Post-Traumatic Growth vs. Pathology and its Impact on Mental Health and Functioning

DESCRIPTION

This presentation will discuss the impact of trauma on individuals and their mental health and wellness. Trauma presents the possibility for the onset of pathology and mental health challenges, but also for post-traumatic growth and renewal. Coping mechanisms individuals use can include maladaptive choices leading to pathology or pro-social and adaptive behaviors leading to personal growth. Trauma-informed approaches to helping individuals develop emotional grit are effective in preventing or reducing pathology. The decline in mental health functioning has been attributed to increased intervention from the legal system, which often is not able to effectively address the root causes of issues which often include unresolved trauma.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Increase knowledge of trauma-informed care as applied to mental health
• Gain a deeper understanding of post-traumatic growth vs. pathology and its impact on mental health
• Provide examples of outcomes of individuals experiencing trauma and the potential impact of the legal system on the individuals

PRESENTER

Mark Lepore, Ed.D, is a Professor in the Department of Counseling at Pennsylvania Western University/Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He has extensive knowledge of counseling supervision gained from both his academic work and more than 20 years of clinical practice. Dr. Lepore’s areas of specialty include crisis counseling, grief and loss counseling, trauma-informed care, and narrative therapy.

Closed Registration: Not open to the public. This training is in partnership with the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health.