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In Person

The Intersection of Attachment Trauma and Addiction: Implications for Treatment

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Description

This workshop explores the complex relationship between addiction, trauma, and attachment, offering participants a deeper understanding of how these factors interact to shape behavioral health outcomes. We will examine the full spectrum of trauma—including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), “Big T” traumatic events, and “little t” chronic or relational traumas—and discuss how each influences vulnerability to substance use and addictive behaviors. Participants will also learn how attachment patterns and early bonding experiences impact emotional regulation, coping strategies, and long‑term recovery trajectories. The session will highlight evidence‑based approaches for assessing and treating addiction across various levels of care, from outpatient support to intensive and residential treatment settings. Through an integrated trauma‑informed and attachment‑focused lens, this workshop equips professionals with practical strategies to better understand client needs, tailor treatment plans, and support sustainable recovery

Educational Goal

The educational goal is to ensure that clinicians are aware of how childhood trauma and broken attachment bonds affect addictions and how to treat a client they have who has an addiction.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Describe how childhood trauma and broken attachment bonds affect addiction.

  • Distinguish how to treat clients who have an addiction, level of care options and evidenced based treatments

  • Assess and refer a client for substance treatment.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Amanda Wroblewski, LCSW - Upon graduating with a Master’s degree in Social Work, Amanda officially began her social work career in HIV wrap-around service. She witnessed firsthand the biopsychosocial struggles and chaotic life circumstances that accompany many living with chronic illness, including current substance use or substance abuse history. Continuing her work in HIV care, Amanda left the Boulder County AIDS Project and went on to take a position in the Children’s Hospital Colorado Immunodeficiency Program. Here, Amanda began working with larger family systems that had been affected by HIV/AIDS and still noticed a common thread of substance abuse history for most of her clients. Realizing she would be better suited to address the public health concerns of substance abuse, mental health and infectious disease, Amanda took a position with Boulder Community Health to build programming that addresses these key issues on a macro scale.
Brenda Velissaris, a licensed professional counselor, began her career in community mental health and later moved into the private sector. Brenda has experience working with all age groups; however, she has a particular fondness for adolescents and young adults. Brenda has dedicated the past 22 years to advancing care and advocacy in the field of eating disorders; however, she later transitioned from direct clinical work to a national corporate mental health role, overseeing clinical operations for mental health clinics. This position allowed her to expand her expertise into residential treatment, program development, and curriculum design. Currently a fourth-year doctoral student, Brenda remains deeply engaged in education, advocacy, and clinical innovation, with a particular focus on relapse prevention.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Sandstone Care