To provide social workers and other mental health professionals with state-of-the-art continuing education encompassing a variety of clinical issues, client populations, and practice settings. We believe effective learning occurs in a professional, nurturing, supportive, and fun environment that fosters collegial sharing and networking.
Our trainings encourage clinicians to reframe and de-pathologize symptoms, while focusing on clients’ resiliency and strengths. We believe that clinicians are only as effective as the extent to which they take care of themselves, so we also address issues of counter-transference, vicarious traumatization, and professional burnout.
Learn how to incorporate effective and creative trauma treatment strategies that promote self-compassion and healing.
Earn valuable CEUs through informative and experiential workshops that strengthen your professional skills and enhance your personal growth.
Discover trainings and keynote addresses that Lisa can offer your professional community at your clinical setting or conference.
Boost your professional knowledge and expand your expertise with our in-person and online trainings.
In this 6-hour workshop we will explore creative ways to empower clients to continue their work outside of therapy by introducing “invitations” to be accomplished in between their sessions.
This workshop will focus on the gender-specific needs of women seeking treatment for substance abuse disorders.
In this 6-hour workshop we will process the inherent challenges of working with traumatized clients in a variety of practice settings.
[Trauma Informed Collage Methods] greatly refreshed my knowledge as an art therapist, but perhaps more importantly, I recognized the value of collage in working with difficult to reach populations. While the collage experiencials we completed were fun and relaxing, in a new way I could more confidently apply the powerful intuitive processes of collage with people who have lost everything.
I loved her energy and enthusiasm. Such a wealth of knowledge and wisdom! One of the best trainings I've been to yet.
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations} was a rewarding workshop with a more macro view on ethical treatment of clients. Like all of Lisa's work (and trauma work in general) the workshop emphasizes the importance of relationship and pacing to ensure the safety of the client. The workshop provided specific ways to give clients a safe intake and assessment experience that does not trigger the client and is still informative for the therapist.
It's rare that a workshop grabs my attention and holds it from start to finish. [Trauma Informed Collage Methods was] Informative and engaging!
Dr. Sabrina is a genuine, authentic and compassionate teacher. I appreciate her ability to teach holistic wellness by sharing her knowledge and wisdom. I am grateful for her taking the time to address the importance of utilizing an integrative-approach with clients, as well as empowering clinicians to use healing practices to take care of ourselves as healers.
Lisa [Ferentz] is an extraordinarily skilled presenter, who combines personal warmth with refined clinical acumen, and a great capacity for inclusion and compassion.
[Peggy] is highly experienced and provided trauma informed care regarding incorporating collage into your practice. [Trauma Informed Collage Methods] also focused on the importance of art belonging to the client, and reminded about the importance of this being one of the true principles of the experiential work.
I encourage every clinician to attend this course. The course's focus on client strengths and creativity encourages you to expand your empathy and see client's in a more complete way. After having taken this training, I feel competent in my interactions with trauma survivors and assist them in a more thoughtful way.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! Amazing training!
Dr. Wayne's personality is so real and authentic. He was warm, welcoming, greeted us each personally and engaged with us in relatable and understandable ways. Not 'academic' or 'stuffy' as some can be when presenting.
This training has made me realize who I am as a therapist! I have learned so much and I see a huge difference in how I work with my clients. Thank you!
Holding class attention throughout an ethics seminar [like Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice] is quite a feat, something Lisa accomplished with apparent ease.
I was extremely impressed with Sabrina and her [Therapists as Peacebuilders: Using Your Gifts for Global Impact] workshop. It correlated very well the combined existence of both therapy skills engaged with transforming power for mutual consideration of others.
Timothy was thoughtful, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable on the topic and provided excellent tools and resources to engage in the work with gender expansive youth more meaningfully and with greater intention.
I enjoyed the presenters [in Individualizing Treatment for Children and Adolescents with Complex Trauma and Dissociation]; they were engaging, informative, current, and had a perspective which I believe broadened my own. They offered breakfast, snacks, and all day coffee. What could be better than being nurtured and informed!
This program incorporates all of the contemporary and recent knowledge the field has gained in trauma-informed therapy treatment and gives therapists concrete tools and strategies to use with their clients. Lisa and her faculty provide warmth, support and encouragement all throughout the course.
I believe the most positive take away from [Working with Dreams: Tapping into an Inner Wisdom] was the opportunity to interact with other participants. I do believe the workshop was well-planned and facilitated.
Lisa is an amazing educator. I am thrilled to be able to apply all of the knowledge acquired in this program to better help my clients.
I appreciated Susan’s expertise, personal sharing of cases, and her personality.
The program was incredibly informative. The way Lisa structured and presented the information was great!
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training session with her.
Enjoyed [Effectively Treating Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder]. Presenter very knowledgeable, especially about OCD treatment of which I knew basically nothing. Experiential exercise really gave me a “felt sense” of what it is like to have OCD. Very challenging.
I really enjoyed the case examples and breakout groups and her lived experience.
Lisa's program is an invaluable resource. I ended every class eager to implement the new tools she shared. It was amazing to see the responses from my clients. I have not been able to stop talking with my colleagues about the program. Truly, everyone should attend Lisa's program!
The presenter of the workshop had a calming energy about her, and genuinely seemed interested in what was being discussed.
As a clinician, one of the most important tools we have is our self. Lisa helped me find my own internal wisdom and see my blind spots.
Lisa is a gifted and energized speaker who speaks with a passion for the difficult work with trauma survivors. [Using Expressive Modalities to Connect With and Soothe Traumatized Parts] had immediate practical applications for day to day sessions with clients.
Sabrina did an incredible job presenting material and keeping us engaged.
[Working with Dreams: Tapping into an Inner Wisdom was a] very powerful and experiential workshop! We were constantly engaged in experiential learning, even while taking in theory. Awesome!
[Susan is] Very positive, warm, and open and made it a safe space for discussion and learning.
Denise was well educated, compassionate and experienced in her work with the clients that have endured domestic violence.
Sabrina was a wealth of knowledge and experience and her presentation style is comforting, making it easy to be engaged even through zoom. I appreciated her and the training immensely!
Patricia is Fantastic. Her energy is Beautiful!
Dr. Sabrina's approach to healing leadership offers inspiration and practical tools to tap into our whole selves - and thereby grow leadership that can join with and nurture the whole selves of those we supervise. Invaluable!
Lisa's personality and presentation skills added entertainment and engagement for participants. The experience was well worth the investment of time and money.
I found [Creative Techniques for Managing Traumatic Stress: Grounding, Containment, and Resourcing] overall very interesting and helpful. [The presenter] gave us a lot of creative techniques that are simple enough to implement as non-art therapists. I liked the structure – alternating between theory and experiential.
Timothy was so wise and supportive in the way he presented the material. The environment was comfortable and facilitated space for questions and thoughts among participants, which is not always the case in virtual workshops.
From the start, I knew a made a great choice in investing my time and emotions in this program. I've learned so many tools and strategies to help my patients cope with their trauma and I've learned a lot about myself and how I can best support and guide my patients.
She was very knowledgeable, very organized and interactive and informative. Loved the real life case studies.
[Creative Techniques for Managing Traumatic Stress: Grounding, Containment, and Resourcing] was, by far the most effective CEU training I've attended regarding experiential interventions for Trauma. [The presenter] wonderfully balanced between the theory and practice of grounding, containment, and resourcing all the while leading and modelling by example her practical interventions via affording us all the opportunity to experience them. Well worth the time and memorable.
I was very impressed with this seminar. The facilitator not only made the seminar enjoyable, but she was extremely knowledgeable and shared her experiences. I definitely look forward to attending more seminars.
I found that the online format was an excellent way to attend the program, no stress, no travel, great timing of information and breaks. I felt that it worked wonderfully. Thank you so much for your knowledge, your insights, your delivery and your absolute Unconditional Positive Regard!!
I found [Evolving Treatment in the Face of the Opioid Epidemic] very informative. The presenter was very knowledgeable about the topic and I found it helpful to hear real life experiences with addiction.
The Ferentz Institute Level I and II has changed the way I practice. These experiences have provided me with effective strategies to assist clients in moving through their trauma experiences safely.
If you are a clinician Lisa Ferentz's trauma training is one you cannot miss!!
I look forward to the trainings at the Ferentz institute because I learn meaningful approaches that enhance clinical work. Lisa is a dynamic teacher utilizing researched trauma approaches, she invites participants into experiential exercises that solidify interventions in a whole brain fashion, both cognitive and emotional experiences create deep learning in a nurturing and caring environment. Lisa is attuned and models compassion to the participants.
She [Susan] was very knowledgeable, very organized and it interactive and informative. Loved the real life case studies.
Invaluable investment in myself and career. I learned what I wish I had in school and feel that I am a better clinician for attending.
The presenter was an expert in the field who provided real-life, relatable examples that I can apply to my practice as a therapist.
Lisa's care and attention to our development as trauma informed clinicians is unmatchable. Her knowledge and ability to offer so many variations has been so helpful in my growth and in my work with a wide range of clients. I appreciated her ability to recognize the need for clinician self care and being a huge advocate for that important part of the work that can often go unattended to. I only wish I had taken this training sooner in my career but so grateful for the current opportunity!
Perspective changing- trauma informed- life changing!
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] has enlightened my perspective on being able to gather imperative information in a safe matter that does not harm or re-traumatized a survivor. Her [Lisa] assessment questions are designed to allocate the client's ability to tell their story without partaking in a reenactment phenomenon. Great information for anyone who works with traumatized population.
This workshop was a unique and inspiring sharing of wisdom, knowledge and support for each of us a clinicians and as humans. Dr. Sabrina is an amazing presenter with an abundance of knowledge and inspiration for every one of us!
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training with her.
I truly appreciated her integrated approach, her authenticity and the sharing of personal examples. She [Sabrina] made the virtual space feel welcoming and comfortable.
Going through the Level I and II trauma training has given me a wide array of skills to use in clinical practice that all stem from a strengths-based model. The trainings have not only helped me learn to guide clients to access their wisest and most compassionate self, but has also helped me to further access my wisest self to improve my work as a clinician.
This is the best class I have ever attended (and I have two Master's degrees) and Lisa is the most organized, most compassionate, most detailed oriented and the most aware of the process than I have ever encountered. She is very well grounded and rounded in all her presentations.
The presenter [Dr. Evans] was dynamic, engaging and thought provoking. I imagine he's a remarkable therapist. I appreciated how he combined his clinical knowledge with his love of archetypal storytelling to bring about healing with his clients.
Denise was excellent all around. Her use of real case examples to illustrate her narrative allowed her to present a very complex subject.
The workshop was very informative. I was able to walk into my office the next day with a clear understanding of parts work and utilize new expressive modalities right away. I'm excited to take more trainings on the topic and deepen my knowledge!
[Individualizing Treatment for Children and Adolescents with Complex Trauma and Dissociation] was a very informative training and I learned a lot. I was very happy that I attended this training and hope to attend future trainings with the institute.
I believe the Trauma Program taught by the wonderful Lisa Ferentz should be a requirement for all mental health practitioners. I can't thank the Institute enough for offering this course!
She was very interactive and kept a positive attitude during the entire training.
I thoroughly enjoyed the informative and enlightening workshop. It is just what I needed at this phase in my career.
The facilitator is engaging and inspiring! She is easy to understand and teaches for every learning style!!!!
The Expressive Modalities Program provides a quality connection of didactic information with sensory experience, for a more complete understanding of beneficial client treatment concepts.
In [Master Class – Case Consultation: Treating Post-Partum Mood Disorders Through a Trauma Lens] Robyn did a beautiful job of bridging the gap between two important and highly intertwined areas of clinical focus, which too often aren't talked about intersectionally. I'd highly recommend this training!
[In Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] Lisa Ferentz offers light to all counselors who place their clients first & foremost, in a field that has become mired and one which I barely recognize after 35 years. Given that grief & trauma encapsulate our daily lives and most definitely, in the lives of our clients, I remain befuddled as to why grief & trauma education is not placed at the foremost and a basic requirement of any counseling/social work program.
I highly recommend this program to any therapist who wishes to take their professional game to the next level.
I really appreciated Lisa's approachable, super informed, and engaging presentation style [in Understanding and Working with Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)]. The material was so applicable to not only conceptualization but also practice.
I have been eager to strengthen my knowledge base and skill level in trauma informed care. My clients and I will benefit from the hands on approach that Lisa shares with care and attention for all of her program participants. I am now much more aware of the importance of both mind (brain) and body when it comes to the impact and significance of trauma histories and clients' current level of functioning and satisfaction with life.
This training was a game-changer for me. The strength-based approach Lisa takes has transformed the way I see my clients and the range of practical tools we were given has revitalized my work with them.
Sabrina was very knowledgeable and offered new content in a way that was inspiring and easy to digest.
This training was invaluable. I was able to use this knowledge and the techniques to help almost every single client I serve.
This program should be a part of every clinician's repertoire. The compassion and knowledge Lisa has is invaluable and I am confident I am a better clinician because of this training and the investment in myself and clients.
Very powerful and experiential workshop! We were constantly engaged in experiential learning, even while taking in theory. Awesome!
Lisa is a gifted and energized speaker who speaks with a passion for the difficult work with trauma survivors. The workshop had immediate practical applications for day to day sessions with clients.
Had a great time [at Filling Your Experiential Toolbox: The Empty Chair, The Double and Role Play Techniques]. Very informative. Loved the facilitator!
The Trauma Certificate program was extremely valuable and has contributed immensely to my work with clients. It has been the best investment I have made in regards to my clinical practice.
I was moved by the dialogue, and I now have a better understanding of the benefits of balancing spirituality and psycho-therapy. The therapist [Lisa] was awesome and one could get sense as to why she is so sought after. The feedback from the Rabbi [Goldberger] and the Priest [Father Ray] offered for me a unique look into the both perspectives and how each saw how the inclusion of spiritually can help ones clients achieve post recovery.
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations was] very helpful. Material relevant and has broad application. Physical environment was comfortable. Audience was engaged and conversant with material.
Sabrina is a force to be reckoned with! She is inspirational, encouraging, and truly cares about this work! Sabrina took the time to get to know each and every one of us in her class, to hear our responses, and respond with care and curiosity. It was a pleasure to learn from her and I look forward to building on my skills based off of what I took from the past couple of days! Thank you!
[Therapists as Peacebuilders: Using Your Gifts for Global Impact} was a great workshop. I enjoy learning opportunities that balance between personal growth/awareness as a clinician as well as wider reaching issues. The facilitator [Sabrina] was knowledgeable, experienced, approachable and enjoyable. I felt that it was a nice change of pace to be “learning” on the psycho-spiritual/emotional end of things rather than just the mental. I do feel like this was one of the most valuable CEU's I've taken this season.
This program helped me grow so much, not just as a clinician, but also as an individual.
Timothy provided a safe and open space to learn and grow together!
[Creative Techniques for Managing Traumatic Stress: Grounding, Containment, and Resourcing was a] great introduction to some art therapy techniques specifically aimed for individuals who've experienced trauma.
I really enjoyed the material, interaction, and overall experience. I felt that I learned more in that class than I did in graduate school! The information was so rich and exciting to learn!
[Staying Within the Window of Tolerance] was one of the best workshops I have attended. The Ferentz Institute consistently provides talented, experienced, engaging speakers, who track the newest innovations in their fields, within a very welcoming, comfortable milieu.
Sabrina is a great educator and speaker. She is a real person and keeps it real!
This is an awesome training with all the qualities and more of a very excellent postdoctoral course! Lisa is a wonderful, generous mentor, lecturer, teacher and clinician.
Dr. Dee is always amazing! The workshop [Master Class: Sand Therapy and the Therapeutic Relationship] was everything I needed and more. And thank you for the awesome breakfast!!
I enjoyed the presentation and insights. It was nice to connect more intimately with participants 1:1...
I was very impressed with this seminar. The facilitator not only made the seminar enjoyable, but she was extremely knowledgable and shared her experiences. I definitely look forward to attending more seminars.
A wonderful experience. This will certainly enhance my skills in working with traumatized children.
This training has truly changed my practice in the way I view both the students and my colleagues in my school. I have completely redesigned the school counselor office lighting to create a warmer more welcoming environment. I look at my most difficult students through a different lens, often picturing them as babies in the trauma he must've endured. I am a patient, more attentive and excited to use the myriad of strategies thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Lisa is a gem. I have learned so many wonderful techniques and gained a fresh perspective on my work with trauma survivors.
Sabrina was engaging, direct, warm and above all, AUTHENTIC. I could feel her spirit through her tone, use of words and teaching.
This training was worth the investment. It increased my confidence as well as my competence and my ability to both maintain and model healthy boundaries and work-life balance. Lisa is a very inspiring mentor.
Tim was a wise and conscientious presenter with a clear mastery of his subject matter.
[Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] was wonderful in terms of really considering the effects of trauma and how to identify the respond to them in the therapy session. Lisa's knowledge, warmth and enthusiasm keep me motivated in my growth as a clinician.
This program provides the essential necessary for effective practice. I've been a licensed social worker for 17 years and this program was more beneficial than any graduate class or training I have ever taken. Thank you, Lisa!
The Ferentz Institute, Inc. is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland. CEU approval for all trainings is also granted to Psychologists, LCPC’s and MFT’s and approved by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists and the Board of Examiners for Psychologists in Maryland. Reciprocity has also been granted for clinicians in Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Texas. All mental health clinicians are encouraged to check with their respective State Boards to learn if reciprocity is offered for our CEUs. The Institute also maintains full responsibility for all programming.
*Please note that, for workshops that offer CEUs in Anti-Oppressive Content, Ethics, and/or Diversity, those credits may only be used for one of those categories, not all.
Join interactive lessons, get expert feedback, and explore your creativity in a supportive community.
"...a magical guide to conquering our fears, phobias and emotional pain...”
—Janina Fisher, PhD
“… a real treasure trove of tools for healing..."
— Dusty Miller
“…a rich resource which helps empower the client and facilitate recovery..."
— Joyanna Silberg, PhD
"...a dynamic and strengths-focused approach to treating challenging trauma-based behaviors..."
—Nancy Napier, LMFT
Mailing Address:
3701 Old Court Road, Suite #5
Baltimore, MD 21208
For more information: