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 set the stage for a clinical and philosophical approach to trauma informed treatment.
This course explores the use of expressive therapies to validate, facilitate, and empower clients, and support therapist’s cultural sensibilities.
In this workshop you’ll learn and practice trauma sensitive techniques for helping clients move safely into felt sensation so that they can understand and begin to master skills for expanding their Window of Tolerance.
I truly appreciated her integrated approach, her authenticity and the sharing of personal examples. She [Sabrina] made the virtual space feel welcoming and comfortable.
This training equipped me with a greater understanding of trauma informed treatment. I feel more confidant in my practice dealing with issues of trauma and more energized to continue to increase my knowledge and efficacy.
The Level I Trauma Certification Program has totally transformed my practice! The conceptual framework and immediately-applicable clinical tools gave me the confidence to work with any client who has experienced trauma. Lisa and her team are phenomenal!
It is truly an honor and privilege to attend Lisa Ferentz's workshops. Lisa is a dynamic and masterful presenter and therapist specifically trained in trauma therapy. Her trauma workshop provides a high level of education with up to date practical application of assessments, treatments and creative techniques. [Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] provides guaranteed take home tools will enhance your clinical practice. I am always inspired by her enthusiasm and dedication to trauma therapy. I walk away with renewed energy and excitement.
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!
She [Susan] connects with her audience with warmth and humor.
Enjoyed the energy, enthusiasm, knowledge that Dr. Evans shared about a complex and potentially transformative therapeutic tool. Thanks for offering this to our community.
Sabrina was so warm and open that I did not feel I was in a role of just teacher and student, but in a place where I am learning from a place as peer seeking wisdom from more advanced peer who is also always in a place of learning and growth.
Lisa “holds a space” for her students in a way that is restorative, empowering, comforting, and grounding. I highly valued all of my time in Level I and Level II with Lisa and her faculty. If you live within driving distance of an event provided by Lisa- make the time to attend! Soul altering work!
[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.
Lisa is well informed on the subject of trauma informed treatment and was able to offer great insight as well as real world examples. I left [Trauma Informed Assessment and Treatment: Ethical Considerations] with concrete ideas that I could implement right away.
Vivien was open, accepting, non-judgmental, centered, calm and humble.
I liked that the presenter made the material easy to understand. She was able to cover a lot of material in the time of the workshop. I also really liked to hear specific examples that will help with our future clients.
Sabrina is a great educator and speaker. She is a real person and keeps it real!
Lisa is amazing. She has a wealth of knowledge that is incredibly useful to working in the field of mental health. She is incredibly generous and thoughtful in her treatment of the professionals who take her program. I've gained a lot of confidence going forth to share my knowledge with clients who have endured trauma. I strongly recommend discrete training to anyone in the mental health profession. You won't regret it!
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training with her.
I loved her accessibility. I was able to ask questions and make comments throughout the talk. I appreciated that the size was small and intimate, that was truly a bonus!
Powerful training full of knowledge, caring, and compassion.
This training brought me invaluable information on how trauma is experienced and taught me new treatment options that allow me to respond to my clients, and teach my staff, accordingly. The fact that this was done in such a caring, humorous, and insightful manner serve to enhance my learning experience.
The trauma certificate Level I program led by Lisa is transformational. Lisa's expertise and experience is woven into the curriculum in a way that is engaging and fascinating. This program offers practitioners concrete skills and knowledge that expand clinical work with clients tremendously. Thank you!
The program was incredibly informative. The way Lisa structured and presented the information was great!
Lisa is a vibrant, organized, compassionate speaker who has deepened my understanding and given me the tools I needed to break through with my most challenging trauma and abuse cases.
Dr. Evans is a phenomenal, engaging educator. He is knowledgeable and fun to listen to. I appreciate the experience he brought and his gift of teaching. I will be looking for his trainings in the future.
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.
Lisa's training was amazing! Lisa was able to connect the material to real life practice, she was super knowledgeable and passionate about the topic and willing to answer all questions the group had! I cannot wait until I can take another one of her training sessions!
Yehuda was very passionate and knowledgeable. The total experience, this was different for me, completely experiential and I really enjoyed the training.
Sabrina presents her heart and spirit in the training. Genuine and sincere, while grounded in theory and experience.
Lisa embodies the social work value of lifelong learning. She's an amazing teacher and is also incredibly willing to learn from others in the room.
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!!
Lisa made a complex topic (inner parts work) easier to understand through her dynamic training. I am excited to implement the modalities learned in my work with clients.
Sabrina has such a fun, engaging, and therapeutic presence during the training! She integrates self-reflection and challenges us to grow!
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.
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.
I enjoyed the presentation and insights. It was nice to connect more intimately with participants 1:1...
I am a seasoned professional and always leave trainings feeling like there was no new take away. However, after [Understanding and Working with Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)] I left feeling recharged with new knowledge and skills. Can't wait to get back to work to use use them. Thanks!!
This training was helpful for seasoned as well as novice supervisors. Provided the opportunity for both groups to engage and discuss their experiences to solidify learning from each other.
Wonderful wonderful thanks able to use many things with clients learning in class.
[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.
Susan was very knowledgeable and personable - a good combination!
I cannot adequately express how much I gained from Lisa's training. I am tuned into my clients on a much deeper level, always mindful of safety, attunement, body language, and their ability to be fully present in session. Lisa is a very generous teacher as well. I encourage other clinicians to take the trauma training, it will give you so many new tools to help your clients.
This training allowed me to transform the way I work with clients. I feel much more confident and competent in my work thanks to Lisa's help in expanding my knowledge.
Learned so much information [in Ethical Dilemmas in Clinical Practice]. It also confirmed that current practices are ethical as measured with current standards.
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!
Susan was personable and good-natured. Combined with her being informed that made the workshop valuable.
The presenter was an expert in the field who provided real-life, relatable examples that I can apply to my practice as a therapist.
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.
The way Salicia facilitated the exercises was most powerful and supportive.
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.
This training was a very thorough and effective look at trauma treatment. Lisa's intentionality and creativity made this training very valuable. I am leaving with many useful strategies, skills, and language to utilize with my clients. I felt challenged through this program to reflect on my clinical practice!
[What I liked best was] Susan's abundance of knowledge and understanding of OCD, as well as her enthusiasm and warm style towards presenting this training.
I've done numerous advanced trainings but this one was head and shoulders above the rest. Lisa's passion and non-pathologizing stance transformed the way I view my clients and inspired me to more creative in my work.
Level II was an enriching experience that provided a strong foundation to and added an immense yet digestible and applicable amount of knowledge in which to feel confident and comfortable in stepping foot into private practice as a new LCSW.
[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.
Advanced Trauma Training was an amazing experiential and educational experience that advanced my skills, knowledge and support for doing the work I love.
I loved [Salicia's] her accessibility. I was able to ask questions and make comments throughout the talk. I appreciated that the size was small and intimate, that was truly a bonus!
I loved seeing Yehuda give some examples of how he would do things with clients. I enjoyed his case presentations and role plays with attendees.
[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.
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.
As a new therapist this has helped solidify my foundation and increased my confidence.
This was by far the best training I have attended. I learned that I was actually doing a lot correctly, but also learned a lot of things I could be doing. I look forward to Level II!
Dr. Papernow is a highly-skilled, empathetic, engaging and clear communicator who is able to connect with the audience in powerful and meaningful ways. Her examples, handouts and years of clinical experience will most definitely assist me in my work with clients moving forward. Thank you so much!
[Working with Dreams: Tapping into an Inner Wisdom] was highly interactive and engaging. It was a true, in-person, demonstration of how dream work can be a useful took in therapy.
The Trauma Informed Assessments and Treatment training was nearly life changing for me as a clinician. Lisa was empowering, direct and willing to answer any question thrown her way. I took information from this training that I started using in my own practice immediately.
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.
Being able to bear witness to Dr. Sabrina's wisdom and experiences, as well as the others in the group was most helpful. It was very nourishing to have self-care practices integrated into our time together. I think the training offers a unique approach to supervision that honors the sacredness of the experience beyond documentation and business exchanges.
I thoroughly enjoyed the informative and enlightening workshop. It is just what I needed at this phase in my career.
Susan was very human and approachable.
Denise was excellent all around. Her use of real case examples to illustrate her narrative allowed her to present a very complex subject.
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.
I did not hesitate to attend Lisa's workshop as I knew she would add depth and knowledge to the subject. I was not disappointed, and I was happy to gain insights that have helped me personally and professionally.
A wonderful experience. This will certainly enhance my skills in working with traumatized children.
[Staying Within the Window of Tolerance: Breath Work and Body-Centered Modalities for Affect Regulation] was an excellent mix of education via lecture and via experiential learning. I really enjoyed the opportunity to practice the techniques with other participants in a supportive environment!
Patricia Papernow is very clear, her presence and engagement with participants is natural; she creates safety, invites questions and feedback, makes room for questions along the way, is clearly passionate and knowledgeable about the content. Supportive of sharing handouts with other clinicians, and includes handouts to give to clients. Amazing amount of resources given to us. Thank YOU!
Great! Lisa is a knowledgable and entertaining speaker. I learned a lot [in Navigating the Ethical Challenges of Telemental Health]!
I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend Lisa Ferentz' Level I Trauma Program Training. The training will allow me to assist our Judy Center Program, and the partnering Title I school in utilizing Trauma Informed practices school wide! I learned so much by attending the sessions. I benefited in many ways personally and professionally. I would highly recommend others attend the Level I Trauma Training Program conducted by the Ferentz Institute. Lisa is amazing!!
The presenter of the workshop had a calming energy about her, and genuinely seemed interested in what was being discussed.
The training framed supervision as relational, ethical, and helpful as compared to simply policing and gatekeeping.
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.
A highly informative and practical survey of trauma-informed care led by a professional motivated by the highest level of care and advocacy for her clients.
I truly enjoyed Dr. Sabrina and found the information she presented to be helpful...
This is the stuff I wish we had in college! Lisa is an excellent teacher! Taking this course is something I have dreamed of since I first heard Lisa teach at another training. Every class I went away with immediately applicable teaching and resources. I immediately felt more confident and comfortable in my practice.
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.
The Level II expressive trainings have opened my ability, my knowledge, and my comfort level in using these strategies in session. The trainings also shine a light on areas I'd like to explore more in-depth. Thanks for a wonderful experience!
Lisa's trauma training has brought me to a new level as a clinician. This should be required education for anyone in the clinical care or educational setting. The knowledge and resources gained through this course are invaluable.
Denise is a true expert in issues related to trauma and addiction and has a great way of sharing her knowledge as a presenter.
[Using Expressive Modalities to Connect With and Soothe Traumatized Parts] was phenomenal. I already see a change in the way I conceptualize and treat clients' presenting concerns. Learning and applying several expressive techniques first-hand in the workshop gave me the confidence to put it into practice. It also helped that the venue and workshop set-up were *amazing* and very conducive to learning.
I believe the most positive take away from the workshop was the opportunity to interact with other participants. I do believe the workshop was well-planned and facilitated.
I deeply appreciate the blend of theoretical and practical knowledge that Lisa's Trauma I course afforded me. I strongly recommend this course and the consummate professional who teaches it.
She [Susan] provided great ideas and suggestions given her expertise... it felt safe to ask questions, learn, and even be wrong because she was supportive and warm.
Yehuda is a grounded and clear presenter with a wealth of knowledge on how to work creatively with trauma survivors.
The facilitator [Joanne] was very warm and engaging. She encouraged each person to bring a piece of themselves into the workshop [Screenplay: Helping Parents Teach and Reach Children in the Digital Age].
This was the most non-triggering, emotionally safe and supportive training on trauma I've ever experienced. Given the nature of this important content, the way the material was presented was truly masterful and informative.
I liked Dr. Evans' passion for his topic, the handouts and journaling at the end; his ability to engage the room, with 5 of the 17 participants not being African American or brown skinned; his not shying away from anger in a very articulate participant; and his willingness to share out of his own life, practice, and his faith.
It's rare that a workshop grabs my attention and holds it from start to finish. [Trauma Informed Collage Methods was] Informative and engaging!
It was great to get a spectrum of approaches and the encouragement to synthesize them in our own way.
I really valued [Understanding and Working with Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB)]. Lisa allowed me to more fully understand that my challenging clients are not trying to be resistant or difficult but are struggling with trauma and deeply ingrained, albeit ineffective coping mechanisms. Lisa also supported and solidified for me, what I had already been mulling over — that restructuring our treatment model for high risk and chronic relapsing individuals (substance use) to incorporate more skills training.
Sabrina is great- very real. Great interactive activities. Looked forward to part 2.
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.
Great resource provided by a gifted teacher & clinician.
Presenter had a great depth of knowledge on grief that will serve my future clients well!
This program is an incredibly wise investment for anyone who is interested in becoming more trauma informed. The information is priceless, digestible, comprehensive, and delivered in an engaging way. I cannot endorse Lisa and the Institute enough- it is worth your time to enhance your skills.
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.
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
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