Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL The Creative Corner, sponsored by Pandora’s Project, will be available throughout the entire conference. Stop by for some creative fun! The walking labyrinth will also be available throughout the duration of the conference. The labyrinth, along with walking tips, are provided courtesy of by Alix Amar M.Ed, MSS, LCSW. AA meetings will be available but the dates/times/locations are currently TBD (to be determined). Be sure to stop by and see our vendors and sponsors in the front area. They will have many things to offer that may be helpful with your healing journey. Friday Night – January 30th: 8:30-9:30 PM Welcome Reception Attendees can enjoy some light complimentary snacks and drinks while meeting and reconnecting with other attendees. Registration will be open during this time. 6:30-7:30 PM Dealing with Dissociation Survivor Small Group by Nancy Gaulin, PsyD and Paula Burley, RN of McLean Hospital. Meet other supporters and share your concerns, hopes, and questions in a safe space. Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL Saturday –January 31st: *Optional Pre-Conference Activity* 7:30-8:30 AM All Levels Yoga and Meditation Class by Sareet Taylor LMHC (you might want to bring a room towel) 7:30-8:30 AM Dealing with Dissociation Survivor Small Group by Nancy Gaulin, PsyD and Paula Burley, RN of McLean Hospital. Meet other survivors, share your concerns, hopes, and questions in a safe space. Pre-registration was required. Chat and chews will be open to all during lunch. 8:00-9:00 AM Registration Opens 9:00-9:15 AM Salon 5-7 Welcome by Jaime Pollack, Founder/Director of An Infinite Mind 9:15-10:45 AM Dr. Robert Oxnam- Key Note Presentation Dissociation and Creativity: A Personal Voyage In my previous keynote talks, I have focused on my experiences coping with DID. In this presentation, I will explore what has happened in the decade since A Fractured Mind was published in 2005. Specifically, I will talk about my experiences with art and music, positing some broader thoughts and theories about dissociation and creativity. 10:45-11:00 AM: Refreshment and Snack Break 11:00AM-12:30 PM: Breakout Sessions 1. Living Vulnerable by Heidi Spitzig and Jackie Pullum Candidly discussing the struggles and triumphs of healing from dysfunctional family dynamics, Jackie and Heidi will talk about how to cultivate effective communication within the dynamics of a supportive relationship. The issues of intimacy, attachment, and autonomy are commonly faced by survivors of DID, and Jackie and Heidi will explore what it means to truly be vulnerable in a way that is healing, supportive, and transformational. We can choose our own families and build the life we deserve! 2. A Context for Healing: Principles for Resolving Dissociative Difficulties by Steven Gold PhD Dissociative difficulties can be understood as both trauma-related and a result of having been deprived of resources for learning how to manage the complexities of adult living. Principles for healing from dissociative difficulties derived from this perspective include: Psychological growth is an interpersonal process fostered by a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Reducing constantly high levels of distress can radically reduce the intensity and frequency of dissociation. Dissociation is a universal human response that one can learn to shift up and down in intensity as needed. Integration follows spontaneously and naturally from developing and consistently employing capacities for more effective daily living. Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL 3. An Introduction to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning by Lorisa Lewis MS, LMHC and Sarah Kelava MS Equine assisted psychotherapy and learning techniques are rapidly growing in favor worldwide, both as a stand-alone modality of treatment and as an adjunct modality to on-going psychotherapy for many differing diagnoses including those pertaining to trauma. This workshop is geared mainly toward therapists and treating professionals and will provide a didactic overview of the work as well as photographs and video examples of how the modality is utilized. This workshop is not intended to train participants in equine therapy but is meant to introduce participants to the modality and clarify common misperceptions. 4. Healing Together: A Five Year Retrospective by Kevyn Ziemann, MA, Evey, and Chelsea A survivor, her daughter, and therapist will discuss the change process as it has occurred over the past five years. We will talk about the influence of the Healing Together conference, and how it has shaped recovery. We hope to share what we have learned and outline some of the struggles and successes along the way. We will talk briefly about some of the methods used, some of the novel approaches, and critical moments. 12:30-1:45 PM Lunch break provided by An Infinite Mind 12:30-1:45PM Therapist Small Group Discussion by Nancy Gaulin, PsyD and Paula Burley, RN of McLean Hospital. Bring your lunch and join other therapists who want to learn more about how to facilitate a DID group using the model that was presented last year. 12:30-1:45PM *Optional Chat and Chews* Grab your lunch and come join your fellow attendees to discuss what is on your mind. 2:00-3:30 PM: Breakout Sessions 1. Healing Trauma With Horses, a survivor’s perspective by Cheryl Kindred Horses being prey animals, they constantly read, observe, sense, feel, and react to their environment, including any changes that take place within it. In this way, horses and trauma survivors “get” each other. Trauma survivors often live in this same state of hyper-alertness. Equine experiences are beneficial as part of the therapeutic process for staying grounded, building a "toolbox" of resources, and developing life skills that are difficult to practice in other therapeutic setting. This workshop allows participants to learn and see visually the benefits of equine in the healing journey. 2. Coping with DID Together by Dr. Robert Oxnam and Dr. Vishakha Desai This session will have two themes. First, we will explore how we both dealt with my diagnosis and the therapy process during the critical first fifteen years of our relationship 1991-2005 – from the diagnosis to the publication of my psychological autobiography, A Fractured Mind. In this initial section Oxnam will also show a Sixty Minutes segment produced in 2005 (which will also offer background for those participants who were not present at the first two Healing Together conferences). The second segment will focus on the last ten years, giving special attention to the impact of “going public” and to the manifold ways in which DID affects both of us – often quite positively and sometimes creating new headaches Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL 3. DID and the Journey of Motherhood by Megan and Ashleigh Grooms LMHC This presentation explores DID and how it relates to the concepts of pre-conception, pregnancy, and motherhood. The presentation will provide clinical information as well as one mother’s personal perspective. We will journey from pre-pregnancy through motherhood and show you how to support yourself and clients through the process. 4. Your Turn For Care: Surviving the aging and death of the adults who harmed you: Part 1 by Laura Brown PhD The adult family members who harmed survivors of childhood complex trauma can present new difficulties and dilemmas for survivors when those perpetrators grow old. Demands on the survivors to engage in caregiving, even when refused, can activate what had been previously healed wounds or open new ones. This two-part workshop will address the common concerns of survivors at this life stage. In the first session we'll discuss dealing with caregiving demands, and look at boundaries, self care and self-protection, and decision-making. 3:30-3:45 PM: Snack Break Provided by An Infinite Mind 3:45-5:15 PM: Breakout Sessions 1. Your Turn For Care: Surviving the aging and death of the adults who harmed you: Part 2 by Laura Brown PhD The adult family members who harmed survivors of childhood complex trauma can present new difficulties and dilemmas for survivors when those perpetrators grow old. Demands on the survivors to engage in caregiving, even when refused, can activate what had been previously healed wounds or open new ones. This two-part workshop will address the common concerns of survivors at this life stage. In the second session we'll discuss dealing with issues that arise in the aftermath of a perpetrator's death. 2. Engaging Multiple Personalities by Dr. David Yeung The presentation will focus on the importance of the relationship one establishes with alters; including internal relationships among alters, the relationship issues between therapists and a patient's alters, and the relationship between spouses and other support network people. In essence the presentation is what to do, at a kitchen sink level, when engaging alters. 3. Parent and Child Dynamics and Multiplicity by Carol Broad and Helen Broad This Presentation will offer insight into how D.I.D affects personal relationships in the family, focusing upon : Role reversal issues, the impact upon family dynamics, experiences of what does and does not work, learning to understand D.I.D, and the positives of having a parent with D.I.D. Helen will explain how she realized her mom was a multiple even before Carol realized or was diagnosed. The aim of the presentation is to share their experiences and answer questions about their own situation in the hope of helping others understand more about the positive benefits of communication and openness upon parent/child relations. Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL 4. Sculpting Change and Transformation by Kim Snow LMFT and Ruperto Ramos Using basic grey sculpting clay participants will be led through a series of quick creations culminating and transforming into a final sculpted presentation of self (or selves). The quick sculpting is designed to be instinctual in nature, rather than cognitive (thoughtful) to allow for a flow of creative expression. To allow for processing, this workshop is limited to those with DID and has a session limit of 30 5:30-6:30 PM 7:30-8:30 PM Supporter/Caregiver Small Group by Nancy Gaulin, PsyD and Paula Burley, RN of McLean Hospital. Meet other survivors, share your concerns, hopes, and questions in a safe space. Pre-registration was required. Chat and chews will be open to all during lunch. Sunday February 1st *Optional Pre-Conference Activity*. 7:30-8:30 AM All Levels Yoga and Meditation Class by Sareet Taylor LMHC Salon 2 7:30-8:30 AM Dealing with Dissociation Survivor Small Group by Nancy Gaulin, PsyD and Paula Burley, RN of McLean Hospital. Meet other survivors, share your concerns, hopes, and questions in a safe space. Pre-registration was required. Chat and chews will be open to all during lunch. 9:00-10:30 AM: Breakout Sessions 1. The Use of Music in Holistic Healing: A Discussion of Tori Amos, Introspection and Song by Adrienne Trier-Bieniek, PhD The ways music can be used for self care varies from person to person, yet music is a universal truth. This presentation/discussion will focus on how music can be helpful when trying to flesh out emotions, particularly how journaling and activities coupled with music provide an avenue for self discovery. I will spend some time discussing my research with fans of musician Tori Amos, specifically the ways they used her songs to help them heal after experiencing trauma and how they used self-care to connect the holistic practices of listening and applying music in our lives. 2. It Gets Better by Olga Trujillo Managing the day-to-day can be challenging for many with DID. The healing process can at times seem bleak and hopeless for survivors and their supports. In this workshop, the presenter, will discuss the result of her years of healing work and managing her day-to-day. This hopeful look at life with DID is a reminder that it does get better. Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL 3. Becoming More Wholly Your Self by Monica Taffinder LMHC and Deb Croteau We will take the concept of acceptance and look more closely at the value of each part to the whole system and at the benefit of parts working together as a cohesive unit. We will give more detail about Deb’s experience, both in therapy and on her own, as she learned to strengthen her Self by encouraging the individual parts to become more defined and by learning how to help all of her parts work together as a whole. We will discuss Deb’s experience of integrating her parts and how living as a wholly connected person is possible and empowering. This session does include religious material if you are sensitive to this. 4. Using NLP Techniques to Transform Memories by Sareet Taylor LMHC Neurolinguistic Programming is a modality of treatment and human enhancement which has been around since the 1970s. It has many applications, but here the goal is to teach individuals, especially those with a traumatic past, to gain control over traumatic memories by changing their subjective and sensory experiences. By doing so, individuals will learn empowering techniques to deal with trauma. 10:30-10:45 AM: Refreshment and Snack Break 10:45 AM-12:15 PM: Breakout Sessions 1. The Gifts of Having D.I.D. by Amy Wagner Focus will be on bringing light to the gifts of having dissociative disorders. Amy will help participants to begin looking at having a dissociative disorder as one of their greatest assets. Presentation will include examples of gifts that enhanced Amy’s life due to D.I.D. such as personal positive growth, positive parenting, community service, and career growth. There will be a discussion of the ways participants can begin identifying their gifts and how to fully use them. 2. Transference is Good: Or, It's OK to Attach to Your Therapist by Cathy Rose I am a survivor of Mother-Daughter sexual abuse and was diagnosed with DID in 1995. My mother was my first relationship experience, so I learned that it wasn’t safe to attach to or trust anyone. In order for us to feel safe enough to talk about the abuse, we needed to form an attachment to our therapist. This attachment creates transference within the relationship, where interactions bring up feelings from the past so we can process them. I will provide examples of situations that arose within our therapy sessions, how we managed the feelings, and what we learned from them. 3. The Silent Telling: Using Art Therapy for Identification and Healing of Ritual Abuse by Kim Snow, LMFT and Lani Kent Presentation will cover common themes and symbols in RA survivor's artwork, with cautionary examples of misinterpreted artwork. Kim will briefly describe the use of art therapy for uncovering and working through the often fragmented memories of RA victims. Using art to titrate abuse episodes and pace therapy will be discussed. Using her own healing journey and work with survivors as a foundation, Lani will share survivor art and demonstrate the medium's of "Restorative Creativity",expressive/intuitive collage and art journaling, techniques that can be powerfully healing for the RA survivor. Due to sensitive and highly triggering nature of this topic, this presentation is designed for mental health professionals. Please take this into account before deciding to attend. Conference Agenda January 30th-February 1st Orlando, FL 4. Associative Skills: Coping with Change, Managing Feelings by Elizabeth Power M.Ed What's up with that? Change provokes feelings, and feelings often signal shifts, switches, or movement internally. Most people who develop dissociative disorders are challenged by change and go into fight, flight or freeze--so what could be more helpful than having a framework for coping with change and the feelings it can bring? We'll learn the framework without sharing stories so there's a lower risk of difficulty for attendees. 12:15-1:30 PM: Lunch break provided by An Infinite Mind 12:15-1:30 *Optional Chat and Chews* Grab your lunch and come join your fellow attendees to discuss what is on your mind. 1:45-3:15 PM: Breakout Sessions 1. Public Speaking, DID & Personal Experience by Olga Trujillo Participants will explore the mechanics of speaking on their personal experience of DID. The workshop will explore: considering which speaking engagements to accept or submit for, deciding whether to charge a fee and how much, and examining presentation styles and tools. The workshop will also examine the emotional and psychological impact of presenting on your experience and how you might prepare for the before, during and after of your presentation. 2 Sanity is Relative by Madison Clell Where else will you see a presenter pace around barefoot and throw chocolates!? Despite possibly being the silliest trauma-conference presentation ever, I present to you more.....'wisdom'?!?.... divided into two segments; A) Siblings. No, NOT abusive siblings, but the other - how best to say it - more complicated ones. How does one deal with these relationships besides nomming sweets? Followed by; B) The pros and cons of being multi-ple vs. being solo-ple. Advantages to being D.I.D., really? Oh yes, absolutely and I'm here to spread the word! These hard-won insights will be shared and loudly mocked during a session whose main purpose is for us to have fun! 3. You Need a Cape: Superheroes and Secret Identities by Willie Freeman For the non-DID spouse of a survivor, life can be a feature film that is a psychological thriller, a romantic comedy, an action adventure, a suspense-filled mystery, a sci-fi epic, and a classic horror flick all rolled into one. Supporters often feel overwhelmed, confused, unsure of their emotions, and conflicted. This is a very frank, direct, sometimes comical, and potentially triggering (no survivors, please) presentation of how one husband navigates the adventure of loving AND living with a DID survivor. Supporters will be given time to ask questions as well. 4. Working Animals, Mindfulness, and Healing by Jackie Pullum The journey of healing is a huge task, and sometimes a support animal is suggested to make that journey easier. We will compassionately discuss access rights, some of the laws surrounding the use of animals for assistance, as well as some of the many modalities where animals help us heal. Jackie will also talk about the way Mindfulness Based Training Techniques benefit the human as much as the animal. 3:15-3:30 PM: Snack Break Provided by An Infinite Mind 3:30- 4:00 PM: Closing by Jaime Pollack, Founder/Director of An Infinite Mind
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