Trauma Webinar: When Trauma Recovery Stalls… What’s Next?

1.5 CEU Webinar on Trauma Treatment

Trauma can leave lasting imprints that don’t always respond to treatment. Join us on Thursday, August 28th, for a powerful webinar exploring why trauma recovery stalls. You’ll gain insight into the personal, neurobiological, and systemic factors that make recovery complex. Through a nervous system-informed lens and therapy approaches, you’ll learn interventions to help meet your clients’ needs.

Whether you’re an experienced clinician or just building your trauma-informed practice, this webinar will provide tools to deepen your understanding and elevate your work. It’s an opportunity to earn 1.5 free CEs for mental health clinicians, sharpen your clinical insight, and walk away with actionable strategies you can use immediately.

Topic:  When Trauma Recovery Stalls, What’s Next?

Date:   Thursday, August 28, 2025

Time:   10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (PST)

Learning Objectives

  • Describe trauma’s long-term effects, especially the impact of trauma on the nervous system
  • Explain strategies for collaborative engagement and trauma-informed stabilization.
  • Describe different therapy modalities that conceptualize and work with unprocessed trauma.
Register Now

Once you register, you will receive the Zoom link for the webinar. Please be sure to save the date and this link on your calendar, as you’ll need it to join the session.

Presented By:

Kelly L. Callahan, PhD, LCP

Dr. Callahan’s training includes an internship at The National Center for PTSD at Dartmouth Medical School and post-doctoral fellowship at the Victims of Violence Program at Harvard Medical School, and currently provides consultation and lectures on treating trauma. Click here for more.

Sara Drotman, PsyD

Dr. Drotman is the Director of Training and Education at Mind Therapy Clinic and specializes in evidence-based treatments for trauma, depression, and anxiety.  Click here for more on Dr. Drotman.

Continuing Education

Information on Continuing Education Credit for Health Professionals

• CE credits for psychologists are provided by the Spiritual Competency Academy (SCA) which is co-sponsoring this program. The Spiritual Competency Academy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Spiritual Competency Academy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

• The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.

• SCA is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing Provider CEP16887) for licensed nurses in California. RNs must retain their certificate of attendance for 4 years after the course concludes.

•For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance, contact Jacqueline Perlmutter, Mind Therapy Clinic. For questions about CE, contact Spiritual Competency Academy at info@spiritualcompetencyacademy.com.

Are You Struggling with Trauma? Take this PTSD Assessment

The PTSD Checklist

Every day, many people cope quietly with the lingering effects of a traumatic event. This self‐guided assessment is based on the PCL-5, a widely used tool for measuring post­ traumatic stress symptoms. By answering 20 straightforward questions about how often you’ve experienced certain thoughts or feelings in the past month, you can better understand whether your reactions fall within a range that may warrant further evaluation. Take a few minutes to complete the quiz and learn where to turn if you find your symptoms are affecting your daily life.

PCL-5 PTSD Questionnaire

The following is a list of problems that people sometimes have in response to a very stressful experience. Keeping your worst event in mind, please read each problem carefully and then select one of the numbers to the right to indicate how much you have been bothered by that problem.

The PCL-5 is in the public domain and available at https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/assessment/adult-sr/ptsd-checklist.asp
Please note: Online self-screening tools are not to be used as substitutes for clinical diagnostic or advice. You are encouraged to share your results with a physician or healthcare provider. Mind Therapy Clinic disclaims any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use and application of these screens.
Privacy: Your results are not collected by this website, or sent anywhere.

Understanding Trauma and PTSD:

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causing lasting adverse effects on their mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, avoidance of things associated with the traumatic experience, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Trauma from the past is also often an underlying issue in substance abuse and other mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.  It’s important to know that seeking help is a sign of strength, and recovery is possible.

Trauma-Informed Treatments

We offer a range of evidence-based treatments for trauma and PTSD, tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs:

  • Individual Therapy: Our experienced therapists provide a safe and supportive space to explore your experiences, develop coping strategies, and work towards healing.
    • CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy): CPT helps individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs related to the trauma, reducing the impact of PTSD on their lives.
    • Somatic Therapy: This body-oriented approach focuses on releasing stored trauma energy and restoring a sense of safety and grounding.
  • Group Therapy: Connecting with others who have similar experiences can be incredibly powerful. Our group therapy sessions offer a sense of community and shared understanding.
  • Medication Management: Some medications may be helpful for reducing symptoms associated with PTSD and trauma.  

What Makes Us Unique?

Our team of dedicated professionals is committed to providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care. We understand that healing from trauma is a journey, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Our approach is personalized, collaborative, and focused on empowering you to reclaim your life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with trauma or PTSD, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call us at (415) 945-9870 to learn more about our services and schedule a consultation.

Unspoken to Empowered: Women’s Group Therapy Spotlight

“Group therapy is just as, if not more, effective than individual therapy.”

It’s a powerful truth that often surprises those new to the idea of group work. For many women, healing begins not in isolation, but in community—through shared stories, deep empathy, and collective strength. Group therapy also provides a powerful antidote to stigma around mental health. 

What Is the Women’s Psychotherapy Group?

Our Women’s Psychotherapy Group offers a powerful and supportive space for healing, connection, and personal growth. Grounded in shared experiences and mutual support, the group provides a unique opportunity to explore emotional, relational, and societal challenges within a safe, structured environment. Over time, members learn to challenge internalized criticism and practice authentic self-care.

Who Is This Group For?

This group is for women seeking connection, healing, and personal development. Women from all backgrounds and life stages are welcome. The diversity of perspectives strengthens the group and expands everyone’s emotional insight.

Group therapy is particularly impactful for those healing from trauma. In a compassionate and contained environment, witnessing others’ resilience can inspire hope and support the healing process. As relationships form within the group, members practice setting boundaries, building trust, and developing healthier interpersonal patterns—skills that often translate into improved relationships outside the group.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, or simply seeking deeper self-understanding, this group provides a unique environment to be seen, heard, and supported by others who understand.

What to Expect in Group

Sessions include open sharing, guided reflections, and skill-building work that helps members apply insights outside of the group. As trust grows, participants explore meaningful topics like boundaries, vulnerability, and self-worth. With the guidance of an experienced facilitator, the group becomes a place to witness growth—in yourself and others.

Meet the Facilitator: Amelia Howard-Smith, LMFT

Amelia Howard-Smith, LMFT, leads the Women’s Group with over a decade of clinical experience. Her approach combines warmth and structure, drawing from DBT and CBT techniques. Amelia is passionate about helping women heal from trauma, reduce anxiety, and find empowerment through connection and self-discovery. Above all, Amelia is committed to helping women reclaim their voice and move toward empowerment with compassion and clarity.

Why Join a Women’s Therapy Group?

Healing happens in connection. When women come together with honesty and intention, they create a space where growth is more than possible. In this group, you’ll find strength in shared experience, relief in being understood, and momentum toward the changes you want to make.

Participants may also gain:

  • A deeper understanding of personal patterns and emotional triggers
  • Motivation and encouragement through shared accountability
  • New perspectives from diverse life experiences
  • Confidence in voicing thoughts and feelings openly
  • A sense of shared purpose and mutual growth within the group

If this sounds right for you, reach out to us to schedule an appointment or learn more. Leave us a message or call us at (415) 945 -9870.

What is ketamine? by Dr. Jack Van Bezooyen

What is ketamine? by Dr. Jack Van Bezooyen

The Mind Therapy Clinic has been receiving a lot of questions related to the use of ketamine for the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and substance use disorder over the last few months. The following information answers some of the most common questions related to ketamine including what the medication can help with, what to expect from the experience, and the different ways in which it is used. 

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Did I Experience a Trauma? Could I Have PTSD?

In PTSD, a trauma is defined as “exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence”. The trauma can be something that happened to you as a child or as an adult, something that happened once or many times over the years, or even something that you witnessed or learned about it happening to a close family member or friend. Even though we often describe things like a divorce, a bad argument with a friend or parent, a difficult move, or a toxic work environment as ‘traumatic’, these major stressors are not experiences that would lead to a diagnosis of PTSD. When we think about “Big T” traumas, we mean events like childhood physical or sexual abuse, an actual or threatened assault, unwanted sexual contact or abuse, exposure to war or combat, severe motor vehicle accidents, natural or man-made disasters, or sudden/catastrophic medical events.

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Who gets PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and why? – Trauma Series by David Campell, MD

Since announcing Trauma Services as a specialty at Mind Therapy Clinic, we’ve been receiving a lot of questions about therapy as it relates to trauma. Most commonly people want to know what is PTSD, and who gets it and why?

With so many traumatic experiences in today’s news – from police shootings, racial tensions, war, car crashes, crosswalk and bicycle accidents, physical and sexual assaults, gun violence, natural disasters, racial and economic fallouts, etc. – it makes sense that there is a heightened awareness and interest in the need to fully understand the impact of these events and treatments for those who are affected.  Media often presents PTSD with a military focus, but recent research has revealed that civilian PTSD is 13 times more common. In fact, an estimated one out of every nine women develops PTSD (more than twice as likely as men).*  So, what is considered PTSD and who should receive treatment? 

Let’s start with how does someone become traumatized?

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