Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues

Professional Workshop as an adjunct to the 2011 ATCA Conference
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WA

FRIDAY 3RD JUNE
9.00pm – 5.00pm

Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
In this introduction to working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and AOD issues, we will start by providing an overview of special issues for women with AOD issues. We will then examine the impact of trauma and attachment trauma on multiple aspects of a person’s functioning including neurobiology, cognition, affect, behaviour, interpersonal relatedness, and sense of self. Finally we present a model of intervention that provides a safe way to work with these women. Activities will include lecturette, discussion skill demonstration, skill practice and case study. Participants will be able to supplement their learning from the workshop by referring to a recently produced guide: Marsh, Towers and O’Toole (2011) ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues’.

Workshop Presenters: Ali Marsh and Tania Towers

Ali Marsh
Ali Marsh M.Psych (Clin); PhD is a clinical psychologist who has worked for over 20 years in the addiction area in multiple roles: as clinician, educator, consultant and researcher. She currently works as a clinical psychologist at Next Step Drug and Alcohol Service and in private practice. Her work as a clinical psychologist includes working therapeutically with clients, providing supervision for other clinicians, running workshops and writing treatment guidelines.

Tania Towers
Tania Towers M.Psych (Clinical/Health) is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the addictions and trauma field for over 20 years. She has worked as a clinician, educator, consultant and manager. She currently works as the manager of the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) and works as a clinical psychologist in private practice.

Both Ali and Tania have contributed to the literature on AOD use and trauma issues, and along with another colleague, Stephanie O’Toole, have recently written a guide for clinicians titled ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues”.

For further information, conference updates, registration and hotel booking information please refer to the ATCA website www.atca.com.au.

Any correspondence should be sent to conference@atca.com.au.