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Program Overview

The Autumn 2008 program is no longer accepting applications Next program starts: Autumn 2009 Program location: Online + Classroom (Bellevue) Combined Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>   Program at a glance >>

The UW School of Social Work certificate program, Psychological Trauma: Effective Treatment and Practice, provides 120 hours of post-master's training, designed and taught by leading clinicians and researchers in the trauma field. The program objective is to improve clinical practice in working with traumatized individuals, as well as improve the clinician's ability to sustain an effective and energized career working in the field.

The three-course sequence is offered in an integrated classroom/online-learning format. Participants meet face-to-face one Friday/Saturday weekend in October, then 7 once-monthly Saturdays between November and May, and one Friday/Saturday weekend in June. In addition, there are 45 hours of required online coursework.

The next program will be offered October 2008–early June 2009. Graduates earn 120 Continuing Education contact hours.

Student Feedback About This Certificate

"The breadth of content, from biology to refugees to community crisis, is exceptional."

"Shared resources and presentations by innovators in the field of each subject has been great. I like witnessing actors/role plays for each topic area."

"Dr. Kanter's presentation on neurobiology of trauma was incredible-another brilliant, knowledgeable expert."

"Practice – manuals – clear tools: "Say this..." "Address that," and all the video clips! Fantastic—great to see the treatment in action."

"Besides myself, every client has benefited in some way from what I've been learning in this class."

Program Audience

This program is designed for professionals with a master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling, nursing, or related fields. It is assumed that individuals applying to the certificate program have some experience in clinical interventions and/or psychotherapy with individuals or groups.

It is also assumed that applicants will have prerequisite knowledge and skills in developmental theory, an understanding of psychological distress and disorders, and the ethical application of clinical services as demonstrated in coursework, continuing education and supervised clinical practice. Applicants must be in good standing with their relevant professional organization and state licensing board (whether the applicant is licensed or registered).

By the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the effects of trauma on children and adults, including how trauma interfaces with child development, attachment, culture and neurobiology.
• Apply specific skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and empirically-based treatment with children and adults who have experienced trauma.
• Examine and critique empirically based and innovative trauma therapy techniques.
• Work effectively with personal counter-transference and vicarious traumatization, with enhanced attunement to one's own well-being.
• Evaluate ethical and process dilemmas, and identify possible responses for use in clinical practice.
• Recognize and articulate how cultural context, race and class intersect with traumatization and trauma therapy.

• State of the art theories and evidence-based techniques for assessment and treatment of trauma in children and adults, including practice using Individual and Community Crisis Intervention, Cognitive Processing, and Exposure Treatment.
• Examination of how cultural context, race and class intersect with traumatization and trauma therapy.
• Impact of trauma on children's development; impact of attachment on clients' response to trauma and to therapists.
• Neurobiology of trauma; common medications in response to trauma.
• Understanding and critiquing innovations in the field, including EMDR, Somatic Experiencing and a students' choice innovation session.
• Practice integrated with theory, to deepen and refine practical skills in various modalities.
• Coping and skill-building for the therapist to respond to trauma treatment when it "activates" the therapist. Role of therapist/client relationship in trauma treatment.
• Responding to community trauma: schools, natural disasters, large-scale attacks.
• Specific issues in working with refugees, U.S.-born ethnic communities, victims of torture and veterans.

Contact a Program Representative

If you have questions about this program, please call 206-685-8936 in the greater Seattle area, or 888-469-6499, or e-mail us. You may also contact Janet Brodsky, L.I.C.S.W., Faculty Coordinator, 206-328-4130.

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