Developmental Trauma Training Institute

Congratulations to all of the new Phase 1 Brainspotting therapists who completed training in Rapid City, South Dakota with Steve Sawyer and the Developmental Trauma Training Institute!

Over the past few days, you stepped into the learning process with curiosity, openness, and a commitment to deepening your capacity to support healing. We are grateful for the connections, conversations, and thoughtful engagement that made this training such a meaningful experience.

A special thank you to LSS South Dakota for generously hosting this training and helping create a welcoming space for learning, growth, and community.

As you move forward, may you continue to trust the power of presence, attunement, and connection. The work of healing often begins when people feel seen, heard, and accompanied in their experience, and we are honored to support practitioners who are committed to offering that to others.

Thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch, and the care you bring into your communities. We leave Rapid City feeling grateful, inspired, and hopeful about the ripple effects of this work.

With appreciation and gratitude, we celebrate this milestone with you and look forward to seeing where your Brainspotting journey leads next. 💙

What do volcanoes and self-regulation have in common?

In this week’s Trauma Responsive Tuesdays, Steve explored a powerful metaphor using the Cascade Mountain Range and its volcanoes to help us better understand self-regulation.

From the outside, a volcano may appear calm and stable. Yet beneath the surface, pressure, heat, and movement may be building. People are often similar. What we see on the outside doesn’t always reflect what’s happening within.

Steve discussed how experiences, stress, overwhelm, and unresolved challenges can accumulate beneath the surface until they eventually emerge in ways that may seem sudden or unexpected. Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with this person?” we can begin asking, “What pressures might they be carrying?”

Understanding regulation isn’t about controlling behavior—it’s about recognizing the conditions that help people feel safe, connected, and supported.

When we understand the landscape beneath the surface, we respond differently.

If you missed the live conversation, catch the replay and join us next Tuesday for another Trauma Responsive Tuesdays discussion.

Interested in more videos like this? https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC3R5OAxyijH4gc8Ho9oInyA?ra=m

“Why does my child react so strongly?”
“Why do the same struggles keep showing up?”
“What am I missing?”

Parenting can be challenging—especially when your child experiences big emotions, struggles with connection, or seems stuck in patterns that don’t respond to traditional approaches.

The DTTI Parent Forum is a supportive, skills-based Zoom group where parents and caregivers can learn practical tools, ask questions, and connect with others navigating similar challenges.

Each 90-minute session includes teaching, discussion, and live Q&A focused on helping you better understand your child’s behaviors, emotional needs, attachment patterns, and nervous system responses.

Topics include:
✔ Attachment and connection
✔ Regulation skills
✔ Boundaries and expectations
✔ Repair after difficult moments
✔ Anxiety and emotional literacy
✔ Understanding your child’s nervous system language
✔ Social media and today’s parenting challenges

You don’t have to have all the answers. Sometimes the most important step is having support while you figure them out.

Join us from wherever you are virtually and be part of a community that understands.

Next dates are:
July 22
Aug 19
Sept 23

Interested in joining Liz & Steve? https://www.eventzilla.net/e/dtti-parent-forum-2138677134

Shame places us between belonging and abandonment.

It can feel like being trapped between wanting connection and fearing it at the same time.

For many people, shame isn't simply an emotion—it becomes a way of living. A place where isolation, self-criticism, and disconnection take root.

Join us for "Shame: The Land Between Living and Dying," an online training that explores the origins of shame, its impact on development and relationships, and pathways toward healing.

This training is designed for clinicians, educators, helping professionals, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience of shame.

Virtual July 31, Aug 1 & 2 - Learn more and register:
https://www.eventzilla.net/e/shame-the-land-between-living-and-dying--online-training-event-2138672869

Please share with colleagues & friends who may benefit.