Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: A Body-Oriented Approach to Trauma Recovery (Full Day)

 

Population Type: Adults, Trauma Professionals (no specific yoga background required)

Presentation Level: Introductory to Intermediate

Region: Global

 

This workshop provides an exploration of Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), which is a body-oriented practice developed specifically to address trauma recovery. TCTSY is an evidence-based intervention that integrates mindful movement and breath work, aiming to foster a deeper connection between the body and mind. Research indicates that trauma, particularly chronic interpersonal trauma, can have significant and lasting effects on both mental and physical health, and traditional talk therapies may not fully address these somatic symptoms. TCTSY was developed as a complementary treatment to engage the body and facilitate recovery by focusing on present-moment awareness, reducing PTSD symptoms, and supporting emotional regulation.
The workshop will be grounded in the findings from research studies that have demonstrated the efficacy of TCTSY in improving trauma-related symptoms. Studies show that yoga, as a mind-body intervention, can reduce hyperarousal and re-experiencing symptoms and also support personal growth by helping individuals develop skills for interoceptive awareness and emotional regulation. Additionally, TCTSY supports the reclamation of peaceful embodiment, providing individuals with a renewed sense of control, safety, and self-compassion in the aftermath of trauma.

 

This workshop is delivered by: Esther van de Sande, Trauma Therapist, Trainer, and International Speaker with over two decades of expertise in integrating yoga and talk therapy to support trauma recovery  

 

Learning Objectives:

 - Explore the Evidence-Based Foundations of TCTSY: Understand the origins, principles, and research

    supporting Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga as a complementary approach for trauma recovery.
- Understand the Role of the Body and Interoception in Trauma Processing: Gain insights into how trauma

   manifests somatically and the disruption it causes in body awareness. Learn how TCTSY enhances

   interoceptive awareness and self-regulation.
- Develop Research-Informed Practical Skills: Acquire evidence-based techniques for integrating TCTSY into

    therapeutic practice, aiming to improve interoceptive awareness, self-efficacy, and empower trauma

    survivors towards personal growth.
- Connect Trauma, Nervous System, and Body-Based Interventions: Examine how trauma affects the nervous

    system and discover how TCTSY supports autonomic regulation, fostering emotional regulation and

    alleviating post-traumatic stress.


Generative Psychometrics and Generative Health Agents: How to Build AI tools for Psychological Health? (Half Day)

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Population Type: Mental Health Professionals

 

Presentation Level: Relevant to people at all levels. Comfort with public tools to run LLMs and experience with narrative data ideal 

 

Region: Global

Dr. Galatzer-Levy will lead a pre-meeting workshop at ESTSS to walk participants through the process and requirements to using Large Language Models (LLMs) and other generative AI tools to measure psychological states and to design agents to deliver evidence-based treatments. The workshop will focus on use cases related to stress and traumatic stress. Specifically the first half of the workshop will focus on how to build and validate models to measure psychological states ranging from symptoms to emotions to social or internal processes related to stress such as coping and flexibility. Participants will learn how to put conversational data with patients to work to passively measure psychological states from open conversations with patients. Participants are encouraged to bring their own examples to learn through examples that are close to their personal interests. Additionally, the workshop will provide an overview and a similar opportunity to experiment as a group to build basic therapeutic agents based on the attendees’ personal focus. We will discuss the essential elements of health agents, emerging tools for research and real-world deployment, and approaches to validation.

The workshop is facilitated by: Dr. Isaac Galatzer-Levy, Senior Staff Research Scientist at Google
 

Learning Objectives:

1. Introduce key concepts in generative AI and Large Language Models

2. Discuss concrete limitations that are relevant to clinical tool development

3. Introduce approaches to develop and validate the measurement of psychological and psychiatric                strategies using such models

4. Introduce a topic related to the development of conversational agents using Large Language Models along with strategies for validation

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​​The International Trauma Interview: A Training Workshop (Full Day)

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Population Type: Adults

 

Presentation Level: Intermediary

 

Region: Global

 

The 11th version of the diagnostic system, the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems was published by the World Health Organisation in 2018. This system includes a revised version of PTSD, alongside a new diagnosis of complex PTSD (CPTSD). Semi structured interviews have traditionally been seen as the gold standard means of evaluating trauma related disorders in the field. The International Trauma Interview is a newly developed semi-structured interview which assesses symptoms of PTSD, alongside problems associated with disturbance in self-organisation (DSO) which contribute to a diagnosis of CPTSD. This day long PMI will provide an overview of the ICD11 PTSD and CPTSD symptom criteria and provide training in the administration and scoring of the ITI. Training will be informed by rating of video case examples, role play and discussion of scoring challenges. Attendees will have a number of opportunities to practice item scoring in order to become thoroughly familiar with the interview.

 

We will also describe recent evaluations of the ITI in a number of different populations.

The workshop is facilitated by: 

Dr Neil Roberts, Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, UK, Cardiff University, UK and Dr Odeta Gelezelyte, Vilnius University, Lithuania

 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the workshop attendees will be able to:

• Describe the ICD-11 criteria for PTSD & CPTSD

• Identify traumatic events that meet ICD-11 criteria for PTSD & CPTSD

• Rate the frequency and intensity of ICD-11 PTSD symptoms to generate severity scores

• Rate DSO items to generate severity scores

• Generate symptom cluster scores and ascertain whether PTSD & CPTSD diagnostic criteria are met

• Distinguishing traumatic stress in the form of PTSD and CPTSD, from other conditions such as depression and BPD

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One-day Early Career Workshop "Paper in a Day" (Full Day)

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Population Type: Early career academics who have obtained their PhD after 2020 or are in the final stages of submission of their PhD

 

Presentation Level: Expert

 

Region: Global

 

One-day Early Career Workshop

The Paper in a Day workshop aims to foster collaborations between young researchers from around the world. Many of these researchers will be future leaders in the domain of posttraumatic mental health and the field will benefit from their partnerships and teamwork. Paper in a Day is designed to stimulate international connections and the exchange of ideas by working on a tangible outcome: a brief paper for a peer-reviewed journal. This will be an intensive, productive, and enjoyable day. Previous editions have led to journal articles, conference contributions, and lasting contacts. Because Paper in a Day will take place prior to the ESTSS conference, participants will have the opportunity to continue dialogue with colleagues during the rest of the conference.

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At the ESTSS conference in Tbilisi, Paper in a Day will make use of the multi-wave dataset of the ADJUST Study on psychosocial responses to the COVID-19 pandemic (see Lotzin et al., 2020, https://estss.org/adjust). The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) launched this pan-European study with the aim of exploring relationships between COVID-19-related stressors, risk and protective factors, coping strategies, and symptoms of adjustment disorders in affected populations (N~15,000).

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Program

After selection and registration, participants will virtually meet prior to the workshop and discuss a topic based on shared interests and the availability of relevant data. The workshop leaders will facilitate the process from choosing a research question and supervising the workflow to achieving the final product. In the weeks prior to the workshop, participants will individually prepare (e.g., read relevant articles) and draft sections of the paper. The conference workshop will include plenary discussions about the topic and the drafted sections and writing time in subgroups. Following the workshop, the draft will be finalized for submission.

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Commitment

To make the event a success, we ask participants to commit to:

 a) Prepare in advance of the meeting - dedicate ~8 hours prior to the workshop.

 b) Be present for the entire workshop.

 c) Contribute to the further editing and referencing following the workshop.

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How to participate

This event is aimed at early career academics who have obtained their PhD after 2020 or are in the final stages of submission of their PhD. If you would like to participate, please submit the following documents to estss2025@abbey.ie email by 1 April 2025 (seats are limited; selection may apply):

1) A short CV listing your publications and main research interests. Please also let us know if you have an idea for a research question that could be addressed with ADJUST study data to complete a relatively contained empirical paper or commentary.

2) A statement of commitment to the required preparation, attendance and follow-up activities as described.

Please note: Paper in a Day is exclusive to registered ESTSS2025 participants.

The workshop is facilitated by: Prof. Annett Lotzin and Prof. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster

 

Learning Objectives:

• Drafting a journal article, networking.

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Identifying and Enhancing Flexible Self-Regulation Skills (Half Day)

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Population Type: Adult, no specific population

 

Presentation Level: Introductory

 

Region: Global

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Converging research and theory suggest that resilience in the face of adversity requires flexible self-regulation (also known as regulatory flexibility). This process is conceptualized in terms of three serially related abilities. This workshop will first review basic background material, including the conceptual rationale and scientific findings that inform flexible self-regulation. This will be further elaborated and grounded in a set of experiential exercises designed to help participants identify and enhance the component abilities of flexible self-regulation in their own and, if applicable, their clients lives.

The workshop is facilitated by: George Bonanno, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Columbia University

 

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the relationship between flexible self-regulation and resilience

2. Identify and understand the components of flexible self-regulation

3. Utilize and enhance the components of flexible self-regulation in daily life

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How to Find, Re-use, and Share Data for Broader Impact: Practical Tools and Tips for FAIR Data (Full Day)

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Population Type: No specific population

Presentation Level: Intermediate

Region: Global

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Making research data more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable) can broaden the impact of our work and help us answer new research questions.  FAIR data practices help avoid duplication of research efforts and reduce participant burden.  Data sharing and harmonization enable researchers to undertake integrated analyses of individual participant data across studies, and to expand coverage of groups underrepresented in individual studies.  FAIR data can advance translational science for PTSD and traumatic stress. Only with large scale, cross-study datasets can we determine more definitively “what works best for whom” and address the unmet needs of many vulnerable or historically underrepresented groups. Yet many of us struggle to understand what FAIR data practices could look like for our research teams and how these practices can fit into existing workflows. 
This interactive full-day workshop will help researchers identify feasible initial steps to find, re-use, and share data for greater impact. Participants will gain practical tools and strategies for their own lab and projects. Presented by the Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress (GCTS) FAIR Data Workgroup, the workshop is designed for researchers at any career stage who are curious about FAIR data or want to implement more FAIR research practices.  Presenters have hands-on experience implementing FAIR practices in our own work and integrating cross-study data to conduct novel analyses.  
Agenda for the day: We will provide a practical overview of FAIR data principles as applied to traumatic stress research.  Brief presentations will address key points in the research data lifecycle: managing ethics and consent for data sharing and re-use, organizing your data to be ready for re-use by yourself and others, and how and where to share your data or find re-usable data resources.  We will share specific strategies to overcome challenges for data sharing and data re-use, and examples of conducting integrative data analyses/meta-analyses with individual participant data from a range of trauma research - including RCTs as well as prospective studies.  We will introduce the GCTS FAIR Data Toolkit and engage participants in interactive exercises to identify feasible strategies to make their own data practices more FAIR. Participants are invited to bring their questions and materials (e.g., consent forms, data management plans) for discussion.
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The workshop is facilitated by:

Anke de Haan - Ruhr University Bochum
Denise Hien - Rutgers University
Nancy Kassam-Adams - Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Trauma Data Institute
Nino Makhashvili – Ilia State University
Justina Pociunaite – University of Twente
Yaara Sadeh – University of Haifa and Trauma Data Institute
 

Learning Objectives:
After this workshop, participants will be able to
1)    Describe how the FAIR data principles are relevant for their own work
2)    Identify at least two practical ways to make their own research practices more FAIR (i.e., more aligned with

        FAIR data principles)
3)    Identify at least one potential personal or professional benefit of making data practices more FAIR

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Prolonged grief in adults and children: assessment, theory, and treatment (Full Day)

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Population Type:  Bereaved adult and children

Presentation Level: Intermediate

Region: Global

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Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) is a trauma- and stressor related disorder, newly included in DSM-5-TR and ICD-11. It occurs in an estimated 5% of people experiencing the death of a close person. Risk factors include close relationship to the lost person and circumstances of the death—with traumatizing circumstances considerably elevating the change of developing PGD (plus symptoms of PTSD, depression, and other disorders). Increasing clinical and research work has increased our understanding of how to diagnose and treat PGD. In this workshop a state-of-the-art overview of the phenomenology, diagnostic assessment, underlying psychological mechanisms, and psychological treatments of PGD will be given. Attention will be paid both to adults, as well as children and adolescent. Issues addressed include: 

•    What are differences between PGD and “healthy” grief?
•    What instruments and methods can be used to assess PGD and associated problems?
•    What are risk factors and protective factors (and why is it useful for bereavement care to have

     knowledge on these matters)?
•    When are preventive and curative treatments indicated?
•    How can PGD best be treated from a cognitive behavioral perspective?
•    What are advances in online treatment?

This interactive workshop combines research (e.g., presenting research findings) with practice (e.g., training with screening instruments, providing case examples, demonstrating treatment materials, and conducting role-play exercises).

 

The workshop is facilitated by
Prof. dr. Paul A. Boelen, Utrecht University, ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, The Netherlands
Dr. Lonneke I.M. Lenferink, University of Twente, The Netherlands

 

Learning Objectives
After this workshop the attendees:

1.    Have a better understanding of risk factors for prolonged grief
2.    Are able to recognize and diagnose prolonged grief
3.    Can differentiate prolonged grief from posttraumatic stress disorder and depression
4.    Increased their knowledge on treatment options for prolonged grief
5.    Expanded their treatment skills for prolonged grief
 

 

Treating patients with trauma-related disorders and substance abuse (Full Day)

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Population Type: Adults with trauma-related disorders and substance use problems

Presentation Level: Introductory/Intermediate

Region: Global

The co-occurrence of trauma-related disorders and substance use disorders (SUDs) presents a challenge in clinical settings, as trauma often underlies substance abuse and vice versa. Individuals with trauma histories may turn to substances as a coping mechanism, while substance abuse can exacerbate or mask the symptoms of trauma, creating a cycle that is difficult to break. As a result, clinicians often must adopt an integrated treatment approach that addresses both disorders simultaneously. This workshop will provide an evidence-based framework for clinicians working with patients experiencing both trauma-related disorders and substance abuse. Key therapeutic modalities such as trauma-focused interventions, and approaches that address more complex consequences of early trauma will be examined for their application in dual-diagnosis cases. Attendees will learn how to tailor these interventions to meet the unique needs of patients with co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders, considering factors such as the severity of trauma, current substance use patterns, and the patient's readiness for change. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain practical tools for treating individuals with both trauma and substance use disorders, while understanding the clinical complexities involved in integrated care.

 

The workshop is facilitated by: Prof. Dr. med. Ingo Schäfer, MPH - Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the relationship between trauma-related disorders and substance use, as well as typical

    needs of patients with this dual diagnosis.
2. Identify effective treatment strategies for dual-diagnosis patients, including trauma-focused

    interventions and approaches to address the more complex consequences of trauma  
3. Develop skills for creating a trauma-informed therapeutic environment that addresses both trauma

    and substance abuse.
4. Recognize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural competence in treating

     trauma and substance abuse.

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Making sense of trauma treatment in difficult times with Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD (Full Day)

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Population: Adult
Presentation level: Intermediate
Region: Global

This workshop focuses on the BEPP protocol (Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for PTSD), a flexible, evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the current context marked by war, political unrest, and climate threats, many individuals are experiencing increased stress and anxiety, sleep problems, nightmares and changes in their world view. The workshop provides tools for understanding and processing these feelings and changes in perspectives (for instance in relationships, sense of self, and the future). Some of these techniques are specifically applied when a trauma survivor has developed PTSD, but other techniques can be applied on a wider scale and this distinction is what this workshop focuses on. The therapist stimulates the patient to reflect not only on the traumatic experiences but also on one’s own reactions and emotions and one’s life story. Difficult feelings are addressed in imaginal exposure and in letters. After the emotions have been expressed, the lessons that can be learned from traumatic experiences emerge and facilitate the integration of the traumatic experiences in autobiographical memory. Seeing the positive aspects of traumatic experiences, also termed posttraumatic growth, enables people to become more resilient. 
The workshop will consist of the following elements:

•    Introduction to the BEPP protocol through an interactive presentation (Berthold Gersons)
•    Illustration of techniques using practical examples (Ellen Minkenberg, Mirjam Mink-Nijdam)
•    Role-playing exercises to familiarize participants with key elements of BEPP (all)
•    Group discussion on participants’ cases and the application of BEPP (all)
•    Concluding presentation on the further development of BEPP and other trauma-focused treatments

     (Mirjam Mink-Nijdam)

 

The workshop is facilitated by:  

Prof.Dr. Berthold Gersons - Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers and former senior scientific advisor ARQ National Psychotrauma Center
Dr. Mirjam Mink-Nijdam - Licensed Psychologist and Assistant Professor, ARQ Centrum’45 and Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Dept of Psychiatry
Ellen Minkenberg - Psychiatrist, ARQ Centrum 45, The Netherlands

 

Learning Objectives:

•    Participants will become familiar with the BEPP protocol and its underlying theory.
•    Attendees will learn how to apply BEPP techniques in their own practice.
•    A discussion will be held regarding the suitability of BEPP for participants' specific cases.
•    The workshop will provide insights into post-traumatic growth and resilience-building.

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TENTS Guidelines in practice and time perspective (Half Day)

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Population Type: Disaster survivors, first responders, mental health care providers, decision makers, civil society activists
Presentation Level: Intermediate
Region: Global

The workshop will start with a short presentation of the TENTS Guidelines, including the background, development. This will be followed by real-case examples of implementation of the guidelines in the flooding and the earthquake disaster. Next, the participants will be offered to exercise the planning of the stepped-up intervention based on the TENTS Guidelines in a case of a middle-size critical event. Specific triage and mental health screening procedures for identifying high-risk cases in mass traumatic events will be presented. In the last part of the workshop participants will be invited to critically review usefulness of the guidelines from their job viewpoint and share and utility of the guidelines in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases in case of a major emergency or a disaster.
 

The workshop is facilitated by:  Dean Ajdukovic - Department of Psychology, University of Zagreb, Croatia
 

Learning Objectives:

1.    To understand the core contents of the TENTS Guidelines.
2.    To become able to use the TENTS Guidelines in planning and responding to a major emergency or a

       disaster.
3.    To assess the TENTS guidelines utility from the perspective of own job responsibility and professional

       position.