Counseling Techniques>Trauma

When Parents Carry Trauma: Breaking the Intergenerational Trauma Cycle

Overview:

In this deeply insightful 3-hour training, internationally recognized therapist and attachment expert Dafna Lender, LCSW, explores the often-overlooked impact of unresolved trauma in caregivers and its profound influence on the parent-child relationship. When a parent’s own trauma remains unprocessed, it can unconsciously shape their responses to their child’s distress, leading to patterns of disconnection, emotional misattunement, and resistance to therapeutic progress.

Drawing from her expertise in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and trauma-informed care, Dafna will guide participants in identifying the subtle signs of intergenerational trauma transmission. Through case examples, role plays, and practical techniques, clinicians will learn how to compassionately engage caregivers, create emotional safety, and use attachment-based interventions that invite healing— for both the parent and the child.

Whether you work with families, children, or adults who are parents themselves, this workshop offers essential tools to help you break the cycle of inherited pain and create pathways to secure, connected relationships.

Objectives:

  • Describe how unresolved trauma in caregivers can impact their ability to attune to and regulate their child’s emotions.
  • Identify common  behavioral patterns in caregivers that may reflect their own trauma responses rather than their child’s needs.
  • Explain the concept of intergenerational trauma and how it manifests in the therapeutic relationship between clinician, parent, and child.
  • Demonstrate key attachment-based strategies to build safety and trust with parents who struggle due to their trauma histories.
  • Apply practical, trauma-informed techniques to support parents in becoming more emotionally available and responsive to their children.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course is designed for licensed mental health professionals and provides an overview of trauma-informed, attachment-based approaches to identifying and addressing intergenerational trauma within parent-child dynamics. Emphasis is placed on recognizing caregiver trauma responses, enhancing emotional safety, and using clinical strategies drawn from Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and related models. While case examples and practical techniques are included, this course does not serve as a substitute for formal certification in DDP, Theraplay, or trauma-specific modalities. Participants are encouraged to apply course content within their professional scope of practice and ethical guidelines.

Commercial Support Disclosure
Dafna Lender is the author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy and co-author of Theraplay: The Practitioner’s Guide. These publications may be referenced during the course for educational purposes. However, there is no requirement to purchase any additional materials to complete the webinar. No other commercial support or relevant financial relationships have been disclosed.

Course materials are only available to enrolled students.

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    Dafna Lender, LCSW

    Dafna Lender, LCSW is a family therapy expert and attachment specialist. Dafna is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), as well as an EMDR therapist. Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 29 years of working with families in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice. Dafna’s style, whether as a therapist or teacher, is combining the light-hearted with the profound by bringing a playful, intense and passionate presence to every encounter. Dafna is author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (2023) and the co-author of Theraplay the Practitioner’s Guide (2020). She teaches and supervises clinicians in 15 countries in 4 languages: English, Hebrew, French and Spanish. Dafna is a family therapy expert and attachment specialist. Dafna is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), as well as an EMDR therapist. Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 25 years of working with families in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice. Dafna is author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (2023) and the co-author of Theraplay the Practitioner’s Guide (2020). She teaches and supervises clinicians in 15 countries in 4 languages: English, Hebrew, French and Spanish.

National Approvals

eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.

Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. E Care Behavioral Health Institute maintains responsibility for this course.   ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2020 – 06-03-2026. 

CE Broker

CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)

State Approvals

States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticut
DelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinois
IndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMaryland
MassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraska
NevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhio
OklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennessee
TexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsin
Wyoming      

States that Accept NBCC Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticut
DelawareDistrict Of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIndiana
IowaMaineMarylandMissouriNew HampshireNew JerseyNew Mexico
OhioOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennessee
TexasVermontVirginiaWashingtonWisconsin  

Notes:

  • Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
  • North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
  • Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
  • Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
  • Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s  accept ASWB approved training
  • Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s  accept ASWB approved training
  • Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training

States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasDelawareHawaiiIndiana
KentuckyMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaMontanaNevadaNew Jersey
New JerseyNew MexicoNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOregonRhode IslandTennessee
VermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWisconsinWyoming

States that Accept APA Approved Providers

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDelawareDistrict Of Columbia
FloridaGeorgiaIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansas
KentuckyLouisianaMarylandMassachusettsMinnesotaMississippiMissouri
MontanaNebraskaNew JerseyNew MexicoNorth DakotaOhioOklahoma
PennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeUtahVermontVirginia
WashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming   

Note: Please note that Individual Board Rules are subject to potential changes. The approval and acceptance details we furnish are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of documentation.

Should you have any inquiries or uncertainties not addressed by the provided information, it’s advisable to consult your State Regulatory Board. Ultimately, the decision of whether your license renewal credit hours are accepted or denied rests with you.

Georgia Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of Georgia as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (ADACBGA) #19-12-17-1212.

Florida Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Florida Certification Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (FCB) #5387-A.

Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling: The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.

Oklahoma Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Oklahoma State Board of Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselors (OBLADC) #20220136.

Oklahoma Board of Behavioral Health Licensure: E Care BHI is an approved CE provider for LPC & LMFT

Ohio Addiction Counselor: E Care BHI is recognized by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board as an approved education provider for Addiction Counselor (OCDP)#50-29024

The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board accepts courses from ASWB & NBCC approved providers. E Care Behavioral Health Institute is an ASWB and NBCC approved provider.

VA Mental Health Employee: E Care BHI VA COMMERCIAL VENDOR # 81-3353387-01

California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP): E Care BHI is recognized by the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Provider Number OS-22-344-0526

Connecticut Certification Board CCB Approved): E Care BHI is recognized & approved by the Connecticut Certification Board.

Texas Certification Board (TCB): E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Texas Certification Board as an approved education provider. Number 2041-19

South Carolina E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the Professional Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists licensing board as an approved education provider Provider #4628

New York (MHC) E Care Behavioral Health is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0277

New York (SW) E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0745

LA-ADRA – E Care Behavioral Health Institute is recognized by Louisiana The Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority as an approved educational provider AEP #E122

Who This Training is For:

This program is intended for mental health professionals such as Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Addiction Counselors, Psychologists, & MFTs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we are approved Continuing Education providers by ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, APA & many other state boards.

Programs that do not qualify for ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, & APA are clearly identified. eCare Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

To view all of our board approvals, click here

1) After watching the video lesson, you’ll be prompted to complete a short course evaluation

2) Pass the quiz

3) Receive your certificate immediately

80% or above with 3 attempts.

No. Our courses are not “book to buy” and do not require any other materials in advance.

Yes. (If you’re from Florida, Ohio, & South Carolina). We report CEs to the CE broker daily for courses completed the day before. For both live and recorded webinars.

Recorded Webinar CE Courses:

  • Refunds are only eligible if the course was purchased within 30 days or less.
  • If the customer doesn’t want the course anymore, or was unsatisfied from it – We can transfer credits to another course of their choice (with same CE credit amount).
  • CE Credits 3
  • Format
  • Quizzes 1
  • Level Intermediate

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