Training Programs

The Training Program of the Trauma Studies Center is designed for licensed mental health professionals who seek a specialization in trauma treatment. It offers a two-year sequence of learning.

The Program provides a thorough grounding in contemporary trauma theory and practice, including the latest contributions from neurobiology, attachment theory and the importance of seeing each client as a whole person. Students are taught to assess and treat trauma, and are introduced to a range of new and effective trauma therapies including, among others, EMDR, Somatic Experiencing and IFS.

The Program integrates this mind/brain/body approach to trauma within a psychoanalytic framework. It trains students to address the psychodynamic issues they are likely to encounter in trauma treatment and attends to the personal and professional impact of trauma work.

To deepen the learning and the personal experience of each candidate, an individual supervision component is also included in the Trauma Studies Program.

Academic Schedule:

First Semester: September 16 - January 13
Mid-year Break
Second Semester: February 3 - May 19

Wednesdays: 9:00 am—1:00 pm
The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy
1841 Broadway at 60th Street, 4th floor

First Year

9:00 am - 10:30 am : Class
10:30 am - 12 noon : Group Supervision
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm : Process Group

Second Year

9:00 am - 10:30 am : Group Supervision
10:30 am - 12:00 noon : Class
12:00 noon - 1:00 pm : Process Group

Curriculum

Coursework

The Training Program offers a 4-semester sequence of coursework that moves the student from theory to treatment, with increasing emphasis on clinical application. Year One is an overview that introduces the basic concepts and vocabulary of trauma theory and treatment, as well as models of processing. Year Two revisits these same concepts and examines them in more depth. It also exposes the student to a variety of other important trauma topics. In Year Two a series of faculty presentations demonstrates how experienced clinicians actually use and integrate various processing models in their practice.

Year One
Overview of Trauma Theory and Treatment

Semester 1 (Fall)

Foundations of Trauma Theory; Stabilization (15 sessions)
Neurobiology and attachment are essential to an understanding of trauma theory and treatment. Semester 1 teaches these important concepts in detail and connects them with the diagnostic categories of Simple and Complex PTSD. It explains the dissociative response to trauma and introduces Phase-Oriented Treatment, with special emphasis on the Stabilization Phase and its importance. A variety of stabilization techniques are taught through demonstration and practice.

[Mid-Year Break: EMDR Training]

Semester 2 (Spring)

Integration of Traumatic Memory: Models of Processing (15 sessions)
Semester 2 introduces active work with traumatic memory. The concepts of “integration” and “processing” are defined, and the importance of the therapeutic relationship is underscored. Students are taught to determine readiness for processing and are introduced to five major models of processing—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SMP) and Somatic Experiencing (SE), and Acceleratted Experienial Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). Desensitization models, such as Exposure Therapy, are also reviewed. Classes emphasize demonstration of the techniques (via DVD’s and live practice) and compare approches using questions that examine the therapeutic action of each of the models.

Year Two
Trauma Treatment: Clinical Applications

Semester 3 (Fall)

The Clinician in the Real World (15 sessions)

A grasp of theory is essential to effective trauma work, but clinicians are likely to encounter many situations in the consulting room that do not conform neatly to academic constructs. Year Two addresses this challenge, as students begin to apply trauma theory to their real work with clients. Semester 3 revisits concepts presented in Year One, with special emphasis on the role of attachment and dissociation in trauma treatment. Senior clinicians also present and explain their own work with clients.

Semester 4 (Spring)

Special Topics in Trauma Treatment (15 sessions, including 5 elective)
Semester 4 invites guest lecturers from a variety of trauma-related fields to present in their area of speciality. In addition to 10 core topics (DID, Ambiguous loss, Trauma work with younger population, etc.), students select 5 electives. Electives allow students to pursue areas of special interest, round out areas of the program they felt have been under-represented, or have additional classes on those topics that interest them. Students initiate their own suggestions for lectures or choose from a prepared list.


Group Supervision
Group supervision is an opportunity for candidates to share cases and work together to clarify core concepts and common themes that emerge in trauma treatment.

Individual Supervision
Candidates are required to complete 30 hours of weekly individual supervision over the academic year. Supervision is held at a mutually agreeable time in the supervisor’s office.

Candidates may choose from a list of Training Program supervisors who have been selected for their expertise in trauma treatment and in several of the modalities offered in the curriculum.

Individual supervision provides a place to follow cases in depth over time. With supervisory guidance, candidates have the opportunity to discuss dynamics, develop detailed treatment plans, and apply new treatment techniques.

Process Group
The Process Group is designed to increase awareness of the impact of traumatic material on the mind and body of the therapist and encourage self-care. It offers a safe place to reflect upon and monitor countertransference reactions to trauma survivors, and provides a forum to discuss the Program and group dynamics.

Clinical Work
Work with trauma patients is an important aspect of trauma training. Students may use trauma cases from their own private practice, from agency practices or from clients from the ICP clinic.

Students who do not have access to suitable trauma cases are required to see a minimum of two clients from the ICP Trauma Treatment Program. In addition, we encourage all trainees to consider the possibility of seeing at least one trauma case at ICP. These cases are chosen specifically for their training potential. In addition, ICP clients' treatment is usually free of the complexities and strictures that often make it difficult to apply new concepts in agency settings.

EMDR Training
EMDR is among the most well-researched and well-regarded techniques for treating trauma. As such it has been chosen as the main model for the Trauma Studies Program treatment modality. Candidates will receive, as part of the program, a week-long Level I and II EMDR Training with Laurel Parnell, a nationally known EMDR consultant. The training takes place during the January midyear break at the New York Open Center.

The cost of EMDR training is included in the tuition. Because this cost is factored into the total program budget, we regret that we are unable to make tuition adjustments for those who may already have taken the training. However, the training can be used to satisfy the continuing education requirement for EMDR Certification, and is a useful refresher for those who have already had their first training. It is common practice for EMDR clinicians to repeat basic training to reacquaint themselves with EMDR fundamentals.

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