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Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Chronic Self-Defeating Behaviors

May 23, 2025

10:00 AM - 1:15 PM (EST)

Virtual Event
3 CE Credits
Clients with unresolved trauma and chronic mental health challenges often struggle with emotional regulation due to prolonged suppression and dissociation, disrupting the mind-body connection.In this workshop, Mrs. Caldwell Engle will explore the ACEs study, identify four key factors linked to chronic self-defeating patterns, and illustrate them with case vignettes. She will also introduce integrative treatment techniques and conclude with a Q&A session.
Clients who have a history of unresolved trauma and struggle with chronic mental health issues have a difficult time identifying, tolerating, and regulating their feelings.  Self-defeating behaviors are often developed in an attempt to escape/distract from this emotional pain. If mixed with feelings of shame/worthlessness, this toxic combination can create cyclical patterns that are difficult to resolve without clear understanding of the function behind them.  In this workshop, Mrs. Caldwell Engle will also discuss the emotional impact of unresolved trauma, suppression, and dissociation.  She will review the Adverse Childhood Experience scale (ACE’s) and identify 4 common variables seen in people who struggle with chronic self-defeating patterns and mental illness.  She will also describe how to take an emotional inventory to help identify familial self-defeating patterns of maladaptive emotional expression.  Mrs. Caldwell Engle will review many different types of self-defeating patterns and provide case vignettes for clarity and understanding.  She will also review the “Spectrum of emotions” which will illustrate the effects of self-defeating behaviors on the mind/body feedback loop.  She will provide integrative treatment techniques and allow time for Q & A.

This live interactive webinar is designed for behavioral health professionals, including:

Counselors

Social Workers

Psychotherapists

Marriage & Family Therapists

Psychologists

Substance Use Disorders Counselors

Case Managers

Physicians

Other Mental Health Professionals

Melissa Caldwell Engle, LPC, ATR

Melissa Caldwell Engle is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Art Therapist (ATR). She has over 30 years of experience treating trauma, mental health diagnoses, and addictions. She was the past Executive Director of the Ross Institute for Psychological Trauma for 24 years. In this role, Mrs. Caldwell Engle clinically managed three nationally recognized inpatient programs directed by Colin A. Ross M.D. She was involved in the development and implementation of the Trauma Model and its integration into the programs’ treatment milieu. She was actively involved in the development of the Trauma Model Certification process and co-presented, past and present, with Dr. Ross for the last 20 years.
She is also a co-founder of the Trauma Recovery Associates (TRA 2002) a program created in response to the Catholic Church’s sex abuse scandal in 2002. TRA has since grown with its focus being to educate and foster the development of organizational leaders, human service providers, and trauma survivors themselves to respond more effectively to the impact of childhood trauma on individuals and society. In addition, Mrs. Caldwell Engle has also worked in private practice for 18 years. She has worked with all mental health symptoms and diagnoses including Depression, Dual-Diagnose, Anxiety, Bi-Polar, PTSD, Eating Disorders, OCD, Dissociative Disorders and Addictions. She has specialized training in trauma-related symptoms, Dissociative Disorders, and women’s issues. She has years of experience treating clients at both the individual and group levels.
With her extensive years of experience in the behavioral health arena and her specialization in trauma, Mrs. Caldwell Engle created the Integrated Addiction Model used at Healing Springs Ranch today. This truly integrated approach addresses all addictive patterns and underlying co-occurring mental health diagnoses. In addition to her administrative role at Healing Springs Ranch, Mrs. Caldwell Engle has an active role in the treatment program and family intensives. She teaches a weekly didactic and experiential group. She is involved in case consultation, program development, program management, marketing, clinical supervision, and training. She is an internationally recognized educator and speaker, on the effects of trauma, addiction, and the comorbid client.
Mrs. Caldwell Engle has a unique way of combining theory with treatment techniques, emphasizing experiential treatment modalities. This combination allows her to reach a broad audience of clinicians, clients, and laypeople. Her humor and case examples create a highly entertaining presentation style, making her a recognized and sought-after international speaker.

After this training, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize familial patterns of maladaptive emotional expression.
  • Describe the role of suppression and dissociation inherent in chronic self-defeating behaviors.
  • Redefine shame from a functional perspective.

10:00 -10:05 am – Introduction

10:05-10:30 am –Review Functional vs. Behavioral Model

10:30-11:00 am – What is Trauma and ACE’s

11:00-11:30 am – Forms of suppression

11:30-11:45 am – Break

11:45-12:15 pm – Forms of suppression cont…

12:15-12:45 pm – Spectrum of Emotions

12:45-1:05 – Addiction Blueprint and Emotional Inventory

1:05-1:15 – Q&A

Intermediate to advanced.

Registration $65 | May 23, 2025 | Virtual Event | 3 CE Credits | 10:00 am – 1:15 pm ET

Registration Deadline:  May 23, 2025

Cancellation Policy

You may request to cancel your registration for a future credit up to 72 hours before the event’s date and time.  Cancellation requests made within 24 hours of the event date/time will not receive a transfer. When you register for an event, you agree to these terms.

A total of 3 CE credits are available.

Additional Approvals Pending.

ASWB ACE

Clinical Events, LLC, (provider # 2201) is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 11/01/2024 – 11/01/2025.

NBCC

Clinical Events, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved   Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7643 Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Clinical Events, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

NY State Board of Social Workers

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0828.

NY State Board of Mental Health Counselors

Clinical Events, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0329.

 

NJ State Board of Social Workers & Professional Counselors

New Jersey Social Work Examiners Board accepts ASWB ACE Provider credits.

New Jersey Professional Counselors Board accepts NBCC-approved CE provider credits.

 

All Other States

All other states accept ASWB ACE Provider credits and NBCC-approved CE provider credits. Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their jurisdictions. States and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

 

Canada Social Workers

BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC accept ASWB ACE-approved provider programs to meet licensure renewal requirements.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

 

Canada Counsellors

Clinical Events is an NBCC-approved provider.  Licensees are responsible for determining whether courses meet the CE requirements in their province. Provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for credit.

Melissa Caldwell receives a speaking honorarium from Clinical Events, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

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