Smoky Mountains Symposium
on
Relational Trauma
When the Work Gets Complex, Your Training Should Match
For therapists who want depth, refined clinical skills, and tools they can use immediately
Join us for three days of continuing education integrating evidence-based approaches with real-world clinical application in betrayal trauma, CPTSD, intimate partner violence, and complex relational work.
Continuing education credit has been applied for across multiple disciplines. Approval details and credit hours will be updated as they are announced.
Questions? Email LaDonna contact@ladonnacarey.com
Meet Your Speakers
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LaDonna Carey, MA Safety First and Forget Forgiveness?
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Jenny Hughes, PhD Vicarious Resilience: Sustaining the Therapist in Trauma Work
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Thomas Zimmerman, LPCC Predictive Processing Flash
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Laura Reagan, LCSW-C Systemic Betrayal of Trauma Clients
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Anjahni Davi, LMFT Type Talk: Introduction to the Enneagram
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Rachael Britton, PsyD Unmasking Disgust: Navigating Trapped Emotions in Trauma Therapy
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Jennifer Parker, MSSW Healing from Coercive Control
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Rhonda Noordyk Event Manager
Presentations October 21
LaDonna Carey, MA
1 hour Ethics
Safety First
This training focuses on the initial phase of treatment, emphasizing structured approaches to assessment, stabilization, and ethical decision-making. Participants will apply the SAFE Blueprint™ framework alongside Psychological First Aid (PFA) principles to guide early intervention, support emotional regulation, and determine readiness for relational work.
Participants will leave with practical strategies for supporting clients in the immediate aftermath of betrayal, including safety-oriented intake practices, stabilization techniques, and clear frameworks for navigating complex relational dynamics.
Learn More about LaDonna
Jenny Hughes, PhD
2.5 hours Ethics
This continuing education program is designed for healthcare providers (e.g. mental health professionals, medical professionals, paraprofessionals, educators, etc.) seeking to deepen their understanding of vicarious trauma and vicarious resilience through an evidence-based lens. Participants will explore research-backed practices for recognizing the effects of trauma work on themselves and their clients/patients, with an emphasis on identifying signs of vicarious trauma along with indicators of vicarious resilience. This training gives providers the tools to manage the emotional demands of their work while enhancing their effectiveness in delivering evidence-based treatments for trauma and PTSD.
Participants will engage in practical exercises, case discussions, and create a personalized resilience plan to ensure that resilience practices are sustainable and applicable to both their clients/patients and themselves.
Learn More about Jenny
Thomas Zimmerman, LPCC
3 hours + Bonus Evening Session
(Evening Session available only for On-Site Participants)
Predictive Processing Flash: An Open Approach To Trauma Reprocessing
Rapid Memory Reconsolidation
This version of Flash moves individual difficult memories from traumatic memory storage into more normal memory storage by lightly activating a microslice of traumatic memory at a time, immediately “containering” each microslice, quickly transitioning to a disconfirming/calm scene for about 30 seconds at a time, and disrupting that 30 second calm scene using a series of rapid eye blinks every five seconds.
The blinks during the calm scene split the 30-second exposure into six individual five-second exposures. The large number of exposures to the calm scene appears to fully or partially reprocess each microslice of the memory as it sits out of direct awareness. This process allows complex clients with very little adaptive information, very few resources, and a tiny window of tolerance to resolve extremely painful memories with remarkably little distress and with minimal risk of decompensating.
Presentations October 22
Laura Reagan, LCSW-C
2.5 hours
Rachael Britton, PsyD, LP
2.5 hours
Unmasking Disgust- Navigating Trapped Emotions in Trauma Therapy
Disgust is a fundamental but often overlooked emotion in trauma treatment. This continuing education(CE)course explores the neurobiological, psychological, and sensory dimensions of disgust in trauma survivors.
Participants will examine how disgust manifests in the body, contributes to shame and self-perception, and influences avoidance behaviors. Through evidence-based interventions, including somatic approaches, EMDR, and parts work, clinicians will gain practical strategies to help clients process and integrate disgust-based trauma.
Case studies, ethical considerations, and therapist self-awareness will be incorporated to ensure trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.
Jennifer Parker, LCSW
2.5 hours
Recognizing and Responding to Coercive Control: A Structured Clinical Framework
Jennifer offers an overview of the seven interventions within the Journey to Healing framework for survivors of intimate partner abuse, equipping clinicians with a cohesive structure for assessment and survivor care.
The second half of the training focuses more deeply on “End the Silence,” the foundational intervention that guides survivors in naming their partner’s behavior, releasing self-blame, and reclaiming agency. Through guided role-play and discussion, participants will strengthen their ability to apply these interventions with clinical precision and confidence.
Learn More about Jennifer
Presentations October 23
Anjahni Davi, LMFT
2.5 hours
Type Talk: An Introduction to the Enneagram
In this training, we will explore how the Enneagram can be used both in clinical practice and in the clinician's ongoing personal development. Participants will be introduced to each of the nine types and the three Centers of Intelligence.
Through guided somatic practices and reflective exercises, we will focus on integrating the material to support clinical application while also deepening awareness of how we show up in the therapy room and in our own lives.
Learn More about Anjahni
LaDonna Carey, MA
2.5 hours
A Fresh Look at Forgiveness in Trauma Work
A Fresh Look at Forgiveness in Healing from Relational Trauma explores forgiveness through a trauma-informed lens and asks a critical clinical question: is forgiveness always necessary for healing, or can it sometimes become a pressure that interferes with recovery?
This presentation reviews emerging findings showing that forgiveness-based interventions can improve posttraumatic growth, emotional regulation, coping, anxiety, and depression in some populations. At the same time, newer scoping review data highlight that survivors with relational trauma or adverse childhood experiences often experience mixed responses to forgiveness, and outcomes may worsen when forgiveness is expected as a necessary step to healing.
The session will help therapists to support clients who heal through forgiveness and those who do not. Clinicians will leave with a more nuanced framework for discussing forgiveness in trauma work — one that centers safety, autonomy, and emotional honesty rather than pressure or moral expectation.
Learn More about LaDonna
Meet our Event MC!
Rhonda Noordyk
Rhonda will keep our conference moving!
We’re fortunate to have Rhonda steering the Smoky Mountain Symposium!
She is a strong advocate for women going through divorce, helping them navigate the financial aspects of divorce as the owner of Women’s Financial Wellness Center. She hosts trainings, a podcast, a blog, and has written a book, in addition to working with women individually and in groups.
Learn More about Rhonda
Pricing
Continuing education credit has been applied for across multiple disciplines. Approval details and credit hours will be updated as they are announced.
Includes
Welcome Reception
Lunch on Wednesday and Thursday
Coffee and Light Refreshments
$695
In-Person Symposium
WAITLIST PRIORITY PRICING. 4/1-4/15
Dollywood DreamMore
Discount Room Rates $269 + tax
Free Parking and No Resort Fees!
Two Queens or One King
See More Below!
Limited Availability/Reservation Link available after Registration
$395
Join us virtually!
HYBRID 4/1-4/15
What Past Attendees Are Saying About Our Speakers
“What a presenter! She is engaging, knowledgeable and witty. I loved her sharing real experiences and giving tools and tips on how to approach couples work. Loved all the book recommendation and openness to discussion.”
“I nearly skipped this session because I am not a couples counselor, but I am SO GLAD I didn't. LaDonna was engaging, entertaining, and so knowledgeable. I learned a lot about Critical Discourse Analysis, which I believe can be applied very well as a therapist specializing in BPD. Accountability is difficult for many of my clients and LaDonna provided some great tools in finding the verbiage to challenge clients on owning their own impulsive behaviors. I would listen to LaDonna train on ANYTHING.”
“The information was relevant, helpful, insightful, and nuanced in a way that is difficult to achieve in a 2hr timeframe- I appreciate the content and the presentation!”
“I enjoyed the presenter's energy and presentation contents.”
Why Should You Attend?
This is for therapists who have sat in session and thought, “What do I do with this?”
This is training that supports how you think, how you respond, and how you remain steady in the room with clients who need to feel understood.
This symposium is designed for therapists who may find themselves in sessions where the path forward is not clear.
Where betrayal, trauma, and relational dynamics are still unfolding, where clients are overwhelmed, guarded, or unsure what they want, and the work requires careful thinking, steady presence, and more than a standard approach.
Across three days, you will engage with training that integrates evidence-based methods with real-world clinical application. The focus is on how to assess, respond, and make thoughtful decisions when working with complex relational trauma.
You will strengthen your ability to:
Work with clients navigating betrayal, coercion, and relational trauma as it unfolds
Recognize and respond to emotional states that are often missed or misunderstood, including disgust and forgiveness
Apply approaches such as FLASH and the Enneagram in ways that translate directly into session
Navigate clinical and ethical decision-making when situations are ongoing or unclear
Sustain yourself in the work through an understanding of vicarious resilience
You will also be in the room with clinicians who understand this level of work. That matters.
Symposium Schedule
Dollywood Dreammore Resort
Limited Discount Room Rates
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$269.00 Plus Tax
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Two Queen or One King Rooms
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Limited Discount Room Rates * $269.00 Plus Tax * Two Queen or One King Rooms *
Free Parking No Resort Fees
FAQs
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This symposium is designed for licensed therapists, associate-level clinicians, and graduate students who are working with trauma, betrayal, and complex relational dynamics. The content is applicable across levels of experience, with depth that supports both early-career and seasoned clinicians.
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Continuing education credit (up to 20 hours) has been applied for across multiple disciplines. Approval details and credit hours will be updated as they are announced. Ce-Go is our co-Sponsor and will be responsible for the delivery of post assessments and certificates. They can be reached at Ce-Go.com for additional
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In-person registration includes three days of training, lunch each day, access to all sessions, and continuing education credits. Attendees will also have opportunities for informal connection and discussion with presenters and other clinicians throughout the event.
Thomas Zimmerman will be providing a evening session on Wednesday evening to provide additional instruction in the use of FLASH.
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Yes! A hybrid option is available for those who prefer to attend remotely or are unable to travel. You will be required to log in throughout the sessions for which you desire continuing education credits. There are no recordings.
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The symposium will be held at Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. A limited block of discounted rooms is available at $269 per night. Booking details and access codes will be provided upon registration.
There are numerous hotels and cabins near DreamMore for your convenience. DreamMore offers free parking in you prefer to commute.
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Once you register, you will receive a link and instructions to reserve your room at the discounted rate. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come basis.
If you prefer alternative housing or commuting, DreamMore provides free parking for your convenience.
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We understand life can change. If you need to cancel your registration, you will receive a full refund (minus service charges from Ce-GO and credit card charges) up until September 15. If you have conflicts after September 15, please contact LaDonna Care to determine if any additional service charges will be assessed.
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Check out our speakers section and the daily program for details.
Full session details available on Ce-Go which you can access here
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Joining the waitlist is the best way to access preferred pricing. Waitlist members will receive early registration access before it opens to the public.
You will also receive group discounts for 3 or more attendees.