Neurobiology and Psychology of Traumatic Stress in Clinical Practice

Workshop Introduction

Traumatic stress can shape the brain, body and behaviour in complex ways. This online CPD workshop explores traumatic stress through neurobiology and psychology, helping participants connect evidence-informed insight with clinical practice.

The Neurobiology and Psychology of Traumatic Stress in Clinical Practice workshop offers psychological professionals an evidence-informed exploration of traumatic stress in the South African context.

The workshop examines how single-incident, developmental, relational, and continuous trauma can produce distinct neurobiological and psychological presentations, each with implications for assessment, treatment selection, and sequencing.  

Participants will explore continuous traumatic stress, psychological mechanisms, and a mechanism-informed clinical assessment framework designed to help map dominant client processes, prioritise treatment strategies and support evidence-informed treatment planning in practice. 

Overview

• Traumatic stress in clinical practice
• The South African traumatic stress context
• Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD and Complex PTSD
• Continuous Traumatic Stress and ongoing threat
• Neurobiology and threat-response systems
• Psychological mechanisms and symptom expression
• Dissociation, emotion dysregulation and cognitive appraisal
• Mechanism-informed clinical assessment
• Treatment selection and sequencing
• Evidence-informed treatment planning
• Adapting trauma-focused approaches for South African practice
• Practice-ready tools and key takeaways

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Identify the neural circuits and neuroendocrine systems involved in traumatic stress.
• Explain how threat-response dysregulation shapes traumatic stress symptoms.
• Distinguish between Acute Stress Disorder, PTSD, Complex PTSD and Continuous Traumatic Stress.
• Understand key neurobiological and psychological differences across traumatic stress presentations.
• Explain Continuous Traumatic Stress and its relevance in the South African context.
• Identify mechanisms such as fear conditioning, extinction failure, dissociation and emotion dysregulation.
• Connect traumatic stress mechanisms to evidence-informed treatment strategies.
• Understand the role of stabilisation in trauma-focused clinical intervention.
• Apply a mechanism-informed clinical assessment framework in practice.
• Use assessment insights to support individualised treatment planning and sequencing.
• Adapt trauma-focused approaches for South African clinical and contextual realities.

Certification

This workshop is for you if you want to deepen your understanding of traumatic stress through neurobiology and psychology and translate this insight into more effective, mechanism-informed clinical practice. 

Open to anyone with an interest in the topic, this workshop also awards CPD points to eligible professionals upon successful completion. 

Bridging neuroscience and clinical practice, the workshop offers applied insight directly relevant to the South African professional context. 

The certificate serves as evidence of your new skills and knowledge and can be used to demonstrate your commitment to professional development. 

Attend a live online session, or watch the recording, and complete an online reading and assessment. 

Dates and Registration

Class of 2026: on demand

Participants are required to attend a live online workshop (2 hours). Thereafter, participants will be required to complete an assessment comprising of reading a journal article and answering a 15-question multiple choice questionnaire. The multiple-choice questionnaire needs to be completed within 5 days. 

Workshop Presenter

Kempie van Rooyen is a registered Clinical Psychologist with nearly two decades of experience in mental health, trauma and psychological assessment; registered with the HPSCSA since 2006. Currently in full-time private practice in Gqeberha, he is widely recognised for his expertise in traumatic stress, gender-based violence, and the intersection of culture and mental health.   

Through his work, Kempie continues to bridge research, clinical practice and community engagement, with a particular commitment to improving trauma-informed care and supporting vulnerable populations.

FAQs

The Team

The SACAP Global team brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience across various disciplines. Our expert short course developers and dedicated support team are passionate about sharing their insights to help you get the most out of your online learning journey.