(NEW) Online Training
Certificate in Post-Traumatic Growth
Class 1 & 2

April 5 - April 6 Login to Zoom 8:30am ; Training 8:45am-4:15pm (EDT) $349, 12 CEUs Presenter: Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C DAPA Zoom.us, MD + Google Map

Much has been written about the long-term adverse effects of traumatic life experiences, including PTSD, depression, and addiction.  In this two-day training we will focus on an exciting and encouraging alternative byproduct to traumatic events that takes us through the pain and grief of trauma but eventually brings us to a place of newfound hope, resiliency, and healing. We will discuss how to plant the seeds of hope early on in therapy, while still balancing the client’s need to process their trauma, and why the meaning that people attach to trauma is so important. Participants will also explore creative strategies designed to reduce clients’ frozen in time mindset and fears- an important part of extricating clients from ongoing PTSD symptoms.

As we explore the need to look at clients through a strengths-based lens, we will identify the tangible markers of post-traumatic growth, including: increased attachment and a new way of relating to others; the capacity to believe in new possibilities; the rediscovery of personal strengths; and a newfound appreciation for life in general.  Participants will have the opportunity to explore, firsthand, creative strategies that connect with the concepts of post-traumatic growth and their own growth journeys.  We will incorporate the power of the therapeutic relationship, somatic resourcing, and “remembered resources” to access the client’s “inner wisdom” that can identify arenas of growth.  We will also explore strategies including before and after imagery, two-handed writing, journaling, drawing, and future-self visualizations that allow us to recognize and celebrate growth and healing.  Case examples, powerful videotapes of clients’ actual healing journeys, and clients’ artwork will be incorporated into the workshop for additional processing.

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, and Massachusetts. The Institute also maintains full responsibility for all programming.
In order to provide Category 1 CEUs for all of our trainings, the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners requires online workshops to be live, interactive, and experienced in real time. Therefore, none of our trainings are recorded for later viewing.

Learning Objectives

  1. Implement two metaphors that can be used with clients to explain the key concept of post-traumatic growth.
  2. Give three examples of how the meaning clients attach to trauma can intensify it and provide three examples of how negative meaning-making manifests in their lives.
  3. Give three examples of how the meaning clients choose to attach to trauma can mitigate the adverse effects and provide three examples of how positive meaning-making impacts their lives.
  4. Describe at least 5 traits that make PTG a more likely outcome in trauma survivors.
  5. Implement three journal prompts to help clients lean into fear rather than avoiding it.
  6. Explain the “hamster wheel” phenomenon of perpetually asking “why” trauma occurred and how to navigate it in therapy.
  7. Explain the “Shattered Vase” analogy and its relevance to post-traumatic growth.
  8. Describe the “strengths-based lens” and provide at least five reasons why it is so important to approach trauma treatment from a non-pathologizing perspective.
  9. Identify the 5 measurable arenas that are indicative of Post-traumatic Growth and give examples of each.
  10. Identify at least three questions that can be explored with clients to assess for resiliency.
  11. Describe and implement at least 4 strategies designed to introduce and nurture the concepts of Post-traumatic Growth in our healing journeys.
  12. Explain how the use of somatic resourcing can help clients access the inner wisdom that is necessary for post-traumatic growth.

Agenda - Day 1

8:45 — 10:00 am

  • Shifting from PTSD to Post-traumatic Growth (PTG)
  • Case study
  • Defining PTG- metaphors for treatment
  • Exploring the Subjective Meaning of Trauma-clients’ artwork

10:00 — 10:08 am                BREAK

10:08 — 11:00 am

  • The Challenges of Achieving PTG
  • Addressing fear and the wounded inner child
  • Journal exercise

11:00 — 11:07  am                  BREAK

11:07 — 12:00 pm

  • Personality traits associated with PTG
  • Addressing the hamster wheel of “why?”
  • Processing the “shattered vase” analogy
  • Planting the Seeds of PTG in Therapy
  • The Therapist’s Lens and Counter-transference
  • Revisiting the Case study

12:00 — 1:00 pm                    LUNCH

1:00 — 2:00 pm

  • The Strengths-based Perspective and why it’s important
  • Normalizing, universalizing, de-pathologizing
  • Introducing Self-Compassion through positive self-talk
  • Experiential: Crossroad of a Thought

2:00 — 2:08 pm                      BREAK

2:08 — 3:00 pm

  • Cognitive Re-framing: addressing a “frozen in time” mentality
  • Working with a remembered resource- experiential

3:00 — 3:07 pm                       BREAK

3:07 — 4:15 pm

  • Addressing guilt, shame and self-blame during the therapy session

Agenda - Day 2

8:45 — 10:00 am

  • Taking power away from the perpetrator
  • Accessing inner wisdom through journal prompts
  • Addressing clients’ mindset of “Double Standards”
  • Assessing for and Highlighting Resiliency
  • Indicators of Post-traumatic Growth

10:00 — 10:08 am                    BREAK

10:08 — 11:00 am

  • Processing the PTG Inventory
  • Re-discovering Personal Strengths
  • Case study and video
  • Experientials:  Somatic resourcing, visualization and art

11:00-11:07 am                           BREAK

11:07 — 12:00 pm

  • Belief in New Possibilities
  • Case study and video
  • Experiential: PTSD and PTG through art
  • Relating to Others
  • Experiential: Two-handed writing

12.00 — 1:00 pm                        LUNCH

1:00 — 2:00 pm

  • Exploring Spirituality
  • Case study and video

2:00 — 2:07 pm                          BREAK

2:07 — 3:00 pm

  • Newfound Appreciation of Life
  • Case study
  • Experiential: art and gratitude
  • PTG and Forgiveness

3:00 — 3:07 pm                          BREAK

3:07 — 4:15 pm

  • Additional Creative Strategies to Promote PTG
  • Guided imagery, Documenting healing through artwork, Journaling