Trauma-Informed Care in Substance/Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Programming

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to:

• Recall prevalence and issues related to trauma in people with substance/opioid use disorders
• Define trauma informed counseling for specific populations and why it is important
• Identify trauma informed approaches in counseling different populations with substance/opioid use disorder
• Define the role of adverse childhood experiences in human development and the impact on later substance/opioid use disorders in these specific populations
• Recognize the impacts of trauma on the brain and nervous system
• Define the window of tolerance in signs and symptoms
• Recognize the role of specific strategies in counseling skills for addressing underlying symptoms with specialized populations
• Identify re-traumatizaton and how to prevent it in working with clients with substance/opioid use disorders
• Identify how to introduce resiliency and self-compassion in their work as counselors

Instructors: Theresa Ritz, MS, LMHC, MCAP and Laurel O’Neal Thornton, MA, LPC

Ms. Ritz is a licensed mental health counselor and a master's level certified addiction professional. She has training in CBT, EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and other interventions. She incorporates integrative methods such as mindfulness, guided imagery, and experiential techniques into therapy sessions. Ms. Ritz received her MS in Rehabilitation Counseling and her JD from WVU and is now teaching for the CRMHC program part time.

Ms. Thornton is the owner of Whole Brain Solutions in Morgantown, where she provides services as a neuro-psychotherapist, clinical supervisor, and EMDR Consultant. She takes an integrative approach to healing and work with the whole person not just a set of symptoms. Ms. Thornton received her MA in Counseling from WVU and is a licensed professional counselor and ALPS.