"Best training I ever attended. I wish this had been offered in my graduate program."


"I've been to trauma workshops before, but they only tell you theories. This is the first time I've been taught what to actually do about it, with the students I work with. And it works!"


I've just been spinning with your model as I've worked on clinical and administrative problems -- it's so exciting because it's so effective.

Nancy Rosen, MSW
Executive Director, Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service, Ithaca, NY.

“It is the VERY BEST PROGRAM that I have attended in my 30 years of work in Mental Health at the Board of Education. The participants felt the same.”

Cristina Casanova, M.Ed.
Citywide Co-ordinator of Professional Staff Development, Board of Education, New York City.

This is a hands-on clinical skills training for working with kids who have been exposed to significant trauma or loss. Participants should be mental health professionals (or advanced grad students or interns) with an active psychotherapy caseload including children and/or adolescents. This in-depth training will cover:

• child trauma theory
• impact of trauma and loss
• how to implement a healing therapy relationship
• self-care for counselors/therapists
• identification and assessment of traumatized kids
• working with parents, teachers and others to help traumatized kids
• helping kids to manage their symptoms
• helping kids to resolve their trauma/loss memories
• helping kids to anticipate and prepare for future challenges

The training program involves lecture, demonstration, in-class practice, and (hopefully) on-the-job practice with your clients. This is an experiential training, and part of the learning is to practice the interventions with other participants. Maximum group size is 12 (or 24 with a co-instructor). Scheduling can be for 5 consecutive days, or spread out over 5 or more weeks.

Objectives Participants will be able to:

• Explain how past trauma or loss can lead to ongoing problem behaviors or symptoms.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive trauma-informed treatment plan.
• Teach kids how to control their anxiety, impulsive/acting-out behavior, and other symptoms.
• Help kids to face and work through their trauma/loss memories.
• Help kids and their care-givers to anticipate and prepare for future challenges.

Comments from participants: This training program was provided to 250+ school-based mental health professionals in the NYC public school system following 9/11. Read the unedited comments of participants.

Results: This program works. So far, the research has found:

• large increases in competency and knowledge, small but significant increases in work-related satisfaction, and non-significant trends towards reduction of burnout and compassion fatigue. Greenwald, R., Stamm, B. H., Larsen, D., & Griffel, K. (2003, October). The impact of child trauma therapy training on participants. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago.
• improved therapist attitudes and behaviors (reduced reactivity towards challenging clients, increased empathy/caring towards the client, increased comfort/confidence as the therapist, and improved therapist behaviors in session). Greenwald, R., Maguin, E., Smyth, N. J., Greenwald, H., Johnston, K. G., & Weiss, R. L. (2008). Trauma-related insight improves attitudes and behaviors toward challenging clients. Traumatology, 14(2), 1-11.

Instructors: Ricky Greenwald, PsyD, Denise Houston, LPC

Text book (included): Child Trauma Handbook

Who may attend: This program is designed for mental health professionals (and grad students) who work with children & adolescents. However, we have also had participants who work with adults (most of it applies) as well as paraprofessionals who want to understand the big picture even if they won't be doing every part of the treatment themselves.

Upcoming Trainings:

• Monday - Friday, April 11-15, 2011. Co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars. Greenfield, MA.
  • Earlybird: $500; After Feb 14: $600; After March 15: $650.
  • Earlybird: $500; After Feb 14: $600; After March 15: $650. 32.5 CE's adds $40
• Otherwise, only closed trainings are scheduled (e.g. for a school or agency). To schedule a training for your group, contact the Trauma Institute/Child Trauma Institute.