Attachment Disruption & Addiction: Treating Addiction as a Symptom of Attachment Trauma

PRESENTER: Travis Smith, Ph.D., LPC

Travis Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Doctor of Counseling and Supervision (PhD). Travis received his Master’s in Marital, Couple and Family of Counseling in 2006 and his Doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling in 2009 from Idaho State University. In addition to being Director & Owner of Great Oak Counseling, he is an Associate Professor at Southeast Missouri State University and has presented at the local, state and national levels and published his research on topics related to couples counseling, private practice, ethics in counseling and addiction recovery and treatment. Travis has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

This program will expose attendees to advances in treating addiction that are rooted in attachment theory. With a focus on developmental trauma, abuse, neglect and violence, the program will provide an expanded conceptualization of addiction that advocates for trauma focused intervention to ease the effects of trauma and, therefore, impulses toward addictive and compulsive behavior.

The learning objectives for attendees are to:

• Identify cycles of addiction tendencies, including both alcohol abuse, chemical dependency and process addiction

• Learn the various types of traumas that impact attachment relationships and cognitive function.

• Learn models of addiction that explain addictive behaviors as a form of emotional regulation,including issues related to triggers, unhealthy thinking patterns, rituals of addiction and affect regulation.

• Apply specific techniques to help improve a clients ability to securely attach and regulate affect.