Radiant Sunshine Training Site

This training will benefit mental health clinicians, social workers, and anyone else who wants to learn about how trauma influences our adult attachment styles and relationships.  The beginning of the course provides an overview of trauma and gives different examples of traumatic experiences.  This leads to a discussion about the ACE study and the ACE Questionnaire.  Those in attendance will have a handout of the ACE questionnaire in order to see the ten questions.  The course will explain the background of the ACE study and why it was conducted.  

The second part of the training involves discussing the four attachment styles; secure, anxious-preoccupied, avoidant-dismissive and fearful-avoidant.  First, attachment therapy will be explained.  The training will explain each style and will describe how individuals with each attachment style interact in adult relationships.  After providing an understanding of attachment, the training will describe how childhood trauma correlates with and causes insecure attachment styles in many people.  

The last part of the training will discuss skills that viewers can either use themselves or that they can use with clients who struggle with relationships due to attachment issues.  The first skill involves utilizing emotional intelligence in order to identify emotions.  Emotional intelligence will be described and a journaling exercise will be explained with the purpose of educating viewers on how to identify emotions.  The second skill is utilizing “I” Statements.  “I” Statements will be explained as well as their importance when increasing healthy communication.  Several examples will be given in order to ensure that those viewing understand the layout of an “I” statement.  The training will end with a summary explaining how identifying emotions and “I” statements can help to increase connection and trust within relationships in order to create healthier attachments.  

Learning Objective: 

• Provide a basic understanding of Childhood Trauma and the ACE Questionnaire 
• Provide information on the four attachment styles and how childhood trauma can shape them and our adult relationships
• Provide an understanding of Emotional Intelligence and how to identify emotions
  • Skill #1: Identifying Emotions 
• Provide knowledge on how communication skills can increase trust within adult relationships
  • Skill #2: Using “I” Statements