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.