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Integrating EMDR and Family Therapy to Address Attachment Trauma in Long-Term Psychotherapy with Foster Youth with Sarah Freeze, LCSW
12:00 PMTuesday, April 21 2026
11:00 AMTuesday, April 21 2026
10:00 AMTuesday, April 21 2026
9:00 AMTuesday, April 21 2026
8:00 AMTuesday, April 21 2026
6:00 AM
Sarah is a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker in private practice based out of Denver, CO. Her practice includes psychotherapy, consultation, and teaching. She specializes in treating trauma/PTSD and utilizes EMDR, psychodynamic, and sandtray therapies. Sarah takes a trauma-informed approach, meaning she incorporates an understanding of how trauma impacts the body, brain, and spirit. Her passion is working with adults who have experienced childhood abuse, neglect, and emotional non-recognition.
Sarah is committed to using a person-centered and culturally-informed framework. She considers how environment, society, and culture shape personal development and well- being, including the impact of racism, sexism, and heteronormativity on mental and physical health. Sarah works collaboratively with clients and fellow clinicians to create a secure environment for emotional growth, nurturing an internal sense of freedom.
Beyond her private practice, Sarah has clinical experience in community and agency settings, working with children and adults who have experienced sexual abuse, sexual assault, physical abuse, and domestic violence. With a strong research background, she takes great care in applying clinical research into practice. Discover more at sarahfreezelcsw.com.
Therapy with children who experienced early maltreatment can be complicated by subsequent mistrust for adults and their being afraid to love. The child’s inability to trust often leads to increased anxiety, negative core beliefs, and using whatever means necessary to protect oneself (e..g, aggression, stealing, lying, hoarding food). Parents (be that biological, foster, guardianship or adoptive) in turn may respond to the child’s behaviors with frustration, which intensifies the child’s mistrust and anxiety.
WIth this in mind, Debra Wesselmann developed the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children (IATP-C). This protocol combines the best of family therapy and EMDR therapy in three stages for children suffering from complex trauma living in out-of-home placements or who have a history of attachment injury.
The purpose of this presentation is to introduce the empirically-supported IATP-C model and equip participants with practical skills applicable to foster care populations. While the protocol incorporates EMDR therapy, participants will gain valuable attachment-focused intervention strategies that can be integrated into their current clinical practice, regardless of EMDR training status.
This course is eligible for 2 continuing education credits.
This course is suitable for Psychologists, LMHCs, MFTs, Social Workers, LPCs, and Counselors.
Introductory
Timed Agenda:
9:00am-9:05am Introduction/Overview
9:05am-9:15am Brief Review of EMDR Protocol Adaptations for Children & Adolescents
9:15am-9:30am Understanding Complex Trauma and Attachment Disorders through EMDR’s Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model
9:30-9:50am Introduction to the Three Stages of the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children (IATP-C)
9:50am-10:10am Family Therapy and EMDR Interventions for Connection & Stabilization
10:10am-10:30am Case Presentation of Karen (age 12) who was Removed From her Biological Family Due to Maltreatment
10:30am-10:45am Discussion
10:45am-11:00am Conclusion/Q&A
At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- List attachment-focused intervention strategies to address symptoms of attachment injury.
- Identify core components of the Integrative Attachment Trauma Protocol for Children (IATP-C).