Somatic symptoms are common for clients who have PTSD, depression, and anxiety  They are common physical manifestations of traumatic symptoms and can include physical pain, gastrointestinal complaints, and sexual dysfunction. For clinicians, treating clients for somatic symptoms can be challenging. Firstly, clients experience genuine physical discomfort, creating a therapeutic alliance while somatization is a delicate balance. Secondly, because of the mind-body connection, traumatized, depressed, and anxious people are more vulnerable to physical illness, and differentiating between chronic illness and somatic symptoms is challenging. Strategies to understand, engage, and treat clients will be provided to better understand clients with somatic complaints.

Upon completion of the webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify what somatization is, how it manifests itself in clients across their lifespans, how it is related to the mind-body connection, and how it manifests itself with clients with psychological stressors.
• Determine the various disorders that result in somatization, such as PTSD, depression, anxiety (especially illness-related anxiety), somatization disorder, and conversion disorder.
• Identify psychotherapeutic strategies to work with clients who have somatic complaints that help preserve the therapeutic relationship and advance the well-being of clients.