Navigating Healing: Approaches to PTSD and Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders

Dr. Debra Kaysen
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February 4, 2027

12:00-4:00pm EDT

Virtual Workshop

Live/Virtual Workshop

3.5 hours of CE

Approved by the American and Canadian Psychological Associations

Pricing

$235 CND*


*Discount coupons available for students with valid ID. Please email education@nelliehealth.com for verification and coupon code.
What you are going to learn

About this course

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) are frequently comorbid and represent a major public health concern (Lai et al., 2015). There are poorer SUD treatment outcomes when comorbid PTSD is untreated, including higher relapse, use, and consequences. Reviews highlight that trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapies (TF-CBT’s) for comorbid PTSD/SUD are more effective for reducing PTSD symptoms and reducing substance use than treatment as usual and other comparison conditions (Simpson et al., 2017). However, for many clinicians, assessment and management of substance use is outside of their typical practice. Providers also may not be aware of integrated treatments for PTSD/SUD.

Dr. Kaysen will review the research evidence regarding the use of trauma-focused CBT’s and integrated PTSD/SUD treatments to address PTSD/SUD. Then she will describe ways to address substance use in the context of providing a trauma-focused CBT. She will discuss ways to assess and monitor use, when not to provide a TF-CBT, and strategies clinicians can use to help clients manage their drinking over the course of a TF-CBT. The objective is to provide clinicians with a model more broadly in applying these strategies to trauma focused cognitive-behavioral interventions while working with comorbid substance use disorders. 

You will learn:

  • The recommended assessments of substance use that can be used before and during trauma-focused CBT.
  • Which individuals may need a higher level of substance use treatment before beginning a trauma-focused intervention.
  • Different motives for substance use, and how they may impact TF-CBT
  • Strategies that can be useful to manage substance use over the course of a trauma-focused intervention. 

Dr. Debra Kaysen

Debra Kaysen, Ph.D., ABPP is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University and the Chief of the Stanford Psychiatry Department Division of Public Mental Health and Population Sciences. Her research focuses on testing effective interventions for individuals affected by traumatic experiences. In particular, her research program is dedicated to addressing comorbidity, enhancing outcomes for diverse populations, and expanding access to care. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based practices, her work integrates clinical research with community-based approaches to enhance mental health outcomes. Dr. Kaysen has conducted multiple clinical trials on the treatment of PTSD and substance use disorders, across interventions including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Written Exposure Therapy, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy, and Relapse Prevention. She has published over 200 journal articles. Dr. Kaysen is a past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies and her clinical work has been featured on This American Life (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions).   





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Conflicts of Interest Disclosure:
Dr. Kaysen is on the scientific board for NEMA Health receiving stock options. She receives royalties for her book Flexible Applications of Cognitive Processing Therapy (Elsevier).

ACA/ADA Accommodations
If you require accommodations on the basis of disability, 
please contact education@nelliehealth.com

Please Download

For all Continuing Education Information on Navigating Healing: Approaches to PTSD and Co-occurring Substance Use Disorders, please click the link below to download.