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Naomi trained as a social worker in the UK. Early in her career she worked with children in short stay emergency care, homeless youth, and convicted offenders in government and non-government organisations, providing advocacy, psychosocial education, recreational opportunities, skills training, supervision and counselling.
In 1987, Naomi went into partnership at The Delphi Centre, now known as Delphi Training and Consulting where she developed expertise in therapy for adult sequelae of childhood abuse, neglect and attachment disruptions.
Naomi provides clinical consultation for complex post-traumatic stress, dissociative disorders and related impacts of childhood developmental trauma and abuse including self-harming behaviour, suicidality and substance abuse, for mental health professionals working with adult victim-survivors of intergenerational trauma, gender-based violence, and other trauma. She has a wealth of experience working with people across socioeconomic groups, faiths, and sexual orientation.
She is a consultant and trainer for law firms, providing trauma informed training and supporting lawyers’ mental health and wellbeing. Since 2009, Naomi has been a consultant to the United Nations developing and delivering a broad range of trauma informed programs to personnel in missions and duty stations around the world. Most recently she developed a Gatekeeper suicide prevention training for Safety and Security Services and trauma informed awareness training for the Office of the Special Coordinator on improving the UN’s response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the Ombudsman and Ethics Units and Human Resources and Services Department.
A skilled speaker and trainer, Naomi has presented training about complex and developmental trauma, vicarious trauma, resilience building and workplace wellbeing through Delphi and United Nations, in-person and online across all Australian States and Territories – Africa – – Canada – Denmark – Germany – India – Italy – Lebanon – New Zealand – Romania – Thailand – United States. See organisations Naomi has partnered
A founding member of The Australian Association of Trauma and Dissociation Inc. in 1992 (amalgamated with the Australasian Association of Traumatic Stress Studies in 1996) Naomi served on the Executive Committee and Conference Committee from 1991 – 1996, and as Treasurer from 1992 – 1995.
She is a founding member and spokesperson for an action group for victims of white collar crime. An advocate for victims of deceptive and misleading financial advice, Naomi has provided submissions and testimony to senate committees and other inquiries and has been an invited speaker at financial industry forums regarding the impact of white collar crime, the changes needed in the industry and legislation. She has worked closely with parliamentarians across political parties and the media. She is frequently contacted for commentary.
Naomi is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (2017) and recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award (2022) .
She is co-author with Dr Colin A. Ross, (2009) Trauma Model Therapy: A Treatment Approach for Trauma, Dissociation and Complex Comorbidity, Manitou Inc. and two studies about Maladaptive daydreaming.
Once-upon-a-time, if Snow White presented to a psychiatrist or ER describing an attempted murder, being able to talk to animals, monsters in the forest, and that she was living in a house with seven male strangers, she would likely receive a diagnosis of hysteria, psychosis, a personality disorder or schizophrenia.
Today, through a trauma-informed lens grounded in neuroscience, we would ask not, “What is wrong with Snow White?” Rather, we would wonder, “What happened to Snow White?” In exploring carefully, sensitively and respectfully, we would learn about her history of complex and attachment trauma, the loss of her mother at birth, attachment disruption, neglect, betrayal and family violence.
Childhood abuse and betrayal trauma set in motion the development of complicated attachment styles, disrupted sense of Self, intense self-loathing, and paralysing shame. Clients present with a range of psycho-physiological symptoms and from an outsider’s perspective, seemingly self-sabotaging behaviours. A client may meet criteria for several diagnosis, including complex PTSD, personality disorders, eating disorders, dissociative disorders, substance abuse disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicidal ideation.
The Snow White metaphor reframes the medical ‘disordered’ perspective and approaches symptoms and behaviours as functional adaptations or accommodations to trauma, rooted in self-protection and survival, “the problem is not the problem but a solution to another problem.” (Ross and Halpern, 2009)
Grounded in structural dissociation theory (Nijenhuis, Van Der Hart, Steele, 2006) attachment theory and the traumatic origins of shame this workshop harnesses the fairy-tale of Snow White as a metaphor. Each character is understood to be a ‘Part’ in a complex personality structure that attempts to protect Snow White from the pain of overwhelming trauma, abuse and neglect. Naomi will navigate Snow White’s internal system and bring to life Apparently Normal Part(s) (Getting on with normal life parts, Fisher, 2009) and Emotional Parts (traumatised child part(s), (Fisher, 2009) with their Fight – Flight– Freeze – Submit – Attach survival functions. She will demystify complex dynamics and behaviours and provide strategies to work with internal conflicts and protective behaviours embodied by different parts of Self.
The approach can be applied to each tier of structural dissociation, Primary (PTSD), Secondary (C-PTSD, OSDD, BPD) and Tertiary (DID). A non-pathologizing approach, the Snow White metaphor provides a comprehensive framework to assist clients in healing early attachment and trauma-based wounds. Using video, case examples and exercises, Naomi will assist you to identify what works for whom, and when.
Setting the scene:
Reframing complex symptoms and behaviour: core trauma dynamics
Navigating common therapy pitfalls
The impact of developmental trauma on attachment formation, style and implications for the therapeutic relationship
Targeting interventions: “What works for whom”:
The neuro-affective compasses:
Working within window of tolerance – developing tolerance for the intolerable
Four strategies to work with parts
Stepping toward challenging emotions: peeling the layers of the onion
“The workshop was well paced, with well organised content enhanced by the Snow White metaphor. It wove together therapeutic work with brain function in a clear and concise way. I felt validated in my work but also challenged to be more collaborative, slow down and think more widely and deeply about collaboration between parts. The Snow White model has helped me more easily remember the functions, survival responses and attachment characteristics of the different parts.”
Psychologist, Dunedin, New Zealand
“Naomi is very capable and knowledgeable about how to move between the theoretical and the practical. The application of the Snow White metaphor provides a different depth to the concept of trauma work.”
Psychologist, Geelong
“I found Naomi’s ‘parts’ perspective within the Snow White Metaphor of complex trauma, and information on the neurological aspects of treatment a most helpful framework. It assisted me to integrate my pre-workshop knowledge of complex trauma and strengthen my understanding.”
Social Worker, Newcastle
“This was the BEST workshop I have to been to in a very long time. Naomi was engaging, extremely interesting and able to relate the concepts to real life.” Psychiatrist, Melbourne
“Naomi is a very good “story teller” able to explain things in “plain English” – this brought difficult subject matter into a form that was not traumatic for us.”
GP, Sydney
Fairy tales, myths and legends, reflect societal inequities and the power and political constructs of their time. The gendered, racial and ableist biased themes in Snow White and other tales of its genre have rightly been highlighted in recent years, in particular how recent movies have perpetuated or attempted to address these issues.
Interpersonal trauma occurs within, and because of hierarchical abuses of power. The themes within Snow White are sadly, relevant today. The Snow White fairy-tale originates in northern Europe. It will be familiar throughout Europe and most English-speaking countries. The protagonist is a Caucasian heterosexual female. However, the framework presented can be applied to any gender identity and sexual orientation.
The characters may not be familiar with people from other cultures, but the concept of multiplicity of mind is applicable across humankind. It may be understood as possession states, ancestors or gods. I encourage therapists to find myths and folklore belonging to the culture of their clients and explore ways in which these stories may provide a recognisable parts framework.
Delphi Training and Consulting acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters which we share. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge and recognise it is the oldest living culture in the world and that sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Delphi is an inclusive and safe organisation. We respect, celebrate and support diversity, the inclusion of children, young people and adults from LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, people from CALD backgrounds and people with diverse religious beliefs or affiliations.
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