Qualified Trauma Specialist Providers

All licensed mental health professionals need to be qualified in trauma resolution. Many co-occurring DSM disorders—including substance use, borderline personality, compulsive behaviors, anxiety, and depression—have their origin in traumatic experiences. Additionally, trauma is a contributing factor to numerous medical concerns including migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, gastro-intestinal conditions, etc. To be a trauma specialist, licensed professionals must be qualified in a methodology that assures measurable and reliable outcome-based treatment.

Gray Otis, PhD, LCMHC. Sandi Williams, LMFT, Dan Kaufmann, PhD, and Krystal James, PhD, LCMHC at the National Board for Trauma Specialists developed a groundbreaking trauma treatment approach, “Core-Focused Treatment” (CFT). This methodology attends to the individual’s prior traumatic experiences, promotes holistic health and reinforces inherent strengths. Rather than getting stuck in the past, each person is effectively guided to achieve enduring trauma resolution.

Although every licensed mental health professional should be proficient as a qualified trauma treatment specialist, many do not have the crucial training or experience. Often, graduate programs do not specifically address treatment, and several post-graduate trauma training options are expensive. However, it is crucial that licensed mental health professionals become trauma specialists, which they can accomplished through training and a certificate of qualification.

The Core-Focused Treatment training program covers each aspect of treatment, including a step-by-step approach to resolve the underlying causes of co-occurring related disorders. This training demonstrates how individuals can attain trauma fitness by developing the means to resolve past concerns, become more resilient, and create added purpose in their lives. The Core-Focused Treatment methodology frequently achieves substantiated outcomes in remarkably few sessions.

Training is offered by TPN Health in a 16-hour program and through other recognized Core-Focused Treatment programs. All training is based on  the text, “Key Core Beliefs Trauma Care: The Clinician’s Guide to Core-Focused Treatment.” Each applicant is encouraged to obtain this text from Amazon.com. A step-by-step approach to resolving the underlying beliefs related to trauma and other disorders are covered in this manual. Handouts are also provided.

Trauma Specialist Qualification. After completing the training, licensed mental health professionals who want a certificate of qualification will complete 24 clinical hours of treatment sessions. The following documentation will be submitted:

• Verification that the mental health professional has completed at least 24 clinical hours of trauma-care treatment
• A minimum of 8 hours of trauma care per client, documented, with three or more clients
• A written SOAP note, or equivalent, for each session
• Documentation for a specified therapeutic alliance measure for each session
• Documentation for a specified outcome measure for each session
• After completing a minimum of 8 hours with one client and submitting the SOAP notes, applicants will document one email consultation with a representative of the National Board for Trauma Specialists

All documentation must be free of any identifying information to ensure confidentiality. The documentation will not be graded or used to determine successful completion of the program.

After completing the Core-Focused Treatment training program applicants can then submit the required documentation for certificate review fee of $129. Licensed mental health professionals who fulfill all the requirements will be awarded the certificate as a:

Qualified Trauma Specialist