Workshops

The Neurobiology of Trauma/PTSD

ID: 5235WEB

The overall goal of this webinar is for practitioners to understand that the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not merely a psychosocial phenomenon and to be better able to provide treatment interventions based on changes in the nervous system. PTSD has been found to be prevalent, but it is important to study PTSD to understand why some individuals develop the disorder and others, also exposed to specific traumatic events, do not. Studying the symptomology of PTSD, as it relates to possible neural mechanisms, may provide some insight toward answering these questions. By the end of this webinar, you will be able to: list the three general categories of symptoms exhibited by individuals with PTSD; describe the role of the limbic system in the production of memory dysfunction in traumatized individuals; understand how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland are involved in the fight or flight response; and the benefits and side-effects of the most common pharmacological agents used to treat PTSD/Trauma. [Elective for Trauma Response & Crisis Intervention Certificate Program]

Fee: $60.00
Continuing Ed. Hours (CEH): 3.0 Clinical


Click Here to Enroll
Instructor: Craig Strickland, PhD
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm ET
Location: Live Interactive Online Webinar

Webinar Objectives

At the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be able to:

  • List the general categories of symptoms typically exhibited by people diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Describe the role of the limbic system and associated structures in the production of memory dysfunction in persons who have been traumatized
  • Summarize the mechanism by which the hypothalamus and pituitary gland participate in the "fight or flight" response in persons diagnosed with PTSD

    Webinar Outline

    9:30 am Welcome/Introduction

    9:35 am Definition, Description and Differential Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    10:00 am Neuroanatomy of PTSD (CNS)

  • Hippocampus: (memory, emotion)
  • Other Limbic structures: (emotion)
  • Cortical areas: (cognition, reward, social behavior)
  • Hypothalamus: (depression, anxiety)
  • Pituitary Gland: (depression, anxiety)

    1:45 am Neurochemical Changes
  • Catecholamines (Dopamine, Serotonin and
  • Norepinephrine)
  • Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
  • Neurohormonal (ACTH, CRF, Cortisol)

    12:20 pm Conclusion/Q&A

    Target Audience

    Social Workers and Allied Health Professionals

    Content Level

    Beginner - Advanced

    Webinar Completion Requirements

    To earn CE credit, social workers must log in at the scheduled time, attend the entire course and complete an online course evaluation. Certificates of completion will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.

    System Requirements

    • Operating Systems: Windows XP or higher, MacOS 9 or higher, Android 4.0 or higher
    • Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 9.0 or higher, Google Chrome, Firefox 10.0 or higher
    • Broadband Internet connection: Cable, High-speed DSL & any other medium that is internet accessible.

    About the Instructor

    Craig Strickland, PhD, graduated from Bryn Mawr College in with a Doctorate in Psychology and a focus on experimental research and neuroscience. Past positions include a faculty position at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and affiliate faculty positions at Widener University and Springfield College. He currently has guest lecturer privileges at the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, the Rutgers School of Social Work and an affiliate professor position at Thomas Jefferson University, East Fall Campus in the Community and Trauma Counseling program. Dr. Strickland is the owner of Biobehavioral Education and Consultation, LLC

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