Working With Clients Who Stay in Trauma Bonds by Choice (3 CEU's)

HIGH-RISK & CLINICAL EDGE CASES
Working With Clients Who Stay in Trauma Bonds by Choice – 3 CEUs

Overview:
Therapists frequently work with clients who remain in relationships that appear harmful, emotionally unsafe, or repeatedly painful despite recognizing unhealthy dynamics. Clients may acknowledge manipulation, betrayal, coercive patterns, emotional abuse, or cycles of harm while simultaneously expressing a desire to stay in the relationship. These situations can evoke strong emotional responses in clinicians, including frustration, helplessness, urgency, or concerns regarding client safety. Therapists may find themselves questioning why insight alone does not lead to change or feeling pulled toward persuading clients to leave relationships that appear damaging. Without careful clinical awareness, these reactions can contribute to rupture, shame, or unintentional reenactment of control dynamics within therapy.

In this presentation, Dr. Zairys Feliz, Ph.D., LCSW, participants will explore trauma-informed and relational approaches for working with clients who remain in trauma-bonded relationships by choice. Attendees will examine the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that contribute to trauma bonding, including attachment wounds, intermittent reinforcement, fear, survival responses, dependency, unresolved trauma patterns, and emotional conditioning. The course will address common misconceptions that frame clients as resistant, weak, or lacking motivation and instead explore trauma bonds through a lens of adaptation and nervous system learning. Participants will learn practical strategies for supporting insight, assessing safety, reducing shame, strengthening autonomy, and navigating therapist countertransference without imposing treatment agendas. Through clinical examples and applied discussion, attendees will gain practical tools for working compassionately and effectively with one of therapy’s most emotionally challenging relational presentations.

Objectives:

1. Identify psychological, relational, and neurobiological factors that contribute to trauma bonding and continued relationship involvement.

2. Recognize therapist reactions and clinical pitfalls that may interfere with therapeutic alliance or unintentionally reinforce shame.

3. Apply trauma-informed assessment and intervention strategies that support client autonomy, safety, and relational insight.

Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course provides licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with an overview of clinical approaches for working with clients experiencing trauma-bonded relationship dynamics. Participants will learn assessment considerations and intervention strategies relevant to outpatient treatment settings. This training does not provide certification in domestic violence advocacy, forensic assessment, or crisis intervention. Participants are expected to apply course content within their professional scope of practice, ethical guidelines, and applicable safety and reporting responsibilities.

Financial and Commercial Disclosure
The presenter has no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. Any references to trauma theories, attachment frameworks, interventions, or resources are included solely for educational purposes. Participants are not required to purchase any additional materials to complete this course.

Refund Policy – Live CE Trainings (Virtual & In-Person)
All registrations for live CE trainings are subject to this refund policy. By enrolling, participants agree to these terms. Cancellations made 7 days or more prior to the scheduled training date are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee, or participants may elect to receive a full credit toward a future training. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled training are non-refundable; however, registrations may be transferred to another eligible training or another attendee with prior written approval. Participants who fail to attend a scheduled live training, do not complete attendance requirements, or fail to satisfy course participation requirements are not eligible for refunds or CEUs. If a training is canceled or rescheduled by the provider, registrants will be offered either a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another training. Refunds will not be issued if participants are unable to earn CEUs due to incomplete attendance, failure to complete required evaluations, or licensing board eligibility restrictions.