This live event takes place Saturday, September 27, 10 am-2 pm EDT (7 am-11 am PDT).
This course explores the principles and practices of a new trauma-informed healthcare system and how we can be a part of that transformative change today. Participants will review the prevalence and impact of chronic pain and trauma in society to help understand the implications this can have on our clients. The course provides clear guidelines for maintaining professional boundaries while effectively supporting those experiencing pain and trauma. The curriculum includes an in-depth study of the autonomic nervous system, focusing on the vagus nerve’s role in stress, connection, and safety. Additionally, participants will learn about polyvagal theory and its application in working with clients suffering from trauma and chronic pain. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adopt a trauma-informed perspective in their professional practice, promoting better outcomes for their clients and themselves.
This live webinar is designed for mental and behavioral health professionals who would benefit from enhanced knowledge and skills related to the role of trauma-informed care for patients with pain.
The purpose of this course is to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for healthcare professionals to identify symptoms and collaborate with other professionals to create a holistic approach toward health care.
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Define trauma and chronic pain, including their prevalence and impacts
- Identify what trauma-informed care is and how we can implement its principles while staying within our scope of practice
- Recall expected outcomes from implementing trauma-informed pain care
- Identify polyvagal theory and its application in working with clients in pain and trauma
Jess Mather, CPT, LPTA. SFG, FRCms, FMS, is a strength and rehabilitation professional dedicated to helping individuals experience less limitation, pain, fear, and insecurity in their bodies. With over 13 years of experience, she has supported thousands of clients aged 9 to over 99, witnessing firsthand the body's remarkable ability to adapt, strengthen, and heal. Since 2015, Jess has operated a successful telehealth practice, offering private coaching, courses, and group programs to clients in over a dozen countries. Her expertise extends to educating other therapists and healthcare providers on effectively supporting patients with complex chronic pain, trauma, and stress.
Contributing faculty, Jess Mather, CPT, LPTA. SFG, FRCms, FMS, has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Kimberly Byrd, EdD, PMSW
Scott Deatherage, PhD
Candace Pierce, DNP, RN, CNE, COI
Leyna Antonucci, PT, DPT
John Makopoulos, MD
Nicholas Bertoni, MD
The division planners have disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
Sarah Campbell
The Director of Development and Academic Affairs has disclosed no relevant financial relationship with any product manufacturer or service provider mentioned.
The purpose of NetCE is to provide challenging curricula to assist healthcare professionals to raise their levels of expertise while fulfilling their continuing education requirements, thereby improving the quality of healthcare.
Our contributing faculty members have taken care to ensure that the information and recommendations are accurate and compatible with the standards generally accepted at the time of publication. The publisher disclaims any liability, loss or damage incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents. Participants are cautioned about the potential risk of using limited knowledge when integrating new techniques into practice.
It is the policy of NetCE not to accept commercial support. Furthermore, commercial interests are prohibited from distributing or providing access to this activity to learners.
Supported browsers for Windows include Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 and up, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Supported browsers for Macintosh include Safari, Mozilla Firefox 3.0 and up, Opera 9.0 and up, and Google Chrome. Other operating systems and browsers that include complete implementations of ECMAScript edition 3 and CSS 2.0 may work, but are not supported. Supported browsers must utilize the TLS encryption protocol v1.1 or v1.2 in order to connect to pages that require a secured HTTPS connection. TLS v1.0 is not supported.
The role of implicit biases on healthcare outcomes has become a concern, as there is some evidence that implicit biases contribute to health disparities, professionals' attitudes toward and interactions with patients, quality of care, diagnoses, and treatment decisions. This may produce differences in help-seeking, diagnoses, and ultimately treatments and interventions. Implicit biases may also unwittingly produce professional behaviors, attitudes, and interactions that reduce patients' trust and comfort with their provider, leading to earlier termination of visits and/or reduced adherence and follow-up. Disadvantaged groups are marginalized in the healthcare system and vulnerable on multiple levels; health professionals' implicit biases can further exacerbate these existing disadvantages.
Interventions or strategies designed to reduce implicit bias may be categorized as change-based or control-based. Change-based interventions focus on reducing or changing cognitive associations underlying implicit biases. These interventions might include challenging stereotypes. Conversely, control-based interventions involve reducing the effects of the implicit bias on the individual's behaviors. These strategies include increasing awareness of biased thoughts and responses. The two types of interventions are not mutually exclusive and may be used synergistically.
#9620L: Understanding and Implementing Trauma-Informed Care for Clients in Pain
This course explores the principles and practices of a new trauma-informed healthcare system and how we can be a part of that transformative change today. Participants will review the prevalence and impact of chronic pain and trauma in society to help understand the implications this can have on our clients. The course provides clear guidelines for maintaining professional boundaries while effectively supporting those experiencing pain and trauma. The curriculum includes an in-depth study of the autonomic nervous system, focusing on the vagus nerve's role in stress, connection, and safety. Additionally, participants will learn about polyvagal theory and its application in working with clients suffering from trauma and chronic pain. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adopt a trauma-informed perspective in their professional practice, promoting better outcomes for their clients and themselves.
The slides from this webinar are available here.
1. American Psychological Association. Trauma and Shock. Available at https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma.
2. ATrain Education. Barriers to Effective Pain Management. Available at https://www.atrainceu.com/content/18-barriers-effective-pain-management.
3. ATrain Education. The Physiology of Pain. Available at https://www.atrainceu.com/content/5-physiology-pain.
4. Behan C. The benefits of meditation and mindfulness practices during times of crisis such as Covid-19. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 2020;37(4):1-8.
5. Borckardt JJ, Kozel FA, Anderson B, Walker A, George MS. Vagus nerve stimulation affects pain perception in depressed adults. Pain Research and Management. 2005;10(1):9-14.
6. Bornstein MH, Esposito G. Coregulation: a multilevel approach via biology and behavior. Children. 2023;10(8):1323.
7. Marx B. The Importance of the Peritraumatic Experience in Defining Traumatic Stress. Available at https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2010-24180-001.
9. Caravaca AS, Gallina AL, Tarnawski L, Tracey KJ, Pavlov VA, Levine YA, Olofsson PS. An effective method for acute vagus nerve stimulation in experimental inflammation. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2019;13.
10. Caravaca AS, Gallina AL, Tarnawski L, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation promotes resolution of inflammation by a mechanism that involves Alox15 and requires the α7nAChR subunit. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2022;119(22).
11. Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. Types of Traumatic Experiences. Available at https://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/mod1_3.html.
12. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Understanding the Impact of Trauma. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191.
13. Cleveland Clinic. Chronic Pain. Available at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4798-chronic-pain.
14. Courties A, Berenbaum F, Sellam J. Vagus nerve stimulation in musculoskeletal diseases. Joint Bone Spine. 2021;88(3):105149.
15. Dabiri B, Kampusch S, Geyer SH, et al. High-resolution episcopic imaging for visualization of dermal arteries and nerves of the auricular cymba conchae in humans. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 2020;14:22.
16. Dana D. The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company; 2018.
17. Daoust R, Paquet J, Moore L, et al. Early factors associated with the development of chronic pain in trauma patients. Pain Research and Management. 2018;2018:1-8.
18. Frangos E, Richards EA, Bushnell MC. Do the psychological effects of vagus nerve stimulation partially mediate vagal pain modulation? Neurobiology of Pain. 2017;1:37-45.
19. Funeka FP, Nyalunga SLN, Morongwa MM, Vangile BM. Chronic pain: its impact on the quality of life and gender. Frontiers in Pain Research. 2023;4.
20. Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. Types of Traumatic Experiences. Available at https://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/mod1_3.html.
21. Goggins E, Mitani S, Tanaka S. Clinical perspectives on vagus nerve stimulation: present and future. Clinical Science. 2022;136(9):695-709.
22. Gordon A, Ziv A. The Way Out: A Revolutionary, Scientifically Proven Approach to Healing Chronic Pain. New York, NY: Avery; 2021.
23. Hadiprodjo N. Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Vheory and Attachment Theory to Play Therapy for Children with Developmental Trauma. Available at https://pure.roehampton.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/1285083/Clinical_applications_of_the_Polyvagal_theory_and_Attachment_theory_to_Play_Therapy_for_children_with_Developmental_Trauma.pdf.
24. Hanazawa H. Polyvagal theory and its clinical potential: an overview. Brain and Nerve. 2022;74(8):1011-1016.
25. National Council for Behavioral Health. How to Manage Trauma. Available at https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Trauma-infographic.pdf.
26. Institute of Medicine Committee on Pain. The Anatomy and Physiology of Pain. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219252.
27. Kadović M, Miksić S, Lovrić R. Ability of emotional regulation and control as a stress predictor in healthcare professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022;20(1):541.
28. Kendroud S, Fitzgerald LA, Murray I, Hanna A. Physiology, Nociceptive Pathways. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
29. King NB, Fraser V. Untreated pain, narcotics regulation, and global health ideologies. PLoS Medicine. 2013;10(4):e1001411.
30. Lemonada Media. Trauma, with Dr. Gabor Maté. Available at https://lemonadamedia.com/podcast/trauma-with-dr-gabor-mate.
31. Levine PA. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. New York, NY: North Atlantic Books; 1997.
32. Marin TJ, Lewinson RE, Hayden JA, Mahood Q, Rossi MA, Rosenbloom B, Katz J. A systematic review of the prospective relationship between child maltreatment and chronic pain. Children. 2021;8(9):806.
33. Meints SM, Edwards RR. Evaluating psychosocial contributions to chronic pain outcomes. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. 2018;87(87):168-182.
34. Michigan Medicine. The Role of Early Life Trauma in Chronic Pain Patients. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcVglzuTH1A.
35. National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention. Childhood Trauma and Its Effect on Healthy Development. Available at https://edn.ne.gov/cms/sites/default/files/u1/pdf/se14Childhood%20Trauma%20%26%20Its%20Effect%20on%20Healthy%20Development.pdf.
36. National Center for PTSD. Chronic Pain and PTSD: A Guide for Patients. Available at https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/related/chronic_pain.asp.
37. National Council for Mental Wellbeing. How to Manage Trauma. Available at https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/resources/how-to-manage-trauma-2.
38. Nyulangone.org. Diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Available at https://nyulangone.org/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/diagnosis.
39. Omoigui S. The biochemical origin of pain: the origin of all pain is inflammation and the inflammatory response. Part 2 of 3 – Inflammatory profile of pain syndromes. Medical Hypotheses. 2017;69(6):1169-1178.
40. Ozel Asliyuce Y, Berberoglu U, Ulger O. Is cervical region tightness related to vagal function and stomach symptoms? Medical Hypotheses. 2020;142:109819.
41. Payne P, Levine PA, Crane-Godreau MA. Somatic experiencing: using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology. 2015;6(93):1-18.
42. Porges SW. Polyvagal theory: a science of safety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. 2012;16:871227.
43. Porges SW. The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. New York, NY: Norton; 2011.
44. Porges SW. The polyvagal theory: new insights into adaptive reactions of the autonomic nervous system. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2009;76(Suppl_2):S86-S90.
45. Rankin L. What is the Bio-Psycho-Social Model of Pain? Available at https://europeanpainfederation.eu/what-is-the-bio-psycho-social-model-of-pain.
46. Roelofs K. Freeze for action: Neurobiological mechanisms in animal and human freezing. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2017;372(1718):20160206.
47. Ruscio M. What is Vagal Tone and How to Improve Yours. Available at https://drruscio.com/vagal-tone.
49. SAMHSA. Understanding the Impact of Trauma. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK207191.
50. Saunders KRK, McGuinness E, Barnett P, et al. A scoping review of trauma informed approaches in acute, crisis, emergency, and residential mental health care. BMC Psychiatry. 2023;23(1).
51. Seifert O, Baerwald C. Stimulation of the vagus nerve as a therapeutic principle. Z Rheumatol. 2024;83(Suppl 1):1-7.
52. Shao P, Li H, Jiang J, Guan Y, Chen X, Wang Y. Role of vagus nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic pain. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2023;30(1):167-183.
53. Sherin JE, Nemeroff CB. Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 2011;13(3):263-278.
54. Sun Y, Qu Y, Zhu J. The relationship between inflammation and post-traumatic stress disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2021;12.
55. Tidmarsh LV, Harrison R, Ravindran D, Matthews SL, Finlay KA. The influence of adverse childhood experiences in pain management: mechanisms, processes, and trauma-informed care. Frontiers in Pain Research. 2022;3.
56. Tidmarsh LV, Harrison R, Ravindran D, Matthews SL, Finlay KA. The influence of adverse childhood experiences in pain management: mechanisms, processes, and trauma-informed care. Frontiers in Pain Research. 2022;3.
57. Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center. What is Trauma? Available at https://www.traumainformedcare.chcs.org/what-is-trauma.
58. University of Northern Colorado. Neurobiology of Trauma. Available at https://www.unco.edu/assault-survivors-advocacy-program/learn_more/neurobiology_of_trauma.aspx.
59. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for PTSD. Available at https://www.ptsd.va.gov.
60. van der Kolk B. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York, NY: Penguin Books; 2014.
61. WakeMed Health Hospitals. Trauma and Chronic Pain. Available at https://www.wakemed.org/care-and-services/emergency-care/trauma-centers/trauma-survivors-network/trauma-your-health/trauma-chronic-pain.
62. Wilcox HC, Storr CL, Breslau N. Posttraumatic stress disorder and suicide attempts in a community sample of urban American young adults. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2009;66(3):305.
63. Winblad NE, Changaris M, Stein PK. Effect of somatic experiencing resiliency-based trauma treatment training on quality of life and psychological health as potential markers of resilience in treating professionals. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018;12(70).
Mention of commercial products does not indicate endorsement.