UCM REACT Program ARC Training with Jana Pressley, PsyD

2-Day Training on the ARC (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency) Complex Trauma Framework presented by Jana Pressley, PsyD
About this Event

ARC – Two-day Training October 1 & 2, 2026

Location: University of Chicago Medicine, Specific Location and Times TBD

Title: Treatment of Complex Childhood Trauma: The Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Treatment Framework

ARC Developed by: Kristine Kinniburgh, LICSW & Margaret Blaustein, Ph.D.

Presenter: Jana Pressley, Psy.D.

A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Jana Pressley is Director of Clinical Services at the Complex Trauma Treatment Center Boston, Co-Director of the Complex Trauma Treatment Affiliates, Founding Faculty for the Complex Trauma Training Institute, and Senior Training Associate of the Foundation Trust. She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Richmont Graduate University. Dr. Pressley specializes in the treatment of youth, adults, and couples/families impacted by developmental trauma, as well as providing consultation supporting systems-level implementation of trauma-informed care in organizations. She teaches trauma-related courses at the graduate level and has designed and implemented trauma treatment specialization courses and qualitative trauma-focused research labs for graduate programs. Dr. Pressley’s research focuses on the experience of court-involved young adults who have suffered relational trauma in the midst of chronic poverty and community violence, as well as the impact of complex trauma history on adult spirituality and meaning-making. Dr. Pressley is also a national trainer and consultant in the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) and Component-Based Psychotherapy (CBP) complex trauma intervention model.

Brief Description

The Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC) framework is a core-components treatment model, developed to provide a guiding framework for thoughtful clinical intervention with complexly traumatized youth and their caregiving systems. Drawing from the fields of trauma, attachment, and child development, the framework recognizes the importance of working with the child-in-context, of acknowledging the role of historical experiences and adaptive responses in current presentation, and of intervening with the surrounding environment – whether primary caregivers or treatment system – to support and facilitate the child’s healthy growth and development. Rather than identify step-by-step intervention strategies, the framework identifies 10 key “building blocks”, or intervention targets, key skills/goals within each domain, developmental and cultural considerations, and potential applications across settings.

Brief Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to describe three priority domains of intervention for youth and families exposed to complex trauma.
2. Participants will be able to identify 10 core targets of intervention with trauma-impacted youth.
3. Participants will be able to describe at least one intervention technique within each of the primary identified treatment domains.