Post Graduate Diploma in Trauma & PTSD (Level 7 Counselling Training) 2021 Class, Ocean House, Saturday, 30. January 2021
Post-Graduate Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD 2021
Level 7: Accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP)
Implementing a systematic treatment approach for trauma and PTSD.
This course is run in Berkshire (now online, see note below) by the Course Director, Lucia Hall of ICS Limited (Integrative Cognitive Solutions). This course provides 120 hours of CPD (Continuous Professional Development).
The next intake will commence in January 2021. It is a programme of 20 days’ training, held on weekends, and participants will meet once each month for training workshops over either one or two days. Dates are listed below. The full syllabus and course requirements are listed below. There is a fee to undertake this Post Graduate course.
NOTE: Due to uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic - and because we had to make an early decision to allow people to plan - we have decided to teach this course online in 2021. We switched to online delivery of our courses when the lockdown came into effect, and this has been extremely well received by participants.
Course Overview
A 12-month part-time training programme for practitioners who are already qualified and established in their way of working. This course is designed for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and mental health professionals.
The Post-Graduate Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD was specifically designed by Lucia Hall, an experienced traumatologist, to address the shortcomings that she and her supervisees encountered in other trauma courses. So often courses give a vast amount of theoretical knowledge, but at the end participants still do not have a clear idea of how to practically treat complex trauma clients. This course will provide participants with clear, comprehensive and systematic procedures to effectively assess and treat trauma clients. The course includes two days of training dedicated to treating trauma in children, utilising an approach that has been effective with traumatised children throughout the world (please note that this alone will not qualify participants to work with children, they would also need to have general training for working with children).
The effective treatment of complex trauma is inherently integrative; as complex trauma is different from normal counselling or psychotherapy, it requires a separate approach. The process learned on this course can be used by practitioners trained in different counselling and psychotherapy models, although many of the techniques are in the cognitive realm. We encourage learning in a multidisciplinary environment where both theoretical differences and similarities are encouraged, where trainees can learn from each other as well as the course tutors
As this a postgraduate course it will be challenging, but the learning environment will be supportive and interesting with a lecturer who presents in an engaging manner.
How is this course different from others?
This course is specifically designed to be different from others. Firsthand experience, as well as feedback from colleagues and supervisees, led Lucia Hall to write a course that would give participants the training necessary to implement a systematic, evidence-based treatment approach for diverse forms of trauma. Other courses tend to give a lot of theory from diverse trauma approaches, but leave participants without a clear idea of how to go about implementing a coherent treatment process.
Another special feature on this course is that participants will have monthly supervision with Lucia Hall to ensure that they are both grasping the theory and also demonstrating how to implement the learning in practice.
As the presentation of trauma is typically accompanied by co-morbid issues, this course ensures that participants will also be able to tackle these co-morbidities. Tackling such co-morbidities is frequently overlooked in other courses.
The length of the course allows for trauma treatment skills to be covered in-depth and breadth, ensuring that participants are able to develop a comprehensive treatment approach.
Our new website is www.traumatraining.org.uk This site began construction just before the coronavirus lockdown, so only parts of it are currently working.
Alternatively, you may email Lucia Hall at email
Course Content
PTSD: Introduction to a Systematic Treatment Approach
Defining trauma
How PTSD develops
Evidence-based models for treating Trauma I and Trauma II
Introduction to Imagery Approaches for Processing Trauma
The theoretical basis underlying an imagery approach to trauma treatment
The current evidence-base for this approach
Definition, Diagnosis of Complex PTSD
Defining PTSD and complex PTSD
The relationship between attachment styles and responses to trauma.
How to develop a therapeutic relationship in the process of complex (Type II) PTSD and simple (Type I) PTSD
Assessment & Formulation of Complex PTSD
Completing a full assessment including PTSD diagnostic instruments.
Treatment problems that can arise during therapy
The clinical difficulties in constructing complex PTSD formulations
How to work with these difficulties
Demonstrate understanding and ability to work with complex PTSD
Safety, Stabilisation & Normalisation of Complex PTSD
The need for safety and stabilisation techniques with complex PTSD
Grounding techniques that can be used at the start, during and after a psychological process
The Neuroscience, Dissociation and the Psychopharmacology of PTSD
The neuroscience of trauma
The impact of dissociation in complex trauma
An Evidence-Based Treatment for Type I PTSD
The theoretical underpinnings and research the effectiveness of this approach.
Imaginal exposure and in vivo exposure
An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD
The theoretical basis underlying Imagery approaches to trauma and how they work with complex PTSD
Session-by-session components and delivery of treatment for complex PTSD
Demonstrate the use of imagery in clinical practice and supervision
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Trauma & PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a 12-session therapy that has been found effective for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other corollary symptoms following traumatic events. Although the research on CPT initially focused on rape victims, it has now been shown to be successful with a range of other traumatic events, including military-related traumas. It has been adopted as one of the main treatment approaches by the Veterans Administration (VA) in the USA.
Trauma and Comorbidities
Mood disorders
Traumatic nightmares
Spiritual health
******* ideation
Other Approaches and Working with Specific Populations
Specific approaches to the management of traumatic stress in specific populations
The key elements of other trauma models: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing), Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (for Rape Victims), Parks Inner Child Therapy (Imagery Rescripting), Lifespan Integration (LI), Phase-Based Treatment for PTSD, Levine’s Somatic Approach
Trauma and Children: KIDNET
How PTSD manifests differently in children and adolescents
The value of the voice of the child, children’s rights and the UNCRC, in regard to PTSD treatment
How to facilitate children with in-vivo exposure in an empowering way
The importance of using child-friendly measures in the treatment of PTSD
Clinical Requirement
Participants are required to complete at least 30 hours of documented clinical work with trauma clients during the course. This is to include at least 6 hours with a Type I trauma client and at least 6 hours with each of 2 Type II trauma clients.
The National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP)
This course is accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) and course participants who are not members of NCP will need to register as student members (£30).
The NCP is one of the longest established societies of its type in the United Kingdom, being formed in 1971 following the “Foster Report” on the statutory registration of psychotherapists.
The NCP is a National and International Association of therapists, mainly in private practice to whom the public may confidently refer. Most schools of psychological thought are represented and a wide variety of therapeutic approaches are offered.
Dates for the Course 2021 (Provisional)
30 Jan (Sat) PTSD: Introduction to a Systematic Treatment Approach
31 Jan (Sun) Attachment and the Definition and Diagnosis of Complex PTSD
27 Feb (Sat) Assessment and Formulation of Complex PTSD – Part 1
28 Feb (Sun) Assessment and Formulation of Complex PTSD – Part 2
21 Mar (Sun) The Neuroscience, Dissociation and Psychopharmacology of PTSD
17 Apr (Sat) Safety, Stabilisation and Normalisation of Complex PTSD – 1
18 Apr (Sun) Safety, Stabilisation and Normalisation of Complex PTSD – 2
15 May (Sat) Emotion Regulation for Trauma, PTSD & BPD
16 May (Sun) An Evidence-Based Approach for Type I PTSD
12 Jun (Sat) An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD – 1
13 Jun (Sun) An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD – 2
17 Jul (Sat) Trauma and Comorbidities 1A: Mood Disorders – Part A
18 Jul (Sun) Trauma and Comorbidities 1B: Mood Disorders – Part B
25 Sep (Sat) Trauma and Comorbidities 2: Traumatic Nightmares
26 Sep (Sun) Trauma and Comorbidities 3: Treating ******* Ideation
16 Oct (Sat) Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma - 1
17 Oct (Sun) Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma - 2
13 Nov (Sat) Treating Trauma in Children and Adolescents 1
14 Nov (Sun) Treating Trauma in Children and Adolescents 2
05 Dec (Sun) Other Approaches and Working with Specific Populations
To register your interest please complete the ticket section above and we will contact you. If you are interested in future dates, please also register your interest
An application form can be downloaded from www.traumatraining.org.uk or we can email one to you once you have registered your interest. Please note this is not a free course.
Level 7: Accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP)
Implementing a systematic treatment approach for trauma and PTSD.
This course is run in Berkshire (now online, see note below) by the Course Director, Lucia Hall of ICS Limited (Integrative Cognitive Solutions). This course provides 120 hours of CPD (Continuous Professional Development).
The next intake will commence in January 2021. It is a programme of 20 days’ training, held on weekends, and participants will meet once each month for training workshops over either one or two days. Dates are listed below. The full syllabus and course requirements are listed below. There is a fee to undertake this Post Graduate course.
NOTE: Due to uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic - and because we had to make an early decision to allow people to plan - we have decided to teach this course online in 2021. We switched to online delivery of our courses when the lockdown came into effect, and this has been extremely well received by participants.
Course Overview
A 12-month part-time training programme for practitioners who are already qualified and established in their way of working. This course is designed for counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists and mental health professionals.
The Post-Graduate Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD was specifically designed by Lucia Hall, an experienced traumatologist, to address the shortcomings that she and her supervisees encountered in other trauma courses. So often courses give a vast amount of theoretical knowledge, but at the end participants still do not have a clear idea of how to practically treat complex trauma clients. This course will provide participants with clear, comprehensive and systematic procedures to effectively assess and treat trauma clients. The course includes two days of training dedicated to treating trauma in children, utilising an approach that has been effective with traumatised children throughout the world (please note that this alone will not qualify participants to work with children, they would also need to have general training for working with children).
The effective treatment of complex trauma is inherently integrative; as complex trauma is different from normal counselling or psychotherapy, it requires a separate approach. The process learned on this course can be used by practitioners trained in different counselling and psychotherapy models, although many of the techniques are in the cognitive realm. We encourage learning in a multidisciplinary environment where both theoretical differences and similarities are encouraged, where trainees can learn from each other as well as the course tutors
As this a postgraduate course it will be challenging, but the learning environment will be supportive and interesting with a lecturer who presents in an engaging manner.
How is this course different from others?
This course is specifically designed to be different from others. Firsthand experience, as well as feedback from colleagues and supervisees, led Lucia Hall to write a course that would give participants the training necessary to implement a systematic, evidence-based treatment approach for diverse forms of trauma. Other courses tend to give a lot of theory from diverse trauma approaches, but leave participants without a clear idea of how to go about implementing a coherent treatment process.
Another special feature on this course is that participants will have monthly supervision with Lucia Hall to ensure that they are both grasping the theory and also demonstrating how to implement the learning in practice.
As the presentation of trauma is typically accompanied by co-morbid issues, this course ensures that participants will also be able to tackle these co-morbidities. Tackling such co-morbidities is frequently overlooked in other courses.
The length of the course allows for trauma treatment skills to be covered in-depth and breadth, ensuring that participants are able to develop a comprehensive treatment approach.
Our new website is www.traumatraining.org.uk This site began construction just before the coronavirus lockdown, so only parts of it are currently working.
Alternatively, you may email Lucia Hall at email
Course Content
PTSD: Introduction to a Systematic Treatment Approach
Defining trauma
How PTSD develops
Evidence-based models for treating Trauma I and Trauma II
Introduction to Imagery Approaches for Processing Trauma
The theoretical basis underlying an imagery approach to trauma treatment
The current evidence-base for this approach
Definition, Diagnosis of Complex PTSD
Defining PTSD and complex PTSD
The relationship between attachment styles and responses to trauma.
How to develop a therapeutic relationship in the process of complex (Type II) PTSD and simple (Type I) PTSD
Assessment & Formulation of Complex PTSD
Completing a full assessment including PTSD diagnostic instruments.
Treatment problems that can arise during therapy
The clinical difficulties in constructing complex PTSD formulations
How to work with these difficulties
Demonstrate understanding and ability to work with complex PTSD
Safety, Stabilisation & Normalisation of Complex PTSD
The need for safety and stabilisation techniques with complex PTSD
Grounding techniques that can be used at the start, during and after a psychological process
The Neuroscience, Dissociation and the Psychopharmacology of PTSD
The neuroscience of trauma
The impact of dissociation in complex trauma
An Evidence-Based Treatment for Type I PTSD
The theoretical underpinnings and research the effectiveness of this approach.
Imaginal exposure and in vivo exposure
An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD
The theoretical basis underlying Imagery approaches to trauma and how they work with complex PTSD
Session-by-session components and delivery of treatment for complex PTSD
Demonstrate the use of imagery in clinical practice and supervision
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Trauma & PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a 12-session therapy that has been found effective for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other corollary symptoms following traumatic events. Although the research on CPT initially focused on rape victims, it has now been shown to be successful with a range of other traumatic events, including military-related traumas. It has been adopted as one of the main treatment approaches by the Veterans Administration (VA) in the USA.
Trauma and Comorbidities
Mood disorders
Traumatic nightmares
Spiritual health
******* ideation
Other Approaches and Working with Specific Populations
Specific approaches to the management of traumatic stress in specific populations
The key elements of other trauma models: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing), Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (for Rape Victims), Parks Inner Child Therapy (Imagery Rescripting), Lifespan Integration (LI), Phase-Based Treatment for PTSD, Levine’s Somatic Approach
Trauma and Children: KIDNET
How PTSD manifests differently in children and adolescents
The value of the voice of the child, children’s rights and the UNCRC, in regard to PTSD treatment
How to facilitate children with in-vivo exposure in an empowering way
The importance of using child-friendly measures in the treatment of PTSD
Clinical Requirement
Participants are required to complete at least 30 hours of documented clinical work with trauma clients during the course. This is to include at least 6 hours with a Type I trauma client and at least 6 hours with each of 2 Type II trauma clients.
The National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP)
This course is accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) and course participants who are not members of NCP will need to register as student members (£30).
The NCP is one of the longest established societies of its type in the United Kingdom, being formed in 1971 following the “Foster Report” on the statutory registration of psychotherapists.
The NCP is a National and International Association of therapists, mainly in private practice to whom the public may confidently refer. Most schools of psychological thought are represented and a wide variety of therapeutic approaches are offered.
Dates for the Course 2021 (Provisional)
30 Jan (Sat) PTSD: Introduction to a Systematic Treatment Approach
31 Jan (Sun) Attachment and the Definition and Diagnosis of Complex PTSD
27 Feb (Sat) Assessment and Formulation of Complex PTSD – Part 1
28 Feb (Sun) Assessment and Formulation of Complex PTSD – Part 2
21 Mar (Sun) The Neuroscience, Dissociation and Psychopharmacology of PTSD
17 Apr (Sat) Safety, Stabilisation and Normalisation of Complex PTSD – 1
18 Apr (Sun) Safety, Stabilisation and Normalisation of Complex PTSD – 2
15 May (Sat) Emotion Regulation for Trauma, PTSD & BPD
16 May (Sun) An Evidence-Based Approach for Type I PTSD
12 Jun (Sat) An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD – 1
13 Jun (Sun) An Imagery Approach for Treating Complex Type II PTSD – 2
17 Jul (Sat) Trauma and Comorbidities 1A: Mood Disorders – Part A
18 Jul (Sun) Trauma and Comorbidities 1B: Mood Disorders – Part B
25 Sep (Sat) Trauma and Comorbidities 2: Traumatic Nightmares
26 Sep (Sun) Trauma and Comorbidities 3: Treating ******* Ideation
16 Oct (Sat) Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma - 1
17 Oct (Sun) Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma - 2
13 Nov (Sat) Treating Trauma in Children and Adolescents 1
14 Nov (Sun) Treating Trauma in Children and Adolescents 2
05 Dec (Sun) Other Approaches and Working with Specific Populations
To register your interest please complete the ticket section above and we will contact you. If you are interested in future dates, please also register your interest
An application form can be downloaded from www.traumatraining.org.uk or we can email one to you once you have registered your interest. Please note this is not a free course.
