What’s Included
1. Trauma-Informed Care Practitioner Training
The full 20-contact-hour course: on-demand audio and video, 40 handouts and resources, and quizzes along the way. Self-paced with no time limits. Most people finish in about eight weeks. Details are below.
2. Trauma-Informed Care Practitioner Certificate
Once you finish the training, you earn the certificate with one assignment: a personal narrative reflection (up to five pages) on how you’ve applied the material in your own life and work. Instructions arrive after you complete the training.
Your reflection is reviewed by licensed therapists, usually within two weeks. If it needs more depth, reviewers will ask for a revision rather than turn you down. Once it’s approved, you receive your personalized Trauma-Informed Care Practitioner Certificate. There’s no renewal. It’s yours for life, and you can add it to LinkedIn.
One purchase, one login, both courses. The certificate unlocks in your account right away and is ready when you finish the training.
About This Course:
This course was originally developed by Drs. Barry and Janae Weinhold through the Colorado Professional Development Center (CPDC). There it was taught as a live, three-day intensive in Colorado Springs. Over the years, CPDC certified more than two hundred Trauma-Informed Practitioners, from therapists to soldiers and everyone in between.
The online version captures that live training, recorded with fifty-three participants. It adds study sections on traumatology, developmental psychology, and attachment. If those terms are new to you, don’t worry, because the course builds the foundation step by step.
Trauma-informed care shifts the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This course goes past identifying trauma. It teaches practical ways to respond: creating safety, building trust, and supporting regulation and resilience. It also shows you how to protect yourself from the burnout that comes with this work.
You Will Learn:
Understand Trauma
- The foundational theory, practices, and protocols of trauma-informed care
- How trauma affects the human nervous system
- The link between trauma and addiction
- The long-term effects of trauma on physical and mental health
- Attachment theory as an organizing force in people and systems
- Why personal development matters for helpers, to prevent countertransference and burnout
- Ethics, safety, and cultural sensitivity
Recognize Trauma
- The ACEs Study: what it found, and where it falls short
- The four categories of trauma, and why they matter
- The trauma continuum of shock, trauma, and stress
- The long-term effects of developmental and childhood trauma
- How attachment styles shape behavior and relationships for a lifetime
Respond With Skill
- A relational, somatic, and biochemical framework for supporting recovery
- Why the helping relationship itself is central to healing
- Simple interventions that create safety and trust
- How to respond to shock, trauma, and stress states
- How to help people build emotional self-regulation and resilience
- For clinicians: a developmental approach to psychopathology and an attachment-based model of psychotherapy
Clinicians will find a complete framework for treatment. Non-clinicians will come away with a clear map of trauma and practical tools they can use within their role.
Why Train in Trauma-Informed Care?
- Build knowledge and skills that carry across roles and careers
- Understand how Adverse Childhood Experiences shape the developing brain, health, and behavior
- Protect yourself from secondary trauma and burnout through stronger self-awareness
- Help your team or agency move toward becoming trauma-informed
Why Learn Online?
- Flexibility: Study whenever you want. 2am works fine.
- Portability: Learn on your phone, tablet, or laptop, on your lunch break or your commute.
- Affordability: No time off, no travel, no hotel.
- Lifetime access: Come back and review anytime.
- Support: Questions or problems? We’re here to help.
Who Can Benefit From This Course?
- Social services and advocacy: social services providers, child welfare staff, guardians ad litem, victim advocates, domestic violence and sexual assault counselors
- Health and behavioral health: counselors, psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, ER staff
- Public safety and justice: law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, corrections, lawyers, judges, legal staff
- Education, faith, and public service: teachers, school counselors, higher-ed staff, clergy, city and government workers, military
And anyone else who works with people.
Course Outline:
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Overview (2)
- Course Overview
- Who are we?
TIC BASICS
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A History of Trauma (9)
- PTSD: A Social and Political Game Changer
- The Origins of the Field of Traumatology
- Our Discovery of Developmental Trauma
- Sharing From Our Relational Laboratory
- Defining Developmental Trauma
- Developmental Trauma Symptoms
- Working Hypothesis
- Standards of Practice
- History of Trauma Quiz
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Traditional TIC (5)
- Types of TIC Training
- TIC Leadership
- What is Trauma?
- Traditional TIC Model
- Traditional TIC Quiz
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Enhanced TIC (8)
- Expanded Paradigm
- Relational & Integrative
- Trauma Categories
- Trauma Continuum
- Focus On Healing
- Unifying Theories & Practices
- Comparing Diagnostic Criteria
- Enhanced TIC Quiz
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Ethics and Safety (9)
- Counselor Responsibilities
- Transference and Countertransference
- Dissociation
- Compassion Fatigue
- Jin Shin Jyutsu
- Butterfly Hug
- TET Pose
- Compassion Fatigue (conclusion)
- Ethics & Safety Quiz
-
Culture (5)
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Learning Styles & Social Context
- Reframing the Cultural View of Trauma
- Rest & restore
- Culture Quiz
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ACEs Research (11)
- Introduction to ACEs Research
- The Original ACEs
- The Study Results
- More about the ACEs Results
- More about the Health & Well-Being Outcomes
- Case Study
- How ACE Impact Happens
- What’s Been Happening Since the Study?
- More Categories of ACEs
- Activity
- ACES Research Quiz
OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
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Intro to Developmental Psychology (9)
- Foundational Theories
- All Development is Continuous
- John Bowlby — Founder of Attachment Theory
- Mary Ainsworth — Strange Situation + Attachment Styles
- Mary Main / Erik Hesse — More on Attachment Styles
- Allan Schore — How Attachment Happens
- Jung, Mahler, Kaplan — Separation
- Barry & Janae Weinhold
- Intro to Developmental Psychology Quiz
-
Optimal Track of Development (8)
- Model Based on Mother-Infant Attachment
- Mirror Neurons & Attachment
- Bonding Cycle & Biochemistry
- The Four Stages of Development
- Optimal Development Model Outcomes
- Bonding & Heart Intelligence
- Where Attachment Takes Us
- Optimal Track of Development Quiz
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Becoming Developmental Trauma-Informed (9)
- Trauma as Defined in the Traumatology Literature
- What Causes Developmental Trauma?
- Trauma and Brain Function
- The Biochemistry of Trauma
- Cortisol: The Fear Hormone
- Research on the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma
- The Impact of Developmental Trauma on Young Children
- Janae’s Experiences Working with Childcare Providers
- Becoming Developmental Trauma-Informed Quiz
-
Pioneers in Childhood Trauma (8)
- Allan Schore — Affect Regulation Theory
- Dan Siegel — Mindsight
- Bessel van der Kolk — Developmental Trauma Disorder
- Bruce Perry — Community & Political
- Stephen Porges — Polyvagal Theory
- Karlen Lyons-Ruth — Attachment/Immune System Connection
- Barry & Janae Weinhold — Tracks, Stages, Developmental Systems
- Pioneers in Childhood Trauma Quiz
-
Trauma Continuum (7)
- Brain & Nervous System Basics
- Introducing the Trauma Continuum
- Developmental Stress
- Developmental Shock
- Developmental Trauma
- Trauma Specific Interventions
- Trauma Continuum Quiz
-
Attachment Trauma (10)
- Where Does Attachment Trauma Start?
- Reflection
- Trauma & Addiction
- Activity: Trauma & Addiction Inventories
- Disorganized Attachment
- Activity: Disorganized Attachment Inventory
- The Impact of Rapid Changes
- Coping Mechanisms
- Reframing Disorganized Attachment
- Attachment Trauma Quiz
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Epigenetics & Biochemistry of Trauma (8)
- Neglect
- Abuse
- Issue #1 – Too much cortisol
- Issue #2 – Rapid fluctuations
- Issue #3 – Intergenerational & epigenetic influences
- Coping
- Rest & restore
- Epigenetics & Biochemistry of Trauma Quiz
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Separation & Individuation (7)
- Healthy Narcissism
- What it Takes to Separate
- Effect of Trauma
- Developmental Replay as Teens
- Special Role of Men
- Some Questions and Answers
- Separation & Individuation Quiz
-
Drama Triangle (7)
- Splits
- The Drama Triangle
- The Roles
- How to Break Free
- Some Questions & Answers
- Activity
- Drama Triangle
- Drama Triangle Quiz
HEALING DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA
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Screening & Assessment Tools (13)
- Introduction to Screening & Assessment
- Treating vs. Healing Models of Healthcare
- Three Minute Therapist
- Sculpting
- Endogenous vs. Exogenous Opioids
- Sample Client Contract
- Epigenetic Questions
- Crumpled Heart Exercise
- Two Lists
- Two Lists Activity
- Trauma Elimination Technique
- School Handouts
- Screening & Assessment Tools Quiz
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Making Meaning of Trauma (4)
- Making Meaning
- Making Personal Meaning
- Making Professional Meaning
- Making Meaning of Trauma Quiz
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Presence (4)
- Presence
- Presence and its Role in a Healing Paradigm
- Presence and Epigenetics
- Presence Quiz
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Three-Pronged Approach (8)
- Orienting Principles
- Begin by Healing Yourself
- Intro to the Three Prongs
- Prong 1: Developmental Psychotherapy
- Prong 2: Somatic Support
- Prong 3: Biochemical Support
- Some Self-Healing
- Three-Pronged Approach Quiz
-
Implementing TIC (4)
- Obstacles
- Strategies
- Are You Crazy Enough to Change the World?
- Implementing TIC Quiz
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About the Course Developers
Barry K. Weinhold (in memoriam) earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1968. He taught at Ohio University and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay before founding the Counseling and Human Services Program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. He taught there for more than 30 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2001. He was a licensed psychologist in Colorado from 1976. In 1986 he co-founded the Colorado Institute for Conflict Resolution & Creative Leadership with Janae, and he later served as CPDC's Continuing Education Director.
Barry authored or co-authored more than 65 books on developmental trauma, conflict resolution, family counseling, and men's development, and gave over 100 conference presentations. He consulted for the United Nations' 1994 International Year of the Family and helped found the Bratislava International Family Training Centre. He founded the Kindness Campaign, a community violence-prevention program adopted in 12 US cities. It grew into the Kind and Safe Schools Initiative, used in more than 700 schools across the US and Canada. He also helped found the First Visitor Program, a child abuse prevention effort in the Pikes Peak region. Outside his work, he meditated daily, fished with a fly rod, and was happiest hiking in the mountains.
Janae Weinhold holds a doctorate in Developmental Psychology from the Union Institute. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a clinical specialist in attachment and developmental trauma. For fourteen years she taught advanced clinical courses in Developmental Process Work at CU-Colorado Springs. She has provided mental health training for early childhood and childcare professionals since 1997, and she has worked extensively with psychotherapists in Kyiv, Ukraine. She co-founded the Colorado Institute for Conflict Resolution & Creative Leadership.
The model she and Barry created identifies disorganized attachment, and the developmental shock, trauma, and stress that come with it, as a major source of relational conflict, delayed development, and human suffering. She has authored or co-authored ten print books, twelve e-books, and numerous journal articles. She served as a Family Life Consultant at the United Nations Centre in Vienna during the International Year of the Family.
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