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Digital Seminar

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for Trauma: Rapidly Decrease Chronic Nightmares, Improve Sleep and Reduce PTSD Symptoms


Speaker:
Amelia Kelley, PhD
Duration:
Approx 6 hrs
Copyright:
May 23, 2025
Product Code:
POS150157
Media Type:
Digital Seminar

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Description

Nightmares and sleep disturbances are among the most distressing and persistent symptoms of trauma.

But assuming these issues will improve as therapy progresses can leave clients suffering longer than necessary … and worsen irritability, memory lapses, and concentration difficulties that make therapy even harder.

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) offers a faster, more direct approach so you can reduce nightmares and improve your clients’ sleep in as few as 3 to 4 sessions - no previous sleep expertise required!

And now in this live webinar, you can learn to apply the evidence-based IRT protocol in just one day so you can:

  • Rapidly reduce the frequency and intensity of clients’ nightmares
  • Quickly improve clients overall emotional well-being
  • Make therapy more efficient by reducing the memory lapses, irritability, and concentration issues caused by poor sleep
  • And much more

And since the focus of IRT is on re-writing (and not recalling) nightmares, this approach is not only proven to work but is gentle on your clients.

So don’t wait. Purchase today!

Credit

Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationships

All members of the Сòòò½ÊÓÆµ. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners.  For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.



* Credit Note - Self-Study CE Information Coming Soon

Continuing education credit information is coming soon for this non-interactive self-study package.

CE hours may be available for select professions, as listed in the target audience. Hours will be dependent on the actual recording time. Please check with your state licensing board or organization for specific requirements. 

There may be an additional fee for CE certificates. Please contact our Customer Service at 1-800-844-8260 for more details. 

**Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your professions standards.



Speaker

Amelia Kelley, PhD's Profile

Amelia Kelley, PhD Related seminars and products


Dr. Amelia Kelley, is a therapist, author and nationally recognized expert specializing in the treatment of abuse and relationship trauma.

She’s trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, art therapy and Brainspotting, and has used Imagery Rehearsal Therapy to help countless clients reduce the nightmares that haunt them so they can find peace.

Dr. Kelley is an adjunct faculty member at Yorkville University, and a nationally recognized relationship expert featured on SiriusXM Doctor Radio’s The Psychiatry Show as well as NPR’s The Measure of Everyday Life. Her private practice is affiliated with the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Kinsey Institute, and she is the author of several books, including Gaslighting Recovery for Women.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amelia Kelley is the owner of Kelley Counseling and Wellness and has an employment relationship with the Art Therapy Institute. She receives a speaking honorarium from Сòòò½ÊÓÆµ. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Amelia Kelley has no relevant non-financial relationships.


Additional Info

Questions?

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Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.


Objectives

  1. Identify how childhood trauma exposure interacts with real-world stress to exacerbate clients’ physiological sleep issues.
  2. Determine the significance of the identification of sleep disturbances in treatment of trauma-exposed clients.
  3. Evaluate the effectiveness of IRT in reducing nightmare frequency and distress, using standardized measures such as the Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire and the Nightmare Distress Questionnaire.
  4. Use IRT techniques to create calming images and re-script nightmares.
  5. Integrate key CBT-I techniques, including sleep restriction and cognitive restructuring, for patients experiencing insomnia.
  6. Utilize art therapy elements to support the phases of Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (exposing, rescripting, and rehearsing) in the treatment of PTSD.

Outline

Nightmares, Sleep Disturbance and PTSD
  • Diagnosing PTSD
  • CPTSD and special consideration for IRT
  • Co-occurring sleep disturbances with PTSD
  • Traumatic versus nontraumatic nightmares
  • The prevalence of nightmares and traumatic nightmares in PTSD
  • The function of nightmares and dreams as exposure
Sleep Quality and Trauma Recovery
  • How stress adversely impact sleep health
  • Chronic pain exacerbated by sleep disorders in PTSD
  • Frequent waking, hyperarousal and nightmares
  • Quality sleep and memory consolidation
  • Quality sleep and emotion regulation
  • What happens to the sleep deprived PTSD brain
Theoretical Underpinnings of IRT
  • Research support for use of IRT
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and IRT
  • Emotional processing theory and IRT
  • The use of Targeted memory reactivation (TMR) and IRT
  • Research, risks and treatment limitations
  • Indication and contraindications
How to Administer the IRT 6 Step Protocol
  • Step 1 – Psychoeducation and Rationale
  • Step 2 – Dream Analysis and Selection
  • Step 3 – Dream Recording (written or alternatives of telling/drawing)
  • Step 4 – Dream Rescripting
  • Step 5 – Dream Rehearsal
  • Step 6 – Follow up
Incorporate Other CBT Strategies for Growth and Healing
  • Overview of evidenced based CBT-I treatment for insomnia
  • Change unhelpful cognitions around sleep
  • Growth mindset to identify improvements made even if nightmares persist
  • Top sleep hygiene tips to improve sleep after IRT
Experiential Techniques to Enhance IRT
  • Efficacy of art therapy to increase engagement and curb avoidance
  • Art therapy to increase safety
  • Externalization of nightmares through art
  • Sensory-perceptual experiences in IR-AT
  • how to implement unique procedures in IR-AT

Target Audience

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Psychotherapists
  • Therapists
  • Addiction Counselors
  • Marriage and Family Therapists
  • Nurses
  • Physicians
  • Psychiatrists
  • Other Mental Health Professionals

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We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

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