Special Topics in PE: Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy Among Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Who may attend:  Licensed mental health professionals or those working under a licensed mental health professional who have training in and familiarity with Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD.

Date: Friday, June 3, 2022

Time: 12:30pm — 4:30pm EST

Cost: $250.00 per person

Location:  Zoom webinar

Workshop Description:

Rates of intimate partner violence spiked by as much as 30 - 60% during the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown orders. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in new challenges for survivors of intimate partner violence as their options for leaving the home may be more limited compared to pre-pandemic resources. The increased reports of domestic violence coupled with increased rates of mental health diagnoses, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), necessitate consideration of strategies to optimize therapy for survivors of domestic violence who meet criteria for PTSD.

In this workshop, we discuss barriers to care among survivors of intimate partner violence. We will review guidelines for determining appropriateness for care for survivors of domestic violence. We will present core trauma-related cognitions that are often disrupted among survivors of domestic violence. In addition, we will discuss strategies to attempt to elicit such cognitions in processing to reduce PTSD symptoms. Special considerations around in vivo exposure practice will be discussed in detail, especially in relation to contact with the perpetrator of violence. Examples include a need to be in contact with the perpetrator because of shared custody arrangements or future court appearances. Lastly, we will discuss common points of intersection with the legal system when conducting psychotherapy with a survivor of intimate partner violence.

CE Learning Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize barriers to care among survivors of intimate partner violence
2. Utilize guidelines for determining appropriateness of care for survivors of domestic violence
3. Identify common trauma-related cognitions among survivors of intimate partner violence
4. Revise in vivo exposure practices as needed for survivors of intimate partner violence

About the Presenters: 

Lily Brown, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and Director at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.  Dr. Brown received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology at Drexel University and her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and Learning and Behavior Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  In graduate school, Dr. Brown researched mechanisms of change in fear conditioning and extinction, with a particular focus on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in the Anxiety and Depression Research Center.  She completed her predoctoral internship at Brown University in the Psychosocial Research Department where she completed research on the rate of suicidal behaviors in patients with PTSD.   Dr. Brown’s current research focuses on treatment development and implementation to mitigate suicide risk in patients with anxiety disorders and PTSD.  She specializes in cognitive-behavior therapy for anxiety disorders, including Exposure and Response prevention (EX/RP) for obsessive compulsive disorder, and has been trained in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. 

Lauren Lia, MSW, LCSW, is the Director of Clinical Services at Safe+Sound Somerset- the lead Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault agency in Somerset County, NJ. Lauren received her undergraduate degree in Counseling/Human Services and Theology from the University of Scranton. She went on to receive her Masters of Social Work with a concentration in Violence against Women and Children from Rutgers University. Lauren has clinical experience working with survivors of trauma of all ages. She is certified by CTSA as a Prolonged Exposure Therapist and Consultant and oversees the fidelity of the PE program at Safe+Sound. She is a certified Trauma Focused CBT therapist trained by the CARES Institute at Rowan University. She also provides therapy part-time at a private practice in Hunterdon County, NJ treating adults and youth with anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Webinar workshop requirements:

• You must have utilities, internet service, phone service, and an appropriately private location at your home or office in order to ensure HIPAA compliance.
  • The private location should be free of noise and distractions. (If you are the parent of young children, appropriate child care arrangements must be in place.)
• You must agree to attend each hour of the video conference and agree to use video of yourself during the video conference in order to track attendance.
• You must agree not to copy or distribute workshop materials provided to you in the course of the workshop and not to audio or video-record the workshop in any form.

You will be asked to affirm the previous conditions and your agreement to them prior to the commencement of the workshop.

Continuing Education

Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This program provides four (4) hours of CE credits for psychologists. 

PBTA is also an authorized provider for CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. This program provides four (4) hours of CE credits.

In order to receive continuing education credits, participants must:

• attend each hour of the workshop (no late arrivals or early departures)
• complete a course evaluation

If both of these requirements are met, you will receive a continuing education certificate after the conclusion of the workshop.

Full attendance is required to obtain CE credits for this program. APA guidelines do not permit PBTA to issue partial CE credits. No refunds are provided for CE programs. No exceptions allowed.

Instructions for Registration

Registrations are due one week in advance and must be completed in full. 

To register, complete the online registration.

If you need to withdraw your application for any reason, please email Dr. Sandy Capaldi. Note that workshop fees are non-refundable after the application due date (one week before the start of the workshop).