets neuronal pathways affected by trauma, improving executive functioning, emotional regulation, and bodily-based aspects such as physical balance and interoceptive sensations.
- Integrative Approaches: Explore the integration of neurofeedback with psychotherapy, biofeedback, bodywork, and mindfulness across various settings, including residential treatment centers, schools, and private practice.
- Practical Application: Gain insights into the modalities of neurofeedback developed over the years, and discuss the logistics of incorporating neurofeedback into clinical practice, including training requirements and costs.
This workshop offers a comprehensive look at neurofeedback as a tool for enhancing the regulation of body and mind in patients with trauma, equipping professionals with the knowledge how to implement this technique effectively in their practice and what benefits to expect.
- Workshop 11
Advanced Neuroscience: The neurobiology of self in context
with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, Wendy D’Andrea, PhD, Marlen Gonzalez, PhD, Sherain Harricharan, PhD, Breanne Kearney, MRes, MSc OTR/L, Minwoo Lee, PhD, Anthony King, PhD, Ellen Yates, MA and Nathaniel Harnett, PhD
X
Both self and social context are inherently subjective constructs, but neurobiology has opened the door to helping us understand elements of both our internal and external experience, beyond our ability to report on questionnaires, and in ways that may be persuasive in documenting that trauma--including ongoing social adversity, like discrimination--have concrete impacts. This workshop, intended for an audience comfortable discussing concepts from psychobiology and curated by Ruth Lanius and Wendy D'Andrea, will present a collection of findings relevant to the study of the psychobiology of trauma, joined by Marlen Gonzales, Anthony King, Nathaniel Harnett, Sherain Harricharan, Breanne Kearney, Ellen Yates, and Minwoo Lee. In order to deepen our understanding of how trauma impacts individuals and society, we will explore the impact of trauma on core sensory processes, on meaning-making and morality, self awareness, and social relationships. We will further contextualize these findings with data on how social policies impact individual and collective neurobiology. Finally, we will consider how to best bring neuroscience back to communities, to help people living with the reality of the consequences of trauma to leverage neuroscience to support their own communities.
- Workshop 12
Somatic Energy Healing: Using the body’s somatic and energetic intelligence to guide healing
with John Amaral, DC
X
An individual’s ability to access, process and integrate energy and information in their body following a traumatic experience can be an important factor in the outcome of their healing process.
This workshop explores a body-centered approach to increasing somatic awareness and the experience of safety and connection that can contribute to the resolution of defense physiology associated with chronic hyperarousal and hypervigilance.
A psychobiological approach to healing is presented that focuses on self and body awareness, and the potential to increase one’s ability to self-regulate from a more intuitive, intelligent frame of reference.
Chiropractor, and body centered leadership expert John Amaral, will guide participants through experiential processes which draw on theories and principles of somatic therapy and somatic awareness, as well as polyvagal theory.
At the conclusion of this workshop attendees will be better equipped with a framework for understanding how a somatic practice utilizing focused attention, breath, movement and visualization can theoretically support patients who present with stress and anxiety.
- Workshop 13
Empowering Recovery and Resilience: Trauma-Informed Yoga for Incarceration and Violence Survivors
with Josefin Wikström, TCTSY-F, e-RYT, YACEP, Sarah Beranbaum, MA , Dr. Nóra Kerekes, Sam Williams, CYT, James Fox, MA, CYT, Luisa Pérez Escobedo, Maggie LaRocca, MA, Julie Fernandez
X
This comprehensive workshop combines the efforts of the Prison Yoga Project (PYP) and Exhale to Inhale (ETI), focusing on using trauma-informed, mindfulness-based yoga practices and movement therapy to support self-empowerment and rehabilitation. The vast majority of incarcerated individuals and survivors of sexual and domestic violence have experienced significant trauma, including abuse, neglect, poverty, and discrimination, which often lead to patterns of criminal behavior, addiction, and re-offending. This practical, experiential workshop addresses the critical need for cost-effective, trauma-informed programming to cultivate safety, self-efficacy, coping skills, and emotion regulation within these populations.
PYP, initiated in 2002 at San Quentin State Prison by James Fox, and ETI, established in 2013, bring their unique methodologies to this half-day workshop. Together, they offer a global perspective on rehabilitation, reduction of recidivism, and improvement in public safety while providing survivors of violence with the tools needed for recovery and resilience. The workshop will showcase how these programs have been successfully implemented in various settings, including prisons, domestic violence shelters, and community agencies across the United States and internationally while promoting restorative justice, social activism, and trauma-informed care.
Representatives from both PYP and ETI, including founders, program evaluation consultants, and lead trainers, will share insights and examples from their work, demonstrating the impact of trauma-informed yoga and movement practices on incarcerated individuals, survivors of violence, prison staff, and community members.
- 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)
- 1:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Afternoon Workshops (includes 15 minute break)
- Workshop 14
Psychedelic assisted therapies: Promises and pitfalls
with Gita Vaid,MD, Jim Hopper, PhD, Elizabeth Call, PsyD, Licia Sky, Rick Doblin, PhD, Bessel van der Kolk, MD
X
After a four decade hiatus, researchers have returned to examining the therapeutic benefits of mind altering substances, including MDMA (ecstasy), psilocybin (mushrooms), and ketamine, which have demonstrated powerful therapeutic effects for PTSD, depression and addictions. In this workshop we will present both the currently available scientific data, and our clinical experiences with MDMA and ketamine. Psychedelics can profoundly reorganize people’s experience of themselves, and lead to increased self-compassion, capacity for intimacy and emotion regulation and thereby promote a deepening and acceleration of psychotherapeutic processes. During therapy, people often are able to access and find peace with disavowed, “exiled” parts of themselves. Psychedelic medicines, when dosed correctly in the appropriate context, can act as powerful catalytic tools for healing, repair and new growth potentials moving healing paradigms towards wellness, resilience and self-actualization.
- Workshop 15
Advanced neurofeedback
with Sebern Fisher, MA, BCN, Marta Alquijay, PhD, Maribel Mejia, PhD, Bernhard Wandernoth, PhD
X
This afternoon workshop explores the innovative application of neurofeedback in two pivotal areas: enhancing public mental health access through the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Pilot (LANP) and its integration with Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) for treating developmental trauma. Presentations will delve into the LANP's successful overcoming of traditional healthcare system challenges and its significant impact on improving patient outcomes and therapist burnout. Sebern Fisher's exploration of combining neurofeedback with DBR offers a novel approach to addressing the core issue of attachment failure in developmental trauma. Together, these presentations underscore the critical role of innovative neurofeedback applications in transforming both public health systems and individual trauma therapy, highlighting a future where comprehensive and accessible mental health care is a reality.
- Workshop 16
The evolution, neurology, and clinical assessment of chronic loneliness
with J. Walter Freiberg, III , JD, PhD
X
The epidemic of loneliness that plagues contemporary society is best understood by observing the line of evolutionary development that led to social mammals, primates, hominids, and finally, Homo sapiens. Throughout this development, brute strength, claws, fangs, running speed, and defensive acuity of the senses have all been sacrificed in favor of the development of the cortical brain that complements our two other evolutionarily older brain components. Understanding this evolutionary development of the modern human brain allows mental health clinicians to assess and treat chronically lonely patients and clients by considering how the limbic brain generates the sensation of loneliness when patients and clients sense their excessive disconnection and isolation. Two powerful clinical assessment tools for chronic loneliness will be discussed in detail, allowing mental health professionals to leave the training with new modalities to incorporate in their clinical practice.
- Workshop 18
Rhythm: The heart of somatic regulation and attachment-building
with Elizabeth Warner, Ed.M, PsyD, Alexandra Cook, PhD, Anne Westcott, LICSW, Heather Finn, LICSW, Benjamin Pandev-Girard, M.OT
X
Rhythms - of the heart, the breath, the brain, the cycles of sleep and wakefulness - are essential regulators of life. Traumatized people, whether children or adults, become out-of-sync with their bodies and their minds, and out of rhythm with the individuals in their lives. In SMART, we engage the full body in rhythms using equipment and each other to help re-establish connections with oneself and other people. The workshop will utilize didactic material, experiential exercises, and videotape.
- Workshop 19
Sensing from Body-to-Mind: A Way Home After Trauma
with Matt Sanford, MA
X
Join author and adaptive yoga pioneer Matthew Sanford as he utilizes his extensive experience working with people living with trauma, loss, and disability as he shares practical techniques to help trauma survivors sense from body-to-mind. Many approaches to healing from trauma, even somatic ones, implicitly and explicitly emphasize embodiment techniques that travel from mind-to-body and thereby emphasize mind-based practices like mindfulness, mediation, and breath awareness. Such approaches can often underutilize the potential role that the body can play in the healing process. In this interactive, experiential workshop, Sanford elucidates the rationale to include body-to-mind methods in any integrated somatic approach as well as sharing many practical techniques for doing so. Workshop will include some lectures, experiential exercises, and optional partner work.
- 5:15 PM - 6.30 PM
Celebrating 35 Years
Poster Session, Book Signings, SMART Exploratorium, Neurofeedback Experience, Appetizers / Cash Bar
- 7.30 PM - 9.00 PM
SPECIAL EVENING EVENT:
The transformative power of music; creating safety and neuromodulation with musical rhythms and frequencies
with Stephen Porges, PHD, Anthony Gorry and Bessel van der Kolk, MD
X
Embark on an evening immersive journey harmonizing biologically inspired music designed to stimulate the autonomic nervous system, fostering health, growth and restoration. ,A restorative musical experiential and deep dive into the new tech and genre created by Anthony Gorry and Stephen Porges. that embeds endogenous neurophysiological rhythms of the body into music.
- 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Registration
- 8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
Welcome
with Bruce Dixon, CEO, Trauma Research Foundation
- 8:40 AM - 9:00 AM
Introduction
with Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Stress impairs prefrontal cortical working memory and top-down control: Neurobiological mechanisms and strategies for treatments
with Amy Arnsten, PhD
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Psychedelics: Brain mechanisms
with Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD
- 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Morning Break
- 11:20 PM - 12:20 PM
Divided Mind, Divided Body: Parts work through the lens of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
with Pat Ogden, PhD
- 12:20 PM - 12:50 PM
Panel Discussion & Questions
with Amy Arnsten, PhD, Robin Carhart-Harris, PhD, Pat Ogden, PhD, Sue Carter, PhD, Martin Teicher, MD, PhD, Bessel van der Kolk, MD
- 12:50 PM - 2:15 PM
Lunch break (on your own)
- 1:45 PM - 2:10 PM
Chair Yoga (Optional)
- 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
The Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: Leveraging Findings from the Autonomic Nervous System to Understand Chronic Adversity and Historical Trauma
with Julian Thayer, PhD
- 3:15 PM - 3:35 PM
Afternoon Break
- 3:35 PM - 4:35 PM
People need people: the double edged sword of our social nervous system
with Marlen Gonzalez, PhD
- 4:35 PM - 5:35 PM
Panel Discussion & Questions
with Julian Thayer, PhD, Marlen Gonzalez, PhD, Wendy D’Andrea, PhD, Sará King, PhD, Bessel van der Kolk, MD
- 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Registration
- 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
Opening
with Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD
- 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Engaging Relationships to Treat Early Trauma: The Promise and Challenge of a Family Approach
with Alicia Lieberman, PhD
- 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
No Body, No Self: Using brain therapies to quiet fear, ease attachment shock, and invite the embodied self
with Mirjana Askovic, PhD
- 11:15 AM - 11:35 AM
Morning Break
- 11:35 AM - 12:35 PM
Reopening Critical Periods with Psychedelics: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities
with Gül Dölen, MD, PhD
- 12:35 PM - 1:05 PM
Panel Discussion and Audience Questions
with Gül Dölen MD, PhD, Alicia Lieberman, PhD, Mirjana Askovic, PhD, Bessel van der Kolk, MD
- 1:05 PM - 2:15 PM
Lunch Break (on your own)
- 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Chair Yoga (Optional)
- 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
How the Body Remembers: From the Neuroimaging Lab to the Therapy Chair
with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD
- 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Lived experiences of trauma and restoration via expressive arts: Using Arts-Based Research (ARB) to evaluate outcomes
with Cathy Malchiodi, PhD
- 4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Panel Discussion and Audience Questions
with Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD, Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, Bessel van der Kolk, MD
- 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Seeing ourselves in the future: Creating a sustainable framework for a thriving trauma field
with Wendy D’Andrea, PhD
Poster Sessions
Click the button below for more information on submitting a poster for either the virtual or in-person conference. Poster proposals are due March 8, and applicants will receive notification of whether their proposal was selected by March 22.
Get your tickets !
Secure your spot now for the 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference!
Join us for a unique opportunity to engage in scientific exploration, hands-on experiential sessions, and connect with fellow professionals dedicated to shaping the future of trauma research and care.
Limited spaces available. Don’t delay, reserve your spot today!
Event starts in
Days
Hours
Minutes
ADVANCED REGISTRATION RATE
in-person ticket
$899 $699
Limited Spaces Available
May 1st - 4th, 2024
Come and gather with us in person for the 35th Annual Conference. Join us for a live immersive experiance at the Sheraton Hotel in heart of Boston.
- Gain CE credits
- Networking With Like-Minded Professionals
- Full 4-Day Access to Keynotes & Workshops
- Social hour
- SMART Exploratorium
- Neurofeedback area
- Full bookstore and book signings with Bessel, Pat Ogden, Frank Anderson, Stephen Porges and more
VIRTUAL TICKET
$299
May 1st - 4th, 2024
We are excited to offer our annual trauma conference virtually – allowing access to the conference online from the comfort of home, within 30 days.
- Gain CE credits
- Networking With Like-Minded Professionals
- Full 4-Day Access to Keynotes
- 30 Days Access to All Conference Recordings
Purchase your tickets via our ticket booking portal to see all purchasing options, and to complete your booking.
Tickets are limited and prices include access to all 4 days of the conference.
Scholarships now available
Trauma has a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals, and at the Trauma Research Foundation, we recognize the importance of all of you who are dedicated to addressing the effects of trauma and promoting healing and well-being worldwide. We also believe that access to transformational trauma related education and professional development should not be limited by financial constraints. To that end, we are thrilled to announce that we are offering scholarships for The 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference to insure that all of our allies have access to the all of the tools they need to continue our mission of hope and healing.
VIRTUAL FAQs
How can I access the Conference?
The conference can be accessed through the attendee hub, and instructions will be provided via email a couple of days before the conference starts.
Steps on how to access the Pre-Conference Workshop & Main Conference Days:
Download the PESI Events APP or go to www.pesi.com/traumacon.
Click login and use your credentials to log in to the hub.
Within the Attendee hub, click on the title of the presentation from the “All Sessions” tab
On the session description page, if there are less than five minutes before the presentation starts there will be a “Join session” button below the title and date of the presentation that will begin the video.
There will be an “Add Session” button available instead if the start time of the session is more than 5 minutes away, which will add the session to your schedule for faster access.
We do not have any capacity limits on our virtual sessions themselves, so everyone who wants to attend a presentation will have access to it.
Having trouble accessing your account or the conference? email us anytime at [email protected] or [email protected] or call us at 800-844-8260 Monday-Friday 7:30 am-7:00 pm Eastern Time.
Will Recordings be available after the conference?
A Recording Package is available for purchase through PESI, allowing unlimited access to the recordings and the ability to earn some CE credits. Due to recording restrictions, some presentations will not be included, and CE hours and approvals may differ from live CE approvals. Final details are being confirmed and will be reflected on the schedule.
Otherwise, all conference tickets (both in-person and virtual) come with 30-day free recording access post-conference. The recordings are available 1-2 hours after the live sessions and are accessible via the conference hub.
Are scholarships being offered?
Scholarships are available for virtual attendance only here on this page above. You will be notified within 48 hours of the decision.
Will CE be offered?
CE will be offered, and we are working diligently with the CE boards for confirmation. ACCME credit is currently pending review. We will be adding updates to this website as soon as CE details become available.
How will I be receiving my Continuing Education Credits?
PESI will be emailing a link to the evaluations for the live sessions after the 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference has ended. You will identify any of the live sessions that you watched as they were occurring live, then evaluate the presentations to receive your CE certificate for those Sessions.
Please note: If you attended some sessions in person and some sessions virtually, you will need to complete separate evaluations — one for the sessions you attended in person, and one for the sessions you attended virtually.
Can I earn partial credit for a session?
Partial credit is not available. In order to receive credit for a session, the session must be viewed in its entirety. Please note that you will be participating in the conference on Friday and/or Saturday, you must attend a block in its entirety to earn credit. Credit cannot be earned if a participant leaves a block part-way through.
What presentations and workshops are included in my ticket?
Below are the workshops and presentations included with your virtual conference ticket. This list is subject to change.
Wednesday: Pre-Conference Workshops
Thursday: Pre-Conference Workshops
Friday: All Keynotes
Saturday: All Keynotes
IN-PERSON FAQS
Will Recordings be available after the conference?
A Recording Package is available for purchase through PESI, allowing unlimited access to the recordings and the ability to earn some CE credits. Due to recording restrictions, some presentations will not be included, and CE hours and approvals may differ from live CE approvals.
Otherwise, all conference tickets (both in-person and virtual) come with 30-day free recording access post-conference. The recordings are available 1-2 hours after the live sessions and are accessible via the conference hub. Only sessions viewed live are eligible for CE Credit.
Will CE be offered?
CE will be offered, and we are working diligently with the CE boards for confirmation. ACCME credit is currently pending review. We will update the TRF website as soon as CE details become available.
How will I be receiving my Continuing Education Credits?
PESI will be emailing a link to the evaluations for the live sessions after The 35th Annual Boston International Trauma Conference has ended. You will identify any of the live sessions that you watched as they were occurring live, then evaluate the presentations to receive your CE certificate for those Sessions.
Please note: If you attended some sessions in person and some sessions virtually, you will need to complete separate evaluations — one for the sessions you attended in person, and one for the sessions you attended virtually.
Can I earn partial credit for a session?
Partial credit is not available. In order to receive credit for a session, the session must be viewed in its entirety.
ADA Statement
If participants have special needs, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons who request them, consistent with ADA requirements.
Code of Ethics Statement
It is the responsibility of every attendee to abide by the standards set forth in the Code of Ethics for maintaining security and confidentiality of test materials and proprietary information presented as part of this continuing education program. Any materials used as part of this program may not be copied or otherwise distributed, and no proprietary information will be disclosed by attendees to any person not registered for this program.
Conflict of Interest Statement
There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.
Utility/Validity Statement
The content of this presentation, when applied according to psychological practice guidelines, within the expertise of the expertise of the practitioner do not pose any risks.
Target Audience
Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, Psychotherapists, Addiction Counselors, Therapists, Marriage & Family Therapists, Case Managers, Nurses, Physicians, Other Mental Health Professionals
Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course outline, the certificate of completion you receive from the activity and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.
