Description:

We are so hardwired for connection as humans that in the first three years of life, if we do not receive physical touch, our bodies will not hold onto the calories from our food. This is the biological mechanism behind failure to thrive. To help us survive, if the only touch available to us is physical or sexual abuse, our brain reverses felt and unfelt safety. This means we are given signals to feel safe around unsafe people and signals for a lack of safety around safe people. All so we can go toward the only touch available to us when we need it most. Young children, adolescents, and even adults who have had to trade sex for affection or other basic needs can also have their brains adapt in this manner. Unfortunately, we too often view unsafe sexual behavior as a character defect or a destructive choice that needs to be addressed through “tough love,” punishment, and even isolation. Neuroscience is demonstrating that these approaches actually increase the cravings for any type of connection including unsafe connection. So, with the best of intentions, we can increase the very behavior we are trying to help someone change. Together we will examine how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Compounding Adverse Toxic Stressors (CATS) create repeated fear responses and disrupt the “felt safety” needed for the attachment and regulation centers of the brain to work safely. Setting power struggles aside, we will place unsafe sexual behavior into the context that drives it and engage brain-based interventions to help safe connection actually feel safe and give people experiences of affection and care that do not include a sexual transaction. We will also explore how parallel process and secondary trauma impacts everyone working with complex trauma survivors and what can be done to lessen and address these stressors. By looking at what research tells us and what our work experiences have shown us, we will develop strategies to assist in negotiating this work that is as important as it is challenging.  

Upon completion of each session participants will be able to:

1. Explore traditional and emerging neuroscience-based understanding of unsafe sexual behavior.

2.  Identify the context and drivers of the unsafe sexual behavior, so strategies can be more effective at addressing the root of the behavior.  

3.  Identify and address the impact our belief systems have on our feelings towards and interactions with people who engage in unsafe sexual behaviors. 

4.  Engage cooperative and non-adversarial approaches to help those we serve and support increase felt safety and the Five Good Things found in mutually enhancing relationships. 

5. Practice recognizing and addressing the role of shame, grief and fear in unsafe sexual behaviors and how to release it and develop replacement behaviors that promote non-transactional, safe connection. 

6. Identify and explore the hidden resilience of agency and the drive to nurture and be nurtured found in the survival skill of unsafe sexual behavior to help those we serve and support engage their resilience to develop safe ways to develop mutually enhancing relationships.  

IN PERSON ONLY-Child Focus Training Center
MUST ATTEND FULL TRAINING. PARTIAL CREDIT WILL NOT BE GIVEN.

Presenters:

Mary Vicario LPCC-S, CTS

Mary Vicario is a licensed professional clinical counselor supervisor (LPCC –S) and a certified trauma specialist with over 35 years of experience working as an educator, counselor, clinical director, and consultant with individuals, families, organizations, and systems. She trains nationally and internationally translating the latest research on the neuroscience of trauma and resilience into interventions for all ages and ability levels. Mary is a proud participant in multiple grants to further develop and link trauma informed and resilience-based care across systems and communities. She is honored to provide Trauma Responsive Care Certification through the Tristate Trauma Network for anyone working with trauma survivors.  Mary can be reached at www.findinghopeconsulting.com

Dr. Veronica R. Barrios, Ph.D.

Dr. Veronica R. Barrios is a Queer, Latinx, interpersonal violence scholar. She is an Assistant Professor at Miami University where she instructs courses on Culturally Informed Practice and Interpersonal Violence. Her work is grounded in intersectionality theory, discussing issues around the absence of and need for diversity, practices that limit and create equity, and the need for radical inclusion. Specifically, Dr. Barrios investigates the culture of nondisclosure of violence. Her scholarship is used to conduct trainings for local and national audiences (i.e. practitioners, researchers, educators) on the topics of cultural and trauma responsive strategies for working with individuals across the lifespan.