Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) Foundations: A bottom up approach to transforming trauma in children and adolescents (12 CE program)

Intuition Wellness Center, PLLC and SMARTmoves, LLC

present

Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) Foundations: A bottom up approach to transforming trauma in children and adolescents

Friday & Saturday, November 3-4, 2023

9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Intuition Wellness Center | 5675 N. Oracle Rd., Ste 3101 | Tucson, AZ

520-333-3320

• 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM       Check-In | Refreshments | Networking
• 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM     Lecture and Discussion
• 10:30 AM – 10:45 AM   Break
• 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM   Lecture and Discussion
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM     Lunch On Your Own
• 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM       Lecture and Discussion
• 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM       Break
• 2:45 PM – 4:30 PM       Lecture and Discussion
• 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM      Evaluations (Saturday Only)

Description of Program: 

Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) is an innovative mental health therapy developed to treat complexly traumatized children and adolescents for whom regulation of emotional, behavioral and interpersonal life is a primary problem. The goals of this treatment are to facilitate improved somatic regulation and integrated trauma processing as well as to experience felt safety in relationships. Through SMART, these goals are achieved by expanding the repertoire of regulating experiences via incorporation of multi-sensory equipment and movement opportunities. SMART is designed to help children and caregivers alike to improve co-regulation, create new rhythms in relationship, and build self-regulation capacities. Caregivers learn to utilize SMART strategies for implementation at home, through participation in the child’s therapy and/or through private parent guidance work. SMART strategies can also be adapted for implementation at home, community, educational and residential treatment settings.

This two-day, in person, Intensive SMART Foundations Training is designed for mental health practitioners interested in learning this body-based approach to a trauma therapy for children and adolescents. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of complex trauma’s impact on child development. Participants will also learn seven tools of regulation and eight specific therapist skills that support Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attachment-Building in the context of SMART. Learning methods include didactic presentation, viewing clinical videotape of therapy examples and experiential practice.  

Presenter: 

Heather Finn, LCSW is a practicing clinical social worker licensed in Arizona and Massachusetts. Her clinical specialization focuses on treating children, adolescents, adults and families who have been impacted by stress, trauma and adversity. She earned her MSW from Smith College School for Social Work in 2001. Heather worked for almost ten years at Trauma Center in Brookline, MA where she was trained under the medical direction of Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk. In her tenure at the Trauma Center, Heather embraced several roles including that of a therapist, clinical supervisor, agency consultant, trainer and eventually was promoted to the role of Clinical Director.  

Heather is passionate about increasing access to high quality trauma-informed training and effective treatments that support safe opportunities for people to move, explore, heal and grow as individuals and members of their community. She currently works as a Child & Family Therapist at Intuition Wellness Center, maintains a virtual private practice, and is a founding partner of SMARTmoves, LLC– a training, consultation and education entity for mental health practitioners. In her role as lead trainer and consultant, Heather facilitates learning opportunities for clinicians, milieu counselors, and educators across the United States and internationally. She is a co-author on the SMART book – “Transforming Trauma in Children and Adolescents: An Embodied Approach to Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attaching-Building “ and lead co-author of the article The Boy Who Was Hit in the Face: Somatic Regulation and Processing of Preverbal Complex Trauma, published through the Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma in 2017.

Workshop Fees: 

• $500 (This two-day advanced intensive is available for 12 Continuing Education Credits)

Fee includes SMART book:  “Transforming Trauma in Children and Adolescents: An embodied approach to Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attachment-Building” as well as light refreshments. Space is limited so as to ensure participants receive a high quality attentive experience. Registration is first come first served and will open up to wait list once full. Refunds are honored with written notice at least 24-hours before the date of the seminar. Contact Intuition Wellness Center’s Admin Team if a payment plan is needed. All fees due 24 hours prior to program.

Participants:

This workshop is open to all psychologists and mental health professionals interested in advanced learning on the topic of trauma treatment for children, adolescents, and families. This program is intended for those with an intermediate to advanced level of knowledge and experience.

Directions: 

Intuition Wellness Center is located in the office complex on the northwest corner of N. Oracle Rd. and Roller Coaster Rd. The buildings numbered 5675, 5671 and 5669 are visible from N. Oracle. We are in the north building of three in the complex on the first floor. The entry is near the elevator.

Educational Objectives:

After attending this intermediate to advanced level program in full, participants will be able to:

Day 1 (Friday) – Learning Objectives 

• Name and define the three threads in the SMART Spiral that constitute the focus of SMART.
• Describe three bottom-up processes in the SMART Hierarchy of Development that support higher cortical functioning. 
• Describe at least two ways Developmental Trauma impacts a child’s developing brain.
• Identify one essential function of each of the following sensory systems – Tactile, Vestibular and Proprioceptive Systems. 
• Define co-regulation and its role in Somatic Regulation and Attachment Building. 
• Recognize at least one behavioral indicator that can help you determine whether a child is using auto regulation, co-regulation or self- regulation.
• Analyze a child’s presentation using Video Reflection and determine if they are in the Integrated State, Fluid Zone or Traumatic State.
• Name the seven SMART Regulation Tools and one way each tool tends to support Somatic Regulation. 
• Identify three Tools of Regulation (not equipment) as described in the SMART model and give an example of a child-based activity (e.g. handstand) of each. 
• Name two indicators of Sensory Satiation in the child’s presentation. 
• Describe three different ways therapists Tend to Safety when engaging in SMART Treatment. 
•   Select when it is essential to employ the Therapist Skill, Tending to Safety, from the SMART perspective. 

Day 2 (Saturday) – Learning Objectives 

• Describe the eight Therapist Skills and provide an example of one way to employ each skill in a clinical setting. 
• List three Therapist Skills unique to SMART that reflect the importance of the body in child trauma treatment.
• Explain why SMART therapy uses the therapeutic skills of Tracking and Verbal Scaffolding instead of interpretation.
• Identify at least two potential pitfalls that can occur if the therapist relies on Leading too often in session.
• Explain to your supervisor or program director how Video Reflection is and is not used in the SMART model. 
• Apply the Therapist Skills -Tracking In and Tracking Out and select a Regulation Tool to introduce to the child.
• Apply the SMART Regulation Map and explain how one would use this map to inform Choice Points. 
• Describe one unique way trauma content often shows up within the context of a SMART therapy session. 
• Identify at least three examples of non-verbal or embodied forms of traumatic expression. 
• Utilize the SMART Regulation Map to assess a child’s state to determine if they are re- experiencing or reworking traumatic material. 
• Provide an example of a form of embodied play that supports Attachment-Building and creates new rhythms of engagement. 
• Identify two qualities of the caregiver that SMART Therapists can assess when determining caregiver involvement in treatment. 
• Explain to a caregiver two reasons why somatic regulation and embodied play are used by SMART to help children heal from the impact of Developmental Trauma. 
• Provide an example of supporting families to generalize regulation skills learned in SMART therapy to daily life. 
• Describe at least one goal of the integrative process of weaving Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attachment-Building in SMART. 

Continuing Education:

This program is available for 12.0 continuing education credits. Participants must attend 100% of the program. Upon completion of a program evaluation form, a certificate will be issued. This serves as documentation of attendance for all participants. Intuition Wellness Center, PLLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Intuition Wellness Center, PLLC maintains responsibility for the program and its content. Intuition Wellness Center, PLLC is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in continuing education activities and will conduct all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. If participants have special needs, reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate them.  Please contact the Intuition Wellness Practice Admin, Gina Babunovic, with questions, concerns or to request special accommodations.

This two day intensive workshop is co-sponsored between Intuition Wellness Center, PLLC and SMARTmoves, LLC. The presenter, Heather Finn, LCSW is an employee of Intuition Wellness Center and founding partner of SMARTmoves, LLC, contributing developer of Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment (SMART) model and co-author of the book – “Transforming Trauma in Children and Adolescents: An Embodied Approach to Somatic Regulation, Trauma Processing and Attachment Building.”

.