**Registering on this site is only for continuing education credits. Please visit https://sexualintegrityleaders.com/ for general registration to attend the summit.**

This presentation is a preconference session. Does not conflict with other sessions at the Sexual Integrity Leadership Summit that offer NBCC credit.

Addictions, self-destructive coping behaviors, most often begin as solutions to previously unsolvable problems of distress. Solutions that almost work. Felitti (2003) says, "Addiction is primarily a consequence of adverse childhood experiences...best viewed as...the compulsive use of...[mood-altering behaviors] in response to abnormal prior life experiences [ongoing effects of old trauma], most of which are concealed by shame, secrecy, and social taboo." Hunter (2018) states, " 'mental illness' generally is, in fact, a unique constellation of understandable and adaptive reactions to overwhelming and unbearable experiences." This presentation provides a conceptual framework that helps people make sense of struggle, de-pathologizes survival efforts, and guides the healing process in a way that makes their suffering count.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to describe the presentation's metaphors and utilize them to help clients make sense of their struggle and shift their toxic shame to resiliency,
Participants will be able to construct a story timeline with clients that answers the question, "What makes this make sense?"
Participants will be able to discuss the three core systems' conceptual framework and give meaning to suffering and de-pathologizes survival attempts that became self-destructive.

In order to receive continuing education credit, your attendance will be recorded and you will be required to complete an emailed evaluation of the seminar and presenter.

Participants who attend "Surviving the Dark Cave" will receive 2.5 NBCC clock hours of continuing education.

CarePoint Christian Counseling and C-SASI / Brushfires are cosponsors of this program. This cosponsorship has been approved by NBCC. CarePoint Christian Counseling is an NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7216. The ACEP solely is responsible for this program, including the awarding of NBCC credit.

Surviving the Dark Cave (Pre-Summit)