Course Description

Evidence-based therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), such as Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy, and EMDR, can be very effective for individuals with PTSD, even those who have suffered from the disorder for decades. At the same time, many clients present to treatment with complex comorbidities and numerous psychosocial stressors. These factors can make it challenging to determine when to recommend trauma-focused therapy and how to skillfully initiate an effective course of trauma-focused PTSD treatment within the greater context of clients’ lives.

This course provides clinical guidance and an overview of the science about when it is appropriate to initiate trauma-focused PTSD treatment. In addition, this course describes how to navigate clinical decision-making about the timing of PTSD treatment given the frequent and complex comorbidities with PTSD. This course also offers practical support on how to monitor and respond to other relevant clinical symptoms and challenges within the framework of trauma-focused PTSD treatment. Lastly, this course will identify clinician factors and behaviors that can help set clients up for success with PTSD treatment.

Total running time 152 minutes. 2.5 Hours CE. Recorded Video Format (non-interactive). 

Content Advisory: To protect client confidentiality, case examples may include fictionalized elements.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Assess a least four factors that indicate a client is ready to begin trauma-focused PTSD therapy

  • Identify at least three circumstances that require preparatory work prior to PTSD therapy

  • Address at least three clinical challenges within an evidence-based trauma-focused therapy framework

  • Identify at least four clinician-specific factors that can contribute to positive PTSD therapy outcomes

Course Outline

1. Defining trauma-focused treatments (TFTs)

a. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

b. Prolonged Exposure therapy (PE)

c. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy

2. Defining client readiness

3. Clarifying treatment goals

4. Navigating comorbidities

a. What to address first?

b. Assessment/tracking

c. Navigating unexpected clinical issues

5. Considering context and current stressors

6. Timing and commitment

7. Motivation and engagement

8. Clinician variables

9. When the client isn’t ready

Assessing Client Readiness for Trauma-Focused Treatment References.pdf

Instructors

Stephanie Sacks, PhD, Psychologist

Stephanie Sacks is a Florida and DC-licensed psychologist in private practice, specializing in trauma care. She serves as an Adjunct Faculty at Nova Southeastern University, and as a Trainer and Consultant for Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD.

Additional Information

Format and Length:

Recorded video format (non-interactive). Total running time 152 minutes. Progress is saved after each lesson section so you can complete the course in multiple sittings. Please note that if you leave the course in the middle of a video, quiz, or survey section you may be required to start that section from the beginning.

Topic Area:

Clinical practice

Instructional Level:

Intermediate. This course assumes significant familiarity and experience with evidence-based approaches to trauma treatment, and builds on that existing knowledge base.  

Completion Requirements:

To obtain your CE certificate, you must progress through all course segments, complete a satisfaction survey, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a course completion quiz. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within a reasonable number of attempts, and may be blocked from completing the course and receiving their certificate if unable to do so.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After watching course videos, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Psychologists, counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists.

Publication and Review Dates:

Course Published: August 10, 2021 

Financial Support Statement:

SimplePractice pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund Policy:

Click here to see our policies on attendance, refunds, grievances, and accessibility, and other frequently asked questions. Click here to contact us or submit a grievance.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us.

System Requirements:

Please ensure your device meets our system requirements.

Continuing Education Approvals:

SimplePractice is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course provides 2.5 hours of continuing education (2.5 CE credits) for psychologists.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6961. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. SimplePractice is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

SimplePractice, #1749, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Simple Practice maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 07/06/2021 – 07/06/2024. Social workers participating in this course will receive 2.5 continuing education credits in the Clinical topic area.

SimplePractice is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs (CAMFT CEPA provider #145276). SimplePractice maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 2.5 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. 

SimplePractice is approved as a Rule/Statute Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling. Note that we do not automatically report CE completion to CE Broker at this time, so certificates of completion must be manually uploaded. Click here for more information.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0582.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0030.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0091.

SimplePractice LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0206.

This course is not part of our continuing education program approved through NAADAC. Click here to view our complete CE approval information, or check out our collection of NAADAC approved courses.