
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.
In this workshop, participants will connect the fawn response to insecure attachment, and process why it is a necessary and inevitable childhood response to trauma, abuse or neglect.
Explore strategies to help Black men navigate racism and trauma, replacing 'just surviving' with thriving, meaningful lives rooted in resilience and self-worth.
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.
Denise had great examples and scenarios, and she's a presentable, knowledgeable expert.
Lisa is very dynamic, compassionate and uses humor while presenting material that may be challenging.
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.
Powerful training full of knowledge, caring, and compassion.
Mr. Ferentz had an excellent grasp of current information in the field and shared both the theory and practice. He included the whole group in his presentation.
I especially liked Lisa's ease in answering questions and proposing new approaches that seemed so amazingly simple but revelatory.
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training session with her.
[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.
Wow. What better way to learn about healing leadership than by witnessing it and being healed by it throughout the workshop? I feel so much gratitude to Sabrina for modeling what healing leadership looks like, and giving so freely of her wisdom so that we may continue to share with others. I am blown away.
Jill was fantastic. Interactive, engaging and loved her entire approach to movement and art.
I think Lisa brings such an experienced and knowledgeable level of awareness. She is unlike any other presenter I've had in how well she goes beyond the subject and is able to relate the topic to theory on a deeper level, and then individually to each of our cases/situations/questions.
She created a safe space for us all. Was very kind and personable. Extremely knowledgeable and confident. Stayed on schedule.
Lisa is amazing at taking theoretical and evidence-based research and translating it into easy to use, practical interventions and approaches with clients. This training has definitely made me a better trauma-informed clinician.
Sabrina is great- very real. Great interactive activities. Looked forward to part 2.
I appreciated Denise's vast clinical knowledge and her way of intervening with clients.
Dr. Evans was a wonderful and inspirational education and practitioner. His authenticity created a safe space and allowed for an environment where we could really experience our time with him.
Fantastic techniques shared that made me excited to get back to work and use with my clients.
The training has been incredible. I feel more competent and confident in my work with my clients because of this training and because of Lisa's ability to teach the material in such an effective manner.
The session on [Evolving Treatment in the Face of the Opioid Epidemic] was informative especially for someone who is not in the field of substance abuse.
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.
Dr. Sabrina is 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.
Level II helped deepen my understanding of trauma and parts work. Each class provided an opportunity to learn creative, expressive approaches that clinicians can immediately put into practice. Lisa and her faculty provided a supportive learning environment and I enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with other clinicians.
She's [Lisa's] such a wonderful teacher AND a seasoned clinician- it's hard to get both in one person!
She was so knowledgeable and insightful. I appreciated her intentionality and ability to weave interventions and art into the training.
I appreciated our collaborating with peers and faculty, discussing cases and hearing feedback.
She's just wonderful - authentic, experienced and clearly cares a lot about everyone she works with (including us!)
The Level I training was easily the most valuable training I've ever had. Not only was it professionally helpful, but personally. This class was so emotionally refreshing. I feel as if I have a bright new outlook on my profession and I am eternally grateful.
Lisa did an incredible job of making the training feel as close to an in-person training as possible. I loved the online chat. This certificate was the best investment I have made in my professional career. Thank you!
She demonstrated enthusiasm and compassion for the people she works with.
This was an awesome workshop that gave me the very unique opportunity to learn from the wisdom of a seasoned Rabbi, Priest and therapist. I left the workshop better equipped and more inspired to help my clients.
The presenter [Dee] was knowledgeable, creative, and highly engaging.
The training was absolutely wonderful! I learned lots of valuable information that I could use both in my daytime job and my non-profit.
I thought TJ was awesome. I loved her energy. I would have loved to hear / see more of the games / play activates she uses with clients! Everything else was wonderful.
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!
Lisa has great energy and remains engaging throughout the day. She also provides information in a way that is understandable and relatable.
Wow. What better way to learn about healing leadership than by witnessing it and being healed by it throughout the workshop? I feel so much gratitude to Sabrina for modeling what healing leadership looks like, and giving so freely of her wisdom so that we may continue to share with others. I am blown away.
Susan was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of concrete, usable strategies while also providing a clear framework in a way that was understandable for me and that I can use with clients.
Engaging and responsive to audience. Kept me engaged with little gems of wisdom when speaking about medications to clients and medical providers.
Ms. Kolodny was extremely knowledgeable and brought a ton of interesting and informative anecdotes from her practice. I appreciate your expertise!
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!
Presenter had a great depth of knowledge on grief that will serve my future clients well!
Lisa has a beautiful blend of expertise in practice, compassion and humility that is enhanced by her skill in teaching what she knows to enhance the abilities of the learner.
I feel more alive in my practice that I ever have. Digging in and learning has been rejuvenating. Feeling like I am aware of the latest trauma research has made me look at my practice with “new eyes.” I can't imagine working with eating disordered clients without what I have learned.
This training has been a priceless investment which I believe will change my practice for many years to come.
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!
TJ was very genuine and down to earth.
Salicia was amazing and I would attend another training with her.
Not only was I able to leave [Creative Techniques for Managing Traumatic Stress: Grounding, Containment, and Resourcing} with skills I could use the next day in session, [the presenter] made the workshop interactive, engaging, and I was able to take concrete items for my own personal self-care toolbox!
Denise is very articulate and personable. She presented a very well organized and informative training. Thank you!
Ken was enthusiastic, engaging, and pretty funny given the content matter. He was conscious of time and his audience as well as very knowledgable about the material he presented.
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!!
Great information with experiential exercises. I really enjoyed connecting with the other participants.
This training provided so much quality information. All of it was immediately useful with my caseload. This was so beneficial!
[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 truly appreciated her integrated approach, her authenticity and the sharing of personal examples. She [Sabrina] made the virtual space feel welcoming and comfortable.
Lisa is smart, capable, decisive, caring and is a great example of asserting boundaries and values kindly.
Invaluable program; by the 2nd class you can bring your clients interventions that will make profound differences in their therapeutic journey and by the end you feel confident and competent to treat clients with trauma.
I am walking away from this program feeling more confident in my abilities and role as a clinician, but I've learned so much about myself that will enhance both my personal and professional successes. Thank you, Lisa!
Denise's material was informative, and she provided relevant examples.
This has been the most beneficial training that I have attended. I knew nothing about Lisa Ferentz before registering, but this training has exceeded my expectations and I have encouraged co-workers to participate. I came away with a wealth of information and knowledge and started incorporating what I learned in my sessions. I have also been able to inform family members, school teachers, and partners what to expect from one who has experienced trauma. Can't wait to take Level II!
Most of the presenters were amazing. I learned a lot from the experiential techniques.
She was very interactive and kept a positive attitude during the entire training.
She [ Arrielle Seidler] was funny and down to earth.
Patricia delivers the reality of step-parenting life in a way that lands honestly and gently. She breaks through old school expectations and provides insightful strategies for creating a successful family life that can actually work, no matter the timing, shape, or form your family takes place in. Understanding this information is everything when you're working with or experiencing these dynamics. I couldn't be more grateful for this training.
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.
Peggy was very knowlegeable, caring, amd approachable.
Lisa is a breath of fresh air. She exudes compassion and understanding, She is the model of the perfect therapist.
This training transferred well to an online platform. Lisa did a great job keeping everyone active and keeping the training lively and engaging.
Lisa's training has been one of the most meaningful experiences in my career. Lisa is engaging and makes material easy to process. She is warm, validating, direct and clear. I left each session feeling more resourced, with concrete interventions and a new appreciation for my role as a therapist as well as for my clients.
Susan was easy to follow & understand; and, she was especially honest if she didn't know something.
She was very knowledgeable about the topic and was open about her own personal experiences. The training brought hope for clients with an often seemingly debilitating diagnosis.
This program is an absolute must for any clinician who is serious about providing the best therapeutic care to all clients.
I especially liked the belief that Heidi has in her mission and her ability to help others participate in our collective life and death journey.
This was a wonderful workshop that engendered a meaningful conversation on spirituality and psychotherapy, and the role of both in post traumatic growth. The facilitators were very engaging and knowledgeable.
Lisa would address all questions, gave lots of case examples and was so knowledgeable and kind.
Jill is so invested and connected to the work and this is apparent in her teaching.
The entire program was interesting and thought-provoking. It is change the way I work with all my clients no matter what issues they present with. I wish a class of this nature had been part of my graduate program back in the day. Lisa presented the material same fashion she encourages us with clients. I plan to take Level II.
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.
She [Lisa] is both a teacher and a practitioner- she is clearly not just an academic.
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.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to take this course!
Jill is a wonderful teacher!
I especially liked Jill's style, calmness, and pacing of the material.
Lisa is a presenter who embodies competence and warmth and grace!. The workshop itself taught me new and wonderful ways to navigate clients through trauma with dignity and a wonderfully varied choice of modalities! Lisa's use of her personal journey with trauma patients was a wonderful and captivating way to learn.
Sabrina leads with her heart and invites us all to do the same. This approach coupled with her immense experience and insight allowed me to both learn new skills and ways of conceptualizing the work as well as tap deeper into my own wisdom and expertise.
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!
Getting to utilize and incorporate various expressive therapies in practice has allowed me to better meet the needs of all clients I see, but to especially address the unique needs of the adolescent. Thank you, Lisa, for your passion and mission of equipping all providers with the knowledge and means to address trauma from a safe, strengths-based approach.
The presenter was excellent, easy to understand and knowledgeable.
Dr. Sabrina was an amazing presenter and I will definitely take another class with her when one is offered.
As a new therapist this has helped solidify my foundation and increased my confidence.
Great! Lisa is a knowledgable and entertaining speaker. I learned a lot [in Navigating the Ethical Challenges of Telemental Health]!
The presenter had a good grasp of the material and was exceptionally well prepared.
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.
This program has helped me to become a more competent and confident clinician. I have begun using the skills and interventions from this program with current clients, and the shift in my practice and the progress of my clients has been amazing to witness. I recommend this program to every clinician who wants to develop or strengthen skills and knowledge of trauma informed care.
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 presenter was an expert in the field who provided real-life, relatable examples that I can apply to my practice as a therapist.
This was an awesome workshop that gave me the very unique opportunity to learn from the wisdom of a seasoned Rabbi, Priest and therapist. I left the workshop better equipped and more inspired to help my clients.
Overall, I would rate this workshop very highly. I loved the experiential components... I did come away from the workshop with a better understanding of IFS and a number of tools I can use immediately in my practice.
Susan was incredibly engaging and knowledgeable about anxiety and OCD disorders. I normally dislike group activities but these made sense and were fun!
Very powerful and experiential workshop! We were constantly engaged in experiential learning, even while taking in theory. Awesome!
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
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