RANZCP homepage
Date
3 December 2025
7pm - 8pm AEDT
Delivery
OnlineAbout
Talking about trauma has never been easy.
From the days of Freud to the present, discussion of trauma and its sequela has caused division. PTSD was only included in the DSM-III in 1980.
From the outset, clinicians noticed that the original definition did not adequately cover the full spectrum of symptoms seen in people with long-standing and repeated traumatic experiences, especially in childhood.
The term "complex PTSD" was first proposed by Judith Herman in 1992 to better characterize the effects of chronic, repeated trauma, particularly interpersonal trauma that began in childhood. In the 30 years since, the diagnosis has yet to be included in the DSM but was included in ICD-11 in 2018.
In this webinar, we hope to explore what makes complex PTSD so complex.
Speakers
Dr Andrew Christensen
Dr Christensen has been a fellow since 1994. In addition to the early years as a junior consultant with Queensland health, he has worked in the private system with a mix of both inpatient and outpatient work.
Currently Andrew manages an outpatient practise only, with a focus on Psychotherapy, EMDR and neurofeedback. The majority of his treatment with patients focuses on those with a history of trauma, anxiety and mood disorders, PTSD, eating disorders and personality disorders.
Amongst trained in EMDR, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Hypnosis ISTDP, Conversational Model of Psychotherapy and ISTDP, he lectures in anxiety disorders, trauma, dissociation, and psychotherapy to the psychiatry registrars via the Queensland Branch Training Committee.
Andrew is currently the director of advanced training in psychotherapy for the Queensland Branch of the faculty of psychotherapy.
Dr Christensen has been a fellow since 1994. In addition to the early years as a junior consultant with Queensland health, he has worked in the private system with a mix of both inpatient and outpatient work.
Currently Andrew manages an outpatient practise only, with a focus on Psychotherapy, EMDR and neurofeedback. The majority of his treatment with patients focuses on those with a history of trauma, anxiety and mood disorders, PTSD, eating disorders and personality disorders.
Amongst trained in EMDR, Dialectic Behaviour Therapy, Hypnosis ISTDP, Conversational Model of Psychotherapy and ISTDP, he lectures in anxiety disorders, trauma, dissociation, and psychotherapy to the psychiatry registrars via the Queensland Branch Training Committee.
Andrew is currently the director of advanced training in psychotherapy for the Queensland Branch of the faculty of psychotherapy.
Disclaimer
This session is a member benefit of the RANZCP and for educational purposes only. The information may represent views of the author and not necessarily the views of the College. Information is subject to change and the College does not warrant that the information is current at the time of viewing and accepts no liability for any loss or damage suffered by you or a patient directly or indirectly as a result of relying on information provided and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing e-learning sessions you also agree to the RANZCP Website Terms of Use Agreement.
