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Trauma Basics

Dr. Pete Vernig, PhD, MBA, ABPP
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Information

Date & Time

Description

Trauma Basics is a continuing education course for addiction and behavioral health professionals that explores the relationship between trauma, PTSD, and substance use disorders. The course covers the prevalence and types of trauma, neurobiological and behavioral impacts, and common clinical presentations. Participants learn evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment approaches—including present- and past-oriented therapies—and practical strategies to reduce stigma, improve engagement, and provide safe, effective, patient-centered care for individuals with trauma histories and co-occurring substance use disorders.

Educational Goal

The educational goal of this workshop is to equip addiction and behavioral health professionals with a foundational, trauma-informed understanding of how traumatic stress and substance use disorders intersect, strengthening their ability to recognize trauma-related presentations and neurobiological impacts in clinical practice. Participants will leave better prepared to apply evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches that improve clinical judgment, treatment planning, and patient engagement when working with individuals with co-occurring trauma and substance use.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Define traumatic stress and Substance Use Disorder

  • Recognize the effects of substance use and trauma on brain functioning

  • Describe the different types of traumas and the components of trauma-informed care

  • Identify at least three effective treatments for people with traumatic exposure and substance use

Target Audience

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

Presenters

Dr. Pete Vernig, PhD, MBA, ABPP
Dr. Pete Vernig is a clinical psychologist and performance-driven healthcare executive focused on delivering high-quality care and spearheading ambitious program improvements. As Vice President of Mental Health Services at Recovery Centers of America , Dr. Vernig leads clinical and mental health services for an integrated system serving over 20,000 patients per year. He provides strategic clinical oversight for 13 facilities across seven states , which include 1,200 inpatient beds and multiple outpatient service lines. His expertise centers on implementing new clinical care models , developing and rolling out new service lines , and driving key operational and clinical outcomes. Previously, Dr. Vernig served as Chief Clinical Officer at Friends Hospital, the nation's oldest private psychiatric hospital. There, he directed clinical operations for the 200+ bed hospital and led the development of evidence-based, trauma-informed programming that resulted in improved quality and decreased use of restrictive interventions. Dr. Vernig holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University and an MBA in Healthcare Management from West Texas A&M University. He is a licensed psychologist, holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine, and serves on the board of NAMI Philadelphia and as President of the Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Recovery Centers of America