Why and How to Work with Nightmares

In recent years, there have been many important advances in what we know about nightmares and their treatment. All the evidence points to a strong need for mental health clinicians to be informed about the risks of frequent nightmares and to understand how to help. Fortunately, well-researched treatment methods are available, and they are often quick and simple to implement.

Nightmares, Trauma, and Health
An astounding confluence of new evidence underscores the importance of asking about nightmares if you are a mental health professional. Most of us know that nightmares are linked with trauma and are a cardinal symptom of post-traumatic stress injury. What you may not know is that frequent nightmares also pose a threat to cardiovascular health, lead to much higher risk of suicide, and are associated with most other mental health diagnoses. In this talk, will learn how to assess client dreams to better understand the level of risk they may pose.

Nightmare Relief: Steps to Effective Treatment
First, Dr. Ellis will give an overview of nightmare treatment methods and their current evidence base. You will learn the steps that reliably lead to relief from frequent nightmares. The steps are based on a combination of dream rescripting and somatic approaches to trauma treatment. Rescripting is an evidence-based practice that is quick, easy and can significantly reduce the frequency and distress of nightmares. And embodied experiential practices make the process gentle, safe and potentially more effective for those whose nightmares spring from traumatic experiences. We will end with clinical examples of how this protocol works, answer questions and offer pathways to a deeper understanding of how to implement nightmare treatment.

This introductory continuing education webinar is designed to help mental health professionals: 

1. Describe the health risks associated with nightmares.
2. Assess the level of risk associated with client nightmares.
3. Implement the basic steps associated with successful nightmare treatment.

Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: This talk is a brief overview of nightmare health risks and treatment. While the methods presented have been shown to have no adverse effects in the research, and the basic steps are simple, more in-depth training would be required to understand how to address more severe and complex cases.

Declaration identifying any potential conflict of interest and/or commercial support: No conflict of interest indicated.

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact GoodTherapy here.

How the Web Conference Works

Before the scheduled event, all registered attendees will be sent a reminder email from GoodTherapy with specific instructions on how to log in to the webinar, as well as links to optional handout materials if applicable.

To attend the event, registered attendees will log in to the Microsoft Teams web conference center using a computer or device with internet access and/or call into the teleconference line on a phone. Attendees will be able to submit questions during the webinar via text chat in the Microsoft Teams web conference center and will be able to see the live streaming video and/or document sharing. 

At the conclusion of this event, participants will receive an email with information about how to request a CE certificate in your GoodTherapy Account. To confirm attendance, participants must enter the start code and end code announced at the beginning and end of the live presentation. Participants will also be prompted to complete an online survey evaluating the event. Participants will need to complete this online survey within six days after the event. Once completed, participants will be able to download a copy of their CE certificate right away by logging in to their GoodTherapy account.

For additional information about this event or our CE grievance procedures, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

One (1) CE contact hour will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety. 

GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2025 – 3/30/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy, LLC 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-0395. GoodTherapy, LLC 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost, as well as other member benefits such as a profile listing in GoodTherapy's Therapist Directory. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.

Just want CE credits? Sign up for a monthly or annual CE Subscription with GoodTherapy to get unlimited access to our CE Program, including this event, other live CE web conferences, and hundreds of hours of homestudy courses.

Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

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