Live Stream: Monday, July 29th | 9am-12pm
Leah Seeger, MA, LMFT, LADC
Presenter Bio: Leah Seeger, MA, LMFT, LADC is a second career therapist who specializes in serving individuals, couples, and families with struggles complicated by trauma, challenging upbringings, and/or addictive issues. Leah provides therapy from a social justice, feminist, trauma-informed lens and is working to finalize her certification in Brainspotting. Leah worked in MICD (mental illness/chemical dependency) drug treatment facilities prior to entering private practice. Leah is currently the President-Elect for the Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT), and has previously worked as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Addiction Studies program at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. Leah’s commentary on mental health issues in America has been featured in the New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, and the Washington Post.
Rachel Cavegn, MA, LMFT
Presenter Bio: Rachael Cavegn, MA, LMFT, rcavegntherapy@gmail.com: Rachael Cavegn MA, LMFT is a mental health professional specializing in the use of neurofeedback training to address struggles with trauma/addiction, depression, anxiety, SPMI diagnoses and a wide range of additional mental health concerns. Her approach to therapy is through an Adlerian, feminist, social justice, trauma-informed lens, paying particular attention to how relationship dynamics and social systems impact our ability to establish and maintain good health. Prior to working in private practice Rachael spent 10 years specializing in trauma and addiction treatment in community-based programs and MICD (mental health/chemical dependency) treatment clinics. Rachael is a Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy (MN BMFT) approved supervisor, an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) supervisor candidate and is presently pursuing her certification as neurofeedback provider through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). She has presented to community organizations throughout the metro area on the topics of trauma/addiction, grief and loss, and systems/relationship dynamics, and has developed and facilitated trainings for People Incorporated Mental Health Services, Minnesota CarePartner and Adler Graduate School.
Description: We know many mental health providers feel they have inadequate training to address addiction issues. And that addiction is regularly viewed as a separate entity from other mental health concerns.
In 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that “16.5 percent of the population met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder.” If 16.5% of the population is actively struggling with an addiction issue, then the people around them are likely suffering from the effects as well.
In this training we will help providers start to think systemically and take a trauma-informed approach to addiction, just like we already do for other mental health struggles. And we will provide attendees tools to approach the root of many addiction issues. Together we can take the stigma out of addiction and equip mental health providers to support clients and families struggling with addictive issues!
Objectives:
1. How addictive behaviors are linked to trauma and other mental health struggles and how this lens may impact diagnosing.
2. What is harm reduction vs traditional approaches to addictive behaviors, and what are the benefits and drawbacks to various treatment programs/approaches (12 step/traditional, medication assisted treatment, harm-reduction).
3. How the language we use with clients influences the way they see themselves and their ability to heal.
4. Why connection/relationship is the key to helping clients heal from trauma and strategies for helping clients learn/develop skills to connect.
5. How to help clients support a loved one struggling with trauma/addiction through language, and setting appropriate boundaries that still allow for relationships/connection.
