1. Understand the neuro-physiological basis of trauma, dissociation, self-regulation, and its interconnectedness.

2. Understand the Polyvagal Theory of Stephan Porges and its relevance in the treatment of trauma.

3. To understand the use and application of the titration technique to assist clients to self-regulate and to re-establish internal coherence within the nervous system of traumatized individuals. 

Dear colleagues and friends from all over the world

I am writing this email to invite you to join my new workshop. I will present the workshop in English.  Those interested and who would like to join the workshop are most welcome and may contact my friend and colleague in Sydney, Australia, Carl Hattingh at info@aichp.com.au . Please come and join us for this exciting training and learn more about the debilitating effects of trauma on the body and the mind! You do not need any prior knowledge of Ego State therapy or Bodywork to join this workshop.

My personal experience with psychotherapy for traumatized clients spans over a period more than 30 years. However, as my career progressed, I grew more critical of my own psychotherapeutic intervention strategies. I became aware of the fact that in executing my interventions, I was only addressing the traditional conceptualization of the mind in a “skull-based” cognitive manner, rather than viewing the mind as imbedded within the self and embedded within the world around me. This made me realize that psychological treatment should not only be viewed as a cognitive intervention strategy, but rather as a strategy embedded within the therapeutic relationship with the main purpose of creating and communicating a sense of safety to my clients. I realized that for decades the therapeutic fraternity have turned a blind eye to the body and the role of the nervous system in their quest for therapeutic excellence. This was a huge mistake.  I changed that and increasingly started to incorporate bodywork and somatic approaches in my clinical work. To my surprise I discovered that combining the Polyvagal Theory of Stephan Porges and bodywork allows me to re-set the incoherent autonomic nervous system response in traumatized clients to assist them to self-regulate adequately again. This combined approach re-establishes a sense of wholeness and advance flow, internal coherence, a sense of safety and self-regulation. In this workshop Dr Hartman will address advanced ways how to use body interventions such as the “titration technique” with traumatized individuals in a safe manner by combining Polyvagal Theory, the techniques of the Somatic Experiencing Approach developed by Peter Levine and modern psychotherapeutic strategies in live demonstrations. Additionally, I will explicate and demonstrate the titration technique in much detail by means of a live demonstration.What is titration? Titration refers to a process of experiencing small amounts of discomfort and distress in the body with the goal of discharging physical tension and trauma energy. Thus, working with small amounts of activation in the nervous system, and then allowing clients to slowly adjust to each level of activation without being overwhelmed.  It is simply an amazing technique to help your traumatized clients once you know how to use it!!

Participants will also have the opportunity to practise the demonstrated techniques in dyads. The workshop will have a lecture-demonstration-practise format where participants will learn hands-on techniques to use in their work with traumatized clients.

Come and join me for this exciting online workshop in Australia!

Warm South African regards

Dr Woltemade Hartman