Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 12, 2015

Four distinguished addiction and mental health experts will speak at the first Elements Behavioral Health symposium for 2015, The Relationship of Complex Trauma to Intimacy, Disordered Eating, and Addiction, to be held in Austin on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Renaissance Austin Hotel.

The symposium takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Registration is from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., with welcome and orientation from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The schedule is as follows:

From 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Robert Weiss, LCSW, CSAT-S, an international expert in sex and intimacy disorders and senior vice president of clinical development for Elements Behavioral Health, presents Sexual Evolution: Love and Sex Reformatted for the Digital Age or How We Got from Spin-the-Bottle to Sexting in a Single Generation. Participants will have the opportunity to look at the changing digital face of human intimacy and sexuality.

Relationships, dating, marital fidelity and sexual norms are rapidly changing with todays digital technology, says Weiss. Its a game-changer, and everyone parents, employers, clinicians and spouses needs to know the online trends and challenges showing up in the digital world and how to effectively handle them.

Dr. Pamela Peeke, senior science adviser for Elements Behavioral Health, will present Food Addiction and Recovery: A New Approach to Healing the Body-Mind, from 10:45 to 12:15 p.m. Well look at new research on transfer addictions from substances to sugary/fatty/salty foods and how addictive eating behaviors can co-occur with mood and binge eating disorders, says Dr. Peeke. Well also provide valuable tools for assessment and an integrated nutrition and lifestyle plan clinicians can use to help guide their clients.

Dr. Peeke also headlines a case study luncheon from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

From 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Dr. Jason Powers, chief medical officer for the Promises Austin and The Right Step programs, will present Post Traumatic Growth Phoenix Experiences. While many do, not everyone who experiences trauma develops post-traumatic stress disorder. Some people bounce back from tragedy, a phenomenon known as Post Traumatic Growth or bouncing up. By teaching people to apply certain strategies, we can help them increase resilience so that the trauma they experience leads to positive personal transformative growth rather than post-traumatic stress disorder, says Dr. Powers.

The days final presentation is from Dr. Christine Courtois, national clinical trauma consultant for Elements Behavioral Health, Promises Malibu and Brightwater LandingSM, who will present Treatment of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship Based Approach. Evidence-based treatment strategies will be discussed, along with recommendations from PTSD treatment guidelines.

While the treatment of complex trauma is challenging and multifaceted, healing from its effects is very possible, says Dr. Courtois. Treatment begins with an emphasis on safety and the development of specific self-management skills to de-condition post-traumatic body-mind reactions, including addictions. The treatment relationship is a major foundation for addressing the personal and relational impact of complex trauma. Treatment progresses to the processing of the trauma to a point of resolution, followed by directed attention to life after trauma and ways to live a satisfying life worth living.

Originally posted here:
Addiction and Mental Health Specialists to Speak at First Elements Behavioral Health Symposium for 2015