Registration deadline: December 4th

15 CEs

Childhood and adolescence are key developmental stages in people’s lives physically, socially, and emotionally. Additionally, research shows that 1 in 5 people will experience sexual trauma before the age of 18. Knowing this, many trauma-focused therapies have been developed specifically to help children and adolescents foster resiliency and recover from the negative effects of trauma.

This 2-day workshop will teach the fundamentals of various evidence-informed practices for treating trauma in children and adolescents. Specifically, we will dive into Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Play Therapy, and Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI). We will apply that foundational knowledge to various hypothetical scenarios so that they may practice their assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning skills. Additionally, we will discuss the impact of trauma on children and adolescents, including common traumatic experiences and the subsequent reactions. Lastly, we will practice ethical decision-making skills and self-care strategies to utilize when working with children and teens impacted by trauma.

Please note that this training does not provide certification in any one particular therapy, rather it is meant to give participants a broad array of techniques to adapt to their client's unique needs. This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date.

General Admission: $350**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 30.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Social workers, Case Managers, Counselors, Therapists, Supervisors, Practice/Business Owners, and other Non-Profit Providers and Helping Professions.

Agenda:

• Day One
  • Introduction - 5 mins
  • Course outline and expectations - 25 mins
  • Background into theories around trauma (care and approaches;diagnoses; theoretical underpinnings) - 90 mins
  • Best practices with children and adolescents (human behavior and development; commons concerns; family considerations) - 90 mins
  • Strategies to assess trauma in children and adolescents - 60 mins
  • Introduction to TF-CBT: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (including background and "PRACTICE" components) - 90 mins
  • Case examples and conceptualizations - 90 mins
• Day Two
  • Review and debrief - 30 mins
  • Introduction to other trauma-focused therapy models (CPT, EMDR, Play Therapy; CFTSI) - 105 mins
  • Additional theoretical case conceptualizations (appropriate therapy models; how to inform children and families about pros/cons) - 70 mins
  • Skill rehearsals - 150 mins
  • Ethical decision-making and self-care - 95 mins
• Each day includes small breaks and 1-hour lunch break

Learner Outcomes

• Assess trauma-related symptoms and developmental impacts in children and adolescents by applying trauma-informed case conceptualization strategies to clinical scenarios.
• Apply at least three evidence-informed therapeutic techniques when developing intervention plans for children and adolescents affected by trauma.
• Demonstrate the use of key components from trauma-focused interventions through structured skill rehearsal and case-based practice exercises.
• Analyze the influence of child and adolescent developmental stages and theories of human behavior on the presentation, assessment, and treatment of trauma-related concerns.
• Apply the NASW Code of Ethics and an ethical decision-making model to evaluate and address ethical challenges that arise in trauma-focused practice with children and adolescents.
• Develop a professional self-care plan that incorporates strategies to mitigate secondary traumatic stress, promote resilience, and reduce the risk of burnout in trauma-focused clinical work.

Course Completion Requirements:

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 15 clinical continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancellation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries, please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.