eiseEducation

Betrayal trauma occurs when someone is harmed by a person or institution they depend on for safety and trust—such as abuse by a caregiver or a failure of an organisation to respond supportively to disclosures. In this compelling webinar, renowned psychologist and researcher Prof Jennifer Freyd will delve into her pioneering work on interpersonal betrayal, institutional betrayal, and betrayal blindness—a survival mechanism where the betrayal is partially or wholly unseen, even by the person affected.

In this webinar, Professor Jennifer Freyd will guide participants through the groundbreaking concepts of betrayal trauma theory, focusing on how betrayal trauma and betrayal blindness often surface in clinical practice. She will distinguish the unique psychological impacts of interpersonal versus institutional betrayal and introduce the powerful idea of institutional courage as a response to institutional betrayal. Participants will also learn to recognise and address DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender)—a defensive strategy commonly used by perpetrators—while exploring how betrayal trauma theory can be applied therapeutically to enhance client safety, foster validation, and support meaning-making in recovery.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

- Identify the core features of betrayal trauma and betrayal blindness, and how these may present in clinical work - Differentiate between interpersonal and institutional forms of betrayal, and understand their distinct psychological impacts

- Recognise DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender)—a common defensive tactic used by perpetrators when confronted

- Understand the emerging concept of institutional courage, including how it can counter institutional betrayal

- Apply betrayal trauma theory to therapeutic settings to foster greater safety, validation, and meaning-making for clients.