Learning Wednesday: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Understanding “Big T” and “Little T” Trauma

Course Description:
 

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) contribute to lasting "implicit memories" that belie vulnerabilities to later life stress and trauma. Many of the adult diagnoses, such as depression, borderline personality, anxiety and substance use disorders, have their roots in ACEs. This webinar will discuss the relationship between the Big T and Little T trauma and the implications for later life mental illness, including diagnosis and treatment. 

1. Participants will understand how childhood exposure to trauma affects the brain's functioning.
2. Participants will learn how Little T trauma makes individuals vulnerable to later live mental illness.
3. Participants will learn experiential approaches to dealing with childhood trauma for adolescents and adults.

Presenter:

Dr. Joseph Hunter, PhD, LCSW is a highly experienced and well-educated behavioral health leader with over 16 years of combined state and federal government employment experience, primarily as a subject matter expert in the behavioral health field in the areas of substance use disorders and suicide prevention; he possess strong leadership and team building skills that have contributed to the development of numerous specialized innovations in the areas of clinical practice, research, and treatment programming; and, he is an experienced and talented educator for graduate students, as well as seasoned professionals. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (1989), a Masters Degree in Social Work (1993), and a Ph.D. in Social Work (2010).

In 2005, Dr. Hunter was awarded the SAMHSA Dissertation Grant to complete his study on adolescent substance use disorder treatment. In 2011, Dr. Hunter was selected for two-year post-doctoral fellowship, and as a result was recognized as a VA/Hartford Geriatric Social Work Scholar. This year, Dr. Hunter has received distinguished recognition for his innovative work in behavioral health.

Dr. Hunter serves as the VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY, currently on detail to the National Suicide Prevention Office. In addition, Dr. Hunter joined the University of Southern California (USC) School of Social Work as part-time adjunct lecturer in 2013. Currently, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor, he teaches Masters of Social Work (MSW) courses in the areas of: clinical practice with service members and veterans, evidence-based clinical practice in mental health settings, mental health and human development, and mental health research. He is also an New York State approved provider of online and in-person continuing education for licensed social workers in New York State, offering training privately and for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).