Certificate Program
Become a trauma-certified mental health professional
This certificate will enable you to help individuals, couples, families, and communities deal effectively with the aftereffects of trauma/disaster through specialized skills and understanding of how trauma impacts the emotional, physiological, and relational aspects of a person's life. The certificate is unique in that it speaks to the special interests and needs of different professionals in the field and creates an opportunity for three specialty areas.
School Trauma/Disaster
This specialization is designed for those mental health professionals who are working in or with the school system. It addresses the special needs and requirements that schools have during a trauma/disaster and focuses on the importance of working systemically with those in and outside the school system. The program also emphasizes the importance of intervention and prevention services.
Community Trauma/Disaster
This specialization is for those mental health professionals who want to assist at local, natural, and human-made disasters, providing initial crisis counseling, and more ongoing mental health needs of individuals, couples, families, and communities. It focuses on understanding the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of the primary and secondary victims.
International Trauma/Disaster
This specialization is for mental health professionals who want to gain expertise in working internationally as a crisis counselor. The role of the crisis counselor will be discussed as it changes from culture to culture and country to country. Much focus will be placed on gaining additional skills and expertise in the area of trauma intervention, as well as trauma intervention from a culturally sensitive perspective.
Eligibility
If you have a graduate degree in a mental health profession (counseling, school counseling, school psychology, psychology, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychiatry), or are presently in pursuit of a graduate degree in a mental health field, you may enroll in the program.