Breaking the cycle: Integrating trauma-informed approaches into addiction treatment

Trauma and addiction often intertwine deeply, as trauma shapes how individuals experience and cope with substance use. This webinar will examine how various forms of trauma, including societal traumas like racism, stigma, and other systemic oppressions, affect addiction. We will delve into how the body stores trauma and explore how post-traumatic stress perpetuates substance use. Using the Window of Tolerance concept, we will identify states that trigger addictive behaviors.

Participants will also learn about safety as a therapeutic concept, drawing from Lisa Najavits’ Seeking Safety model. They will gain practical tools, including grounding strategies and mindfulness approaches, to help clients manage cravings, prevent relapse, and maintain stability during moments of dysregulation. This includes addressing the powerful role emotions like anger, shame, and anxiety play in perpetuating the trauma-addiction cycle. We will also discuss the impact of trauma from invalidation, including early environmental trauma, societal stigma, and developmental injuries. Additionally, this webinar will introduce the practice of relational mindfulness, offering ways to transform the effects of chronic invalidation and emotional distress.

This learning proves especially timely as the pandemic has increased alcohol and substance use, exacerbating mental health struggles for many. Additionally, the recent expansion of alcohol availability in Ontario convenience stores highlights the urgent need to understand how trauma fuels addiction. It is essential to equip clients with effective tools for managing cravings and preventing relapse.

Learning objectives:

• Enhance understanding of the relationship between trauma and addiction, focusing on how trauma is embodied and influences substance use behaviors.
• Explore the principles of the Window of Tolerance model. Experiential exercises use will strengthen the understanding of safety in substance use treatment.
• Address trauma-driven emotional states that trigger addictive behaviors using grounding and mindfulness techniques to promote emotional awareness and regulation.
• Examine the effects of developmental trauma and invalidation on substance use. Discover how relational mindfulness can help mitigate the impact of chronic invalidation in clients.