Certificate in trauma counselling for mental health professionals: Level 2

Facilitator: Ian Robertson, MSW, RSW

Description: The certificate in trauma counselling for mental health professionals: Level 2 is an advanced clinical training for those who provide psychotherapy and counselling to clients who have experienced traumatic exposures. This training will introduce key components for working with client presenting historical or oriented trauma exposures.

This training will include: countertransference/ transference reactions; overview of trauma-specific assessments and structuring the assessment process; case conceptualization and formulation process; treatment planning; applying “bottom up” approach treatment approaches to assist in regaining control of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) mobilization and collapse responses; and overviewing the use of ego state therapeutic approaches such as schema and structural dissociative therapy as treatment models of care. It is an educational applied training program, having several breakout groups, dyads and practice experiences to the theories and model discussed.

Program schedule and clinical focus by day: Below is an overview of the daily structure and key clinical themes explored throughout the training. 

Day 1 - Transference and countertransference as a predictor of therapeutic attachment, treatment outcome, and potential impact on the professional doing trauma work

Day 2 - Where to begin: stabilization, structure assessment and building the treatment plan

Day 3 - Introduction of polyvagal theory as a viable therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Day 4 - Practical clinical application of polyvagal therapy

Day 5 - Working with dissociative phobic ‘parts’ of self

Day 6 - Schema therapy for PTSD

Please see the Agenda tab at the top of this page for further information on the daily learning breakdown.

Learning objectives:

• Understand that clinical attachment is the means to “safety” in a therapeutic setting and fundamental to the treatment of trauma; this training will provide deeper insight into the clinical significance of transference reaction from clients with PTSD and the potential risks of negative countertransference reactions from the professional
• Gain a working knowledge and practical skills into a structured assessment process for PTSD, which will support in developing an individualized treatment plan
• Gain a working knowledge, based on the assessment process, how to prepare a case conceptualization and treatment formulation plan
• Develop a working knowledge and practical skills for Polyvagal therapy as a treatment approach
• Develop a working knowledge and the application of ego state therapies including Schema and Structural Dissociative treatment models

OPA employees, members, associates and affiliates can use discount code OPA20 to receive 20% off all upcoming programs (cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions/discounts).