The Science of Gender & Resistance: Empowering Ourselves and Our Clients with Practical Neuroscience
2026-04-22 09:00 - 12:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Healthy Equity or Cultural Competence CEs!
The Science of Gender & Resistance: Empowering Ourselves and Our Clients with Practical Neuroscience
Presented by: Hannah Smith, MA, LMHC, CGP
When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026| 9:00 am – 12:15 pm Pacific Time
Where: Live on Zoom. You will receive workshop details the week of the workshop.
Continuing Education Credit Hours: 3 Health Equity or Cultural Competence CEs | $95.00
Gender is a hot-button topic these days, for sure! There is so much dis- and misinformation out there. There is presently no societal consensus on the meaning of gender identity and the plethora of science behind this. Some people will even go so far as to say there is no science and that it’s “All (simply) about chromosomes.”
Many of us know on a gut level this is not true, but we cannot put what we know into words. In fact, even doctors, parents, and transgender and non-binary people themselves can struggle to do so.
Then, even if we could explain it, we face friends, loved-ones, and strangers who belittle, dehumanize, ignore, or shut us down whenever we try to explain. Those who know little to nothing about gender will put their own world views over those of a multitude of experts – even to the point of attempting to erase and entire people group.
At a time when educating society on this important topic is at an all-time high, the resistance we face is not only maddening, it is downright traumatizing. In this training, you will learn the actual (and abundant) science behind gender development.
You will learn to differentiate clearly between sex, gender, and orientation and how to articulate it all in a concise and coherent way.
AND…
You will also learn the biology that underlies the resistance LGBTQIA+ people face when attempting to explain themselves. You will gain a new understanding of what is happening inside “the other side” so you or your clients can manage your own nervous system activation during these difficult discussions. Practical techniques will be added to this new understanding to help with emotion regulation and staying empowered.
Objectives:

1. List and describe the science of gender development and how it differs from sex,
orientation, and other aspects of identity
2. Identify the neurobiological regions in the brain and body responsible for distortions,
implicit bias, and other psychological resistances
3. Explain the neurobiological mechanisms of resistance with the aim of helping clients to
manage their own activation during difficult discussions
4. Apply practical, evidence-based techniques to manage activation and empower more
accurate storytelling during difficult conversations

REGISTER HERE

Therapeutic Neuroscience Certificate Series: A Brain Science-Based Approach to Cognitive & Somatic Treatment of Common Mental Health Disorders🆕
2026-05-04 09:00 - 2026-06-01 12:15
Popular Certificate Program!
Therapeutic Neuroscience Certificate Series: A Brain Science-Based Approach to Cognitive & Somatic Treatment of Common Mental Health Disorders
Presented by: Hannah Smith, MA, LMHC, CGP
When: Monday, May 4th – Monday, June 1st, 2026 | 4-Week Series | Meets Four Consecutive Mondays except Monday, May 25th | 9:00 pm – 12:15 pm Pacific Time (same time each Monday)
Where: Live on Zoom. You will receive your Zoom link/invitation the week of the workshop.
Continuing Education Credit Hours: 12 CEs | $499.00
***see below for payment options
Are you ready for something really different?
As a provider of mental health treatment, it is important to stay informed about the latest advances in treatment. Beyond being a requirement of most licensure boards, research shows that improving practitioner competence decreases burnout and increases job satisfaction!
One of the hottest topics is the integration of neuroscience into mental health treatment. You heard this, and you want to learn more – but it feels daunting and overwhelming in the face of all you have to deal with every day. The prospect just does not sound pleasant.
So, why not make it easier?
Introducing Cascadia’s brain science certificate series!
In keeping with not only teaching to the brain in presentation style, but also in the ability to take in and retain, Cascadia now offers this in a series of three-hour sessions over a few weeks! The benefits are many!
First, the course is separated into four discrete and highly useful sessions:
Week One: Pertinent Therapeutic Neuroscience
Week Two: Applications in Therapeutic Neuroscience
Week Three: Neuroscience-informed Cognitive Approaches
Week Four: Neuroscience-informed Somatic Approaches.
Besides three-hour time blocks being easier to manage than an entire day, you will also have lots of time to think about, try things, and ask questions in between sessions, as skill support inquiries are encouraged!
None of us wants to spend our time learning only to come away tired and feeling that we could not retain what we learned. In this format, you will have the chance to really sink your teeth into the material and build a sense of competence!
All this will take place in the comfort of your own home!
If you have wanted to take your practice to the next level by incorporating cutting-edge neuroscience, then this is the course for you! Whether you aren’t quite sure what the amygdala really is or you are a PhD in Neuropsychology – this practical, application-based course will appropriately challenge and inspire you!
Workshop Objectives:

Learn Pertinent Brain Systems & Structures and Describe Their Practical Application to Clinical Work
Identify & Examine the Neurological Processes Underlying Common Mental Health Disorders, Such as Anxiety, Depression, Personality Disorders & Trauma.
Relate Specific Dysfunctional Behavioral Presentations to Associated Brain Functions to Improve Diagnosis & Pinpoint Effective Treatment Modalities
Apply the Neuroscience-informed Lens to Current Cognitive-based (ACT, CBT, IFS), Mindfulness-based (DBT, MBT), & Somatic-based (EFT, Expressive Therapies) Theories You Already Know Increasing Insights to Improve Treatment Trajectory & Outcomes
Evaluate the differences between amygdala-based and cortex-based symptoms
Apply proven strategies for calming and training the amygdala.
Use Practical Neuroscience-informed Techniques, such as Threat Analysis, to Improve Client Understanding, Compliance, and Outcomes
Convey Difficult Science Terms & Concepts in an Understandable, Client-friendly Manner

PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cascadia Training values quality continuing education that is accessible, inclusive, and without barriers to all. We never want the cost of our workshops to be a barrier to attending one of our workshops, particularly our multi-session workshops.
We offer several options to make our workshops cost-inclusive: payment plans, a limited number of full and partial scholarships, discounts for students, and discounts for early professionals.
For payment plans, you can select paying 50% today and the remaining 50% will automatically be processed from your credit card on the last day of June.
Please email us at hello@cascadiatraining.org to inquire about discounts and scholarships.
REGISTER HERE

🆕BRAND-NEW! Enduring Relationships: Connection-Driven Tools to Mitigate Separations & Transitions in Foster Care🆕
2026-05-07 09:00 - 12:00
BRAND-NEW!
Health Equity or Cultural Competence CEs!
Enduring Relationships: Connection-Driven Tools to Mitigate Separations & Transitions in Foster Care
Presented by: Kristie Baber, MSW, LICSW, CCTP
When: Thursday, May 7th, 2026 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Pacific Time
Where: Live on Zoom. You will receive your Zoom link/invitation the week of the workshop.
Continuing Education Credit Hours: 3 Health Equity or Cultural Competence CEs | $90.00
Despite Julia Robert’s assertion to Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, home is NOT just geography. Most importantly, it’s about relationships – the ones we build, the ones we lose, and the ones we nurture despite the challenges of distance or system involvement.
Dealing with the inherent issues of separation and transition in the foster care system, this workshop will address ways to protect connections, prioritize relationships, and buffer the experience of loss. With a focus on our kids’ experience of the world, we’ll explore the following:

Visits, separations, and transitions with relationships as the focus
Unique exposure to grief & loss
Healthy transitions with tools & resources
Impacts of placement moves at different stages
Effective communication with children
Reconsideration of permanence, family relationships & “open” adoption

The audience for this workshop includes mental health therapists, social workers, caregivers, and any pediatric providers caring for system-involved children. There will be videos and case vignettes to illustrate, as well as tons of tools and resources provided (because your jobs are hard enough!).
REGISTER HERE
