Learning objectives:

1. Describe 3 key learnings from trauma research and their relevance for addiction treatment. Understand the relevance of knowing about trauma, trauma treatment and its prevalence in addiction treatment and our culture.
2. Feel into the possibility, opportunities and challenges for addiction services to become trauma-informed and in that way lead the way to and help create a trauma-informed culture.
3. Presentation Handout
4.  

Abstract:

One of my clients, whilst working in an alcohol outreach pilot project, taught me that I had limited skills to support her in other ways than with cognitive tools. Six years ago, this started my search for ways to support clients holistically, to learn about the role of our nervous systems and how addictive behaviour for most individuals in my experience, can be best understood as a coping mechanism, a way to deal with overwhelming experiences the best they can and could. I will share experiences of clients and the importance of acknowledging the process of including and sensing our body and emotional experience which than can start a process of integration and healing. I will address the prevalence of trauma in addiction treatment and opportunities and challenges will be considered in the process of transitioning addiction services being part of a culture unaware of its own traumatic impact, into trauma-informed addiction service allowing for trauma to be recognised and integrated.