Announcing the 2nd Annual Complex Trauma Summer Training Institute in Hyannis, MA this July!
The Foundation Trust is pleased to announce the 2nd annual Complex Trauma Summer Training Institute, taking place in Hyannis, MA from July 20-23, 2025. This 4-day conference will offer a range of clinical workshops for therapists and allied multidisciplinary providers. It will feature members of the Foundation Trust’s Complex Trauma Treatment Affiliates program, including the Foundation Trust’s Executive Director, Joseph Spinazzola, Ph.D., and senior training faculty members Jana Pressley Psy.D. and Kaitlyn Marie Wilson, LICSW.
The Summer Institute will showcase training on the SMART model for complex trauma, which integrates movement-based sensory inputs to facilitate somatic regulation, presented by its co-developers Dr. Elizabeth Warner, Ed.M., Psy.D., Anne Westcott, LICSW, and Dr. Alexandra Cook, Ph.D. The Institute will conclude with a workshop on recognizing and handling challenges encountered when treating adults and youths with complex trauma histories by Dr. Julian D. Ford, Ph.D., A.B.P.P., Director of the Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders at University of Connecticut Medical Center and internationally renowned scholar in the field of posttraumatic stress.
Participants praised last year’s inaugural event’s workshop content and applicability to their current practices. “The balance of foundational concepts and nuanced insight made the conference relevant for both newer and seasoned clinicians. The teaching methods - combining case examples, visuals, and interactive/experiential components - kept the audience engaged and inspired. I left with new ways to explain difficult concepts to clients and fresh practical approaches, which will deepen therapeutic work,” shared Mimi Sullivan, PhD, LCSW, Haddonfield Consulting, LLC, and member of the Complex Trauma Intervention Team for Trauma Drama.
The Institute’s offerings span assessment and treatment of complex trauma in children and adults, with emphasis on innovative approaches to intervention with challenging clinical dilemmas and conditions. Special topics include therapist self-awareness and identity conscious
practice, the role of spirituality in clinical care, and the transformative power of theatre and play in recovery from trauma. “I found the 2025 Complex Trauma Summer Training Institute to be extremely beneficial. The case examples have stimulated thoughts on how I can apply effective methods of treatment to my own clients. The expressive arts immersive experiences have encouraged me to look for ways to invite more creativity into my client sessions. It was so exciting and encouraging to meet with other clinicians from across the United Stated and around the world - all with the same goal of promoting healing for people with complex trauma,” shared Sue Foster, LPC, CPCS, EdS, Assistant Director of Richmont Trauma Center specializing in family dynamics, life transitions, and anxiety.
This exclusively in-person conference is designed to balance intensive, experiential learning with extensive opportunities for interaction with peers and faculty. Enrollment is limited to 100 participants to invite a more intimate and personalized learning experience. “This institute has provided so many opportunities for more growth, collaboration, and love for the service of helping people move out of the abyss and reach their potential.” – Doreen Hills, MS, NCC, LPC, LMHC, EMDR Certified, Director of Center for Healing Trauma and Attachment, and Master Trainer in the Complex Trauma Training Curriculum developed by the SAMHSA-funded Complex Trauma Training Consortium of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
This member-initiative of the Foundation Trust’s Complex Trauma Treatment Affiliates program is being offered through the Complex Trauma Institute, LLC, in partnership with Richmont Graduate University.
To register for the training event, please visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/richmontceevents/event/complextraumasummertraininginstitute/
To download a PDF of the Summer Institute brochure, click here.
The Complex Trauma Treatment Affiliates program is sponsored by the Foundation Trust, a private operating foundation committed to dual missions – to improve understanding and response to complex trauma and adversity worldwide, and to uplift vulnerable and underrepresented communities. To learn more, visit www.FoundationTrust.org.