Topic: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Presenter: Elizabeth Schaefer, MA, LPC

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, originally conducted in the mid-1990s, was one of the first studies to connect childhood trauma to negative health outcomes such as depression, heart disease, severe obesity, suicide attempts, and substance abuse. It also highlighted the prevalence of childhood trauma in America: Out of the original 17,000+ participants, nearly two-thirds endorsed having experienced at least one ACE (out of a possible 10) before the age of 18. Clients who present with both a substance abuse disorder and a history of repeated or severe traumas will need to address their trauma history as part of long-term relapse prevention, in order to ensure they do not return to self-medication.

Objectives:

1. Understand and articulate the relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adult health risks and behaviors
2. Understand the relationship between ACEs and social outcomes
3. Understand the effects of ACEs and toxic stress on childhood brain development

Presenter Bio:

Elizabeth Schaefer, MA, LPC, has been working in the fields of mental health and substance abuse since 2011. She is currently a counselor and occasional case manager at the Intensive Residential Treatment program at Stepping Stones, where she teaches skills from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, educates clients about trauma and its effects, and enjoys running groups on all topics.