Trauma-Informed Parent Training: Family-Based Treatment for Minors Exposed to Trauma and Adversity
< Live On Zoom>
a Clinical Track Workshop
Parent training (also known as parent management training or behavioral parent training) is a family-based, scientifically-validated intervention to teach caregivers effective parenting strategies to improve their ability to manage child behavior problems and increase functional behavior. Clinical wisdom and scientific evidence, however, do not indicate that behavior problems of children and youth affected by trauma and adversity exposure are the same as ones who aren’t negatively impacted by such adverse experiences (e.g., attention-seeking, tangible reward-seeking, and escape-motivated behavior). Rather, the manifest behaviors are expressions of the child’s emotion dysregulation. Directly addressing this deficient regulatory process makes parent training truly trauma-informed (Navalta, 2022).
This workshop will first review the consequences of exposure to trauma and adversity during childhood and adolescence (i.e., developmental adversity). A trauma-informed lens will then be used to guide clinicians in assessing and conceptualizing cases. Subsequently, the four cornerstones of science-based, effective psychotherapeutic interventions for children with trauma-related symptoms and problems will be covered (i.e., psychoeducation, coping skills, exposure and cognitive restructuring, and parenting support and skills). The workshop will conclude by providing a rationale and step-by-step guide for training parents to improve their children’s ability to regulate their emotions and related behavior.
Presenter: Carryl P. Navalta, Ph. D.
Carryl P. Navalta, Ph.D. is a core faculty member of the Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine Program and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Graduate Medical Sciences at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He has devoted his over 30-year career to the health of children, teenagers, and their families. His work in the field of developmental adversity includes clinical research in assessment, treatment, and neurobiology; numerous articles and book chapters; and presentations to local, regional, national, and international audiences. As an instructor who teaches both didactic and supervision courses, Dr. Navalta educates and trains future mental health counselors to adopt his mantra, "Assess to understand before you intervene."
Saturday December 6, 2025 from 9 am to 12 Noon
[allow 15-30 minutes after the workshop to complete the evaluation]
3 CEUs
Member Student/New Professional [not-yet licensed] $88
Members: $110
Non-members: $150
Registration closes 5 business days before the event even if there are open spaces.
Some workshops have limited 'seats' by request of the presenter.
When that limit is reached, registration will close.
