The Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy is named after the legendary figure of the phoenix. Mythology suggests that the phoenix dies and is reborn from its own ashes – it is a symbol of transformation and resilience. This phenomenon of growing after experiencing trauma has been labeled “Post-Traumatic Growth”.

Visit our website to see how one of our clinicians might be able to help you cultivate post-traumatic growth – www.PhoenixTraumaCenter.com

#Trauma #TraumaTherapy #PostTraumaticGrowth #Phoenix #ptsd

Please RSVP to [email protected]

Experiential Group Tools for Post-Traumatic Growth and Networking | 3pm-4pm | 1 CE Hour
Presented by the Phoenix Center team: Dr. Scott Giacomucci, Amy Stone, Rachel Longer, & Leela Ehrhart
This event will highlight the importance of post-traumatic growth while connecting it to the symbol of the phoenix. We will demonstrate simple experiential group facilitation skills used to uncover similarities and connections within groups. In this context, we will use them as networking tools to establish stronger connections between attendees while celebrating post-traumatic growth in our clients. The clinical importance of safety, relationships, and connection will be emphasized as it relates to experiential trauma therapy.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify one action-based group tool; 2) Define post-traumatic growth; 3) Explain the importance of connection in establishing safety

Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy (Lic. #004115) is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors to offer continuing education for social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors. Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy, LLC maintains responsibility for the program. Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy (Lic. # PSY000215) is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Psychology to offer continuing education for psychologists. Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy maintains responsibility for the program.

We are grateful for the beautiful Creative Arts Therapy Symposium yesterday at Center for Families in Bryn Mawr!

Dr Scott Giacomucci & Dr Steven Durost presented an afternoon workshop on Sociometry, Psychodrama, & Experiential Trauma Group Therapy and engaged the entire audience in the short psychodrama piece! All of the presenters yesterday creatively integrated content & process for a fun and exciting training experience for all.

We are happy to support the growth of the creative arts therapies in our community by both presenting and providing CEUs for this event. Thank you to Sean Rodgers for all his work organizing this event and to Mirmont Treatment Center & Ashley Addiction Treatment for sponsoring the event!

Another powerful post-graduate training today “Experiential Social Group Work: Tools for Therapists, Educators, Supervisors, & Community Leaders” at Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research with Scott Giacomucci & Amy Stone!

Today we explored the utility of sociometry & psychodrama in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Experiential Education, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and mutual aid were emphasized as uniting factors between group therapy and other group work arenas.

Visit our website to learn more about future training opportunities – https://www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/training/

#SocialWork #GroupWork #GroupPsychotherapy #Sociometry #PsychoDrama #MutualAid #ExperientialEducation #InterpersonalNeurobiology

We are excited to announce the opening of our new office!

We are now able to take new clients & referrals – 484-440-9416

This new space will allow us to continue to grow as new clinicians join our team to help keep up with the community’s needs for trauma therapy & educational services.

Check out our newest trauma therapists, both taking new clients:

Rachel Longer, MSS, LSW, CET 1 – https://www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/rachel-longer/

Leela Ehrhart, MA, CET 1 – https://www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/leela-ehrhart/

Our new space has multiple individual office spaces and a large group room. Stay tuned for newly forming groups including:

-experiential trauma therapy client groups

-personal growth intensives

-supervision groups for licensing, psychodrama, & experiential trauma therapy

-EMDR consultation group

Special thanks to Amy Stone for all the amazing work she does at the center and to Maria Sotomayor & Chad Tingley for helping to decorate!

Also stay posted for an open house in the next month or two!

Post Traumatic Growth in one of these 5 domains is actually statistically more likely to occur after a traumatic event than PTSD!

25% adults that experience a trauma will develop PTSD (or every other child) while around 66% report post traumatic growth in at least one of these five domains.

Our namesake of the Phoenix is a symbol of post traumatic growth and guides our philosophy of trauma therapy.

#posttraumaticgrowth #traumarecovery #traumatherapy #ptsd #traumaticstress

Adult addiction and mental illness are strongly correlated with childhood adversity including trauma, abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study asked thousands of participants if they had experienced 10 different types of adverse childhood experiences. The higher the ace score, the higher the likelihood of addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, and medical health issues.

These numbers highlight the importance of addressing the impact of childhood adversity which fuels addictions, mental disorders, and medical illnesses.

We are excited to share that Phoenix Center’s Director/Founder, Dr. Scott Giacomucci, has been awarded Fellow status in the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (FAAETS).

This is the highest honor that the academy can bestow upon a member based on significant contribution to the field.

Scott was also recently granted Consultant status through EMDR International Association.

Check out Scott’s training page for upcoming events – www.phoenixtraumacenter.com/training/

Or email him directly for information about a newly forming EMDR consultation group and supervision group – [email protected]

Today’s workshop, The Social Self in Experiential Therapy: Relationships, Attachment, & Interpersonal Neurobiology, presented the interpersonal theory and social atom of Jacob Moreno.

We explored the integrations of attachment theory, sociometric theory, and interpersonal neurobiology as they relate to experiential trauma therapy.

Moreno’s developmental phases (doubling, mirroring, & role reversal) were explored from the position of attachment within multiple parallel processes including the infant-caregiver dyad, the client-therapist dyad, the victim-perpetrator dyad (in our case today, a spontaneous sociodramatic vignette about slavery and white supremacy), within the development of a psychodrama vignette, and the layered interpersonal experience of the group itself.

Attachment styles were presented with emphasis on their role-reciprocity and role-complimentary natures. Participants explored their own attachment styles and considered its impact on their clients, supervisees, and colleagues.

Participants created social atoms and action sculpting was used to put one social atom into action integrating relational ideals into all our relations!

Today Dr Scott Giacomucci facilitated a session for incoming doctoral students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice.

The historical, philosophical, and theoretical connections of social work, Sociometry, and psychodrama were presented. Students then engaged in experiential Sociometry processes to explore shared experiences, fears, hopes, and goals.

The TSM circle of strengths was utilized to concretize the collective strengths of the cohort-as-a-whole and create a container of safety and inspiration for the years ahead as doctoral students.

Empty chairs were used to verbalize the positive & negative messages from the dissertation, the DSW degree, future self, and friends/family. Finally, students engaged in a psychodramatic vignette role reversing with themselves as future doctors of clinical social work.

#UPenn #SOCIALWORK #Psychodrama #sociometry #experientialteaching #experientialtherapy #emptychair

Giacomucci, S. (2019). Psychodramatically Becoming Your “Future Doctor Self”: A DSW First Year Immersion Session. The Clinician, 7(1): 6-7. Access Article Here

Related article here:
Giacomucci, S. (2019). Moreno’s Methods in Academia (or the lack of): A Call to Action. Psychodrama Network News. Fall 2019, p. 20. American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama.