Free Resources
Click here to register for upcoming webinars and access the Webinar Store for Continuing Education credits (CEs). Stay up to date with the latest in traumatic stress studies and clinical practice through live and on-demand expert-led sessions.
Looking for complimentary materials? Scroll down to explore a wide range of free online resources, including recording sessions from previous annual meetings and webinars.
🎥 Free Webinars
Screening in Trauma-Prone Organisations: To Screen or Not to Screen? Depends on What You Mean
This webinar delves into the complexities of mental health screening within trauma-exposed workplaces. It examines contemporary evidence on the effectiveness of mental health screening methodologies and discusses how such screenings can be integrated into a comprehensive program of evidence-based preventive measures for organizations operating in high-stress environments.
Intergenerational Effects of Trauma Exposure: Behavioral and Biological Mechanisms of Transmission
This webinar delves into how trauma experienced in childhood can have lasting neurobiological impacts not only on the individual but also on subsequent generations. It offers a focused perspective on the physiological aspects of trauma transmission, utilizing tools like functional MRI (fMRI) and fear-potentiated startle responses. Additionally, the session explores behavioral mechanisms, such as maternal warmth, and biological factors, including epigenetics, that contribute to the intergenerational transmission of trauma.
Climate Change and Trauma
This webinar explores the profound mental health impacts of climate change, highlighting how both sudden disasters and gradual environmental shifts can lead to traumatic stress. It delves into the ways climate change exacerbates existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. The session also discusses the importance of resilience-building and collective action in mitigating these effects and promoting mental well-being.
Elephant in the Room
This webinar addresses the complexities clinicians face when sociocultural issues—such as race, culture, current events, and policies—emerge during therapy sessions. It offers strategies for navigating these conversations, emphasizing the importance of cultural competence and sensitivity in mental health treatment.
Trauma and Minority Stress Among Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) Communities
This webinar explores the unique challenges faced by transgender and gender diverse individuals, focusing on the impact of trauma and minority stress on their mental health. It delves into the systemic barriers and societal factors contributing to these stressors and discusses strategies for providing effective, affirming care to TGD populations.
Opportunities and Challenges for the Traumatic Stress Community to Assist Those Affected by the War in Ukraine
This webinar highlights the opportunities and challenges faced by traumatic stress professionals in assisting individuals affected by the war in Ukraine. It delves into the complexities of providing mental health support in conflict zones, addressing both immediate and long-term needs of those impacted by the crisis.
Trauma from an Intersectional Perspective
This webinar delves into how overlapping identities—such as race, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and disability—shape individuals' experiences of trauma and access to care. A panel of international experts discusses the compounded effects of systemic oppression and marginalization, offering insights into culturally responsive and inclusive approaches to trauma-informed care.
Resilience in Perilous Times: Pathways to the Future
In this keynote address from the ISTSS 35th Annual Meeting, University of Minnesota Regents Professor Ann S. Masten, PhD, LP, explores decades of resilience research to provide a roadmap for navigating periods of historic turbulence. Dr. Masten discusses how systems—individuals, families, and communities—adapt successfully to challenges, offering insights into fostering resilience amidst adversity.
🎓 Expert Presentations & Supporting Materials
Toward Informing a Developmentally Sensitive DSM-5: Empirical Validations of the Diagnostic Criteria for PTSD and ASD Among Preschool, School-Age, and Adolescent Samples
This presentation explores the need for developmentally appropriate diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children, particularly preschool-aged individuals. It discusses the limitations of existing DSM-IV criteria in capturing PTSD symptoms in young children and introduces the PTSD-Alternative Algorithm (PTSD-AA) as a more suitable framework. The session emphasizes the importance of tailoring diagnostic approaches to the developmental stages of children to ensure accurate identification and effective intervention.
World Health Organization Preparation of ICD-11: Clinical Utility of Diagnostic Criteria for Trauma Related Disorders, Part 1
In this presentation, Dr. Michael B. First, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and consultant to the WHO Secretariat, provides an overview of the revisions to the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) concerning mental and behavioral disorders. The slides detail the principles guiding the revision, emphasizing clinical utility, global applicability, and stakeholder collaboration. Key topics include the hierarchical structure of ICD-11, differences between ICD and DSM systems, and the timeline for implementation.
Dr. Chris Brewin of University College London discusses proposed changes to the classification of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in ICD-11. The presentation critiques the limitations of DSM-IV and ICD-10 in diagnosing PTSD and introduces a streamlined definition focusing on three core elements: re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal. The slides also address the importance of cultural considerations and the need for diagnostic criteria that enhance clinical utility and reduce comorbidity.
World Health Organization Preparation of ICD-11: Clinical Utility of Diagnostic Criteria for Trauma-Related Disorders, Part 2
This presentation, led by Dr. Andreas Maercker, Professor of Psychopathology at the University of Zurich, provides an in-depth overview of the revisions to trauma and stress-related disorders in the ICD-11. The slides delve into the rationale behind the changes, emphasizing the importance of clinical utility, global applicability, and stakeholder collaboration in the revision process. Key topics include the integration of relevant disorders, the focus on simplifying diagnostic criteria, and the efforts to make the classification system more accessible to frontline health workers worldwide.
Public Mental Health as the Future Paradigm for our Trauma Societies
In this presentation, Dr. Joop de Jong explores the shift from individual-focused trauma care to a public mental health approach that addresses the psychological needs of entire populations exposed to traumatic stressors. He emphasizes the importance of ecological resilience, cultural sensitivity, and task-shifting strategies to enhance mental health support in both high-income and low-resource settings. The slides provide insights into prevention, resilience-building, and the redefinition of professional competencies to better serve communities affected by disasters, conflicts, and other large-scale traumatic events.