September 4th and 5th 2009 

This year ASTSS is delighted to bring to Australia eminent clinician, researcher and current President of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies - Dr Jonathan Bisson.

In this, 2009 special MASTER CLASS, Dr Jonathan Bisson will deliver a one-and-a-half day workshop entitled "Early Intervention: The Way Forward", which will be followed by the traditionally lively and always popular half-day panel discussion, comprising some of Australia's most notable professionals in psychological trauma. The ASTSS AGM will be held on the first night of this exclusive MASTER CLASS event.

Click here to listen to an audio podcast with Dr Jonathan Bisson 

(approximately 20 mins, 10.1mb, Mp3 format) 

In this podcast (recorded on May 29th 2009) Dr Bisson speaks with Stress Points Editor Bronwyn Tarrant about: first line interventions following a traumatic event; the role of medication; psychological first aid; online self-support interventions for PTSD and what participants can expect from his September workshop. 

Click here to download flyer and registration form.

Click here to register online

Click here to download the masterclass program 

"Early Intervention: The Way Forward" - The Master Class

• Dr Bisson will present a full-day Friday and half-day Saturday workshop discussing the evolution of early interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorders.
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• He will address the evidence for a wide range of psychosocial and biological approaches to intervene in the first 3 months following a traumatic event.
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• Dr Bisson will explore with participants the emergence of newer approaches, such as psychological first aid and trauma risk management.
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• The first half of the workshop will conclude by describing an evidence-informed approach to psychosocial care following major traumatic events, including organisational, practical and clinical responses. 
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• The remainder of the workshop will use case examples to illustrate the approaches and to impart relevant skills to participants.

Dr Jonathan Bisson - The Speaker

• Dr Jonathan Bisson is a Clinical Reader in Psychiatry at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom and an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist with Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust.  
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• Dr Bisson, who developed his interest in traumatic stress during his time in the British Army, now leads a traumatic stress service in Cardiff and is an active researcher and teacher in the area of psychological trauma.  
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• He is the President of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), Vice President of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and co-chaired the development committee for the UK NICE guidelines for PTSD.  
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• Dr Bisson has over 70 peer-reviewed publications and has been awarded grants totalling more than £1,500,000 primarily in the field of traumatic stress.  
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• His main research interest has concerned the prevention of psychiatric disorder, in particular PTSD, following traumatic events.  
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• He has conducted various studies including two widely cited randomised controlled trials of early psychological interventions (psychological debriefing and trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy) following traumatic events and three Cochrane systematic reviews in the traumatic stress field. 
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• He is currently involved in a project to develop and disseminate throughout Europe guidelines on psychosocial care following disasters. 
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• His work on early interventions following traumatic events has shaped thinking internationally.  

Click here for a list of Dr Bisson's publications, and watch this post for further details.