The Unfinished Business of Childhood: Healing the Social Worker's Childhood Trauma Wounds Part 2
Building on the insights of Part 1, this workshop continues the exploration of how unresolved childhood trauma can shape the professional and personal lives of social workers.
Description
Participants will deepen their understanding of trauma adaptations—such as hyper-responsibility, boundary confusion, and imposterism—and examine how these patterns can impact relationships with clients, colleagues, and self. Through reflective practice, case examples, and guided discussion, attendees will learn strategies to foster healing, authenticity, and emotional regulation. This session is especially geared toward those seeking to sustain meaningful and healthy careers in the helping professions while addressing their own unmet needs.
Learning Objectives
By the conclusion of this program, participants will:
- Identify and analyze common childhood trauma adaptations—such as people-pleasing, imposterism, blurred boundaries, emotional intuition, and over-functioning—and explore how these patterns are often rewarded and reinforced within social work practice.
- Examine the construction of early childhood narratives related to self-worth, identity, and safety, and explore how these narratives are unconsciously confirmed and reenacted in professional roles and relationships.
- Apply a trauma-informed framework for healing early adaptations by fostering reconnection with the authentic self, promoting emotional regulation, and cultivating sustainable, healthy professional boundaries.
Workshop Information
Date
On-demand
Time
2.5 hours
CEs
2.5
***You will receive the link to the workshop within 24 business hours of registering. If it is your first time registering for an on-demand workshop with us you will be required to create a login through SlideLive: instructions will be forthcoming after you register***
Tuition
- $45 – Registration Fee
- $36 – Alumni, Adjuncts, Field Instructors Rate
- FREE – Student Rate
Faculty Bio
Adam McCormick, MSW, PhD
Adam McCormick, MSW, PhD is Professor of Social Work at St. Edward’s University in Austin. He has a number of research interests and speaks frequently on a number of topics including LGBTQI+ youth in the child welfare system, the trauma of family separation in child welfare, the weaponization of poverty in child welfare, the relationship rights of siblings in foster care, the intersections of child welfare and immigration, social work and moral injury, and masculinity and mental health. He is the author of the forthcoming book, The unfinished business of our childhood: Healing the child trauma wounds of helping professionals. Dr. McCormick is also the author of the book LGBTQ youth in the foster care system: Empowering approaches to an inclusive system of care.
Credentialing Information
Important: To receive approved continuing education credits, participants must attend the entire training or workshop and submit a completed evaluation form.
See full credentialing information and CEUs
Cancellation Policy
Please note that we are unable to offer refunds for cancellations made within seven business days of the event or for no-shows. However, if you notify us at least 24 hours in advance, we can issue a credit toward a future workshop. No credit will be provided for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the event.
Accessibility Statement
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.