Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health

$10.00 | CE Hours:2.00

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CE Course Description

Individuals who experience trauma will often be affected in various ways. Their trauma histories may contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, mood disturbances, dissociative disorders, and other issues. While many people seeking mental health and substance misuse treatment have extensive trauma histories, they are unaware of how trauma has impacted their day-to-day lives. As a result, they may fail to recognize the connection between trauma and their presenting problems or avoid the topic altogether. Behavioral health professionals and organizations must recognize the consequences of traumatic experiences in order to build a trauma-informed continuum of care. 

Author: Kimberley Fortin, LCSW-R

CE Course Objectives

  1. Identify what trauma is and how it affects individuals, groups, and communities.
  2. Examine cultural and historical considerations that need to be considered when evaluating and treating traumatic experiences.
  3. Explore best practices in screening, assessment, and treatment of trauma within a trauma-informed continuum of care. 

CE Course Outline

Introduction (3 mins)

  1. Overview of trauma-informed care (TIC) and its relevance to practitioners (3 mins)

Section 1: What is Trauma? (5 mins)

  1. Definition and conceptual understanding of trauma (5 mins)

Section 2: Types of Trauma (20 mins)

  1. Single Incident Trauma (2 mins)
  2. Developmental Trauma (2 mins)
  3. Complex or Repetitive Trauma (2 mins)
  4. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Overview and impact (4 mins)
  5. Intergenerational Trauma: Patterns and transmission (2 mins)
  6. Historical Trauma: Cultural and societal implications (2 mins)
  7. Community Trauma: Effects on collective groups and neighborhoods (2 mins)
  8. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (4 mins)

Section 3: What is Trauma-Informed Care? (5 mins)

  1. The Four Rs of Trauma-Informed Care: Realize, Recognize, Respond, Resist Retraumatization (2 mins)
  2. Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care (3 mins)

Section 4: Continuum of Trauma-Informed Practice (30 mins)

  1. Preparing to Administer Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP) (4 mins)
  2. Engaging Clients in Trauma-Informed Practice (5 mins)
  3. Asking About Trauma (4 mins)
  4. Making Links to Trauma (4 mins)
  5. Skill Building and Empowerment (5 mins)
  6. Pratitioners Challenges to TIP (4 mins)
  7. Implementing Trauma-Informed Care on an Organizational Level (4 mins)

Section 5: Trauma and Its Comorbidities (10 min)

  1. Trauma and Substance Use Disorders (3 mins)
  2. Trauma and Mental Health Disorders (4 mins)
  3. Trauma and Physical Health (3 mins)

Section 6: Common Reactions to Trauma (10 minutes)

  1. Immediate Symptoms (5 mins)
  2. Long-Term Symptoms (5 mins)

Section 7: Trauma Screening and Assessment (10 mins)

  1. Trauma Screening: Identifying trauma in clinical settings (5 mins)
  2. Trauma Assessment: Comprehensive evaluation and planning (5 mins)

Section 8: Evidence-Based Treatments for Trauma (15 mins)

  1. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) (4 mins)
  2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (4 mins)
  3. Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) (4 mins)
  4. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) (3 mins)

Section 9: Post-Traumatic Growth (5 mins)

  1. Exploring the potential for resilience and positive growth after trauma (5 mins)

Section 10: Impacts of Treating Trauma on Providers (5 mins)

  1. Challenges faced by behavioral healthcare providers (5 mins)

Conclusion (2 mins)

  1. Summary of key takeaways (2 mins)

Additional Resources:

  1. References (Not timed)
  2. Appendices (Not timed)

Total Time: 120 minutes (2 hours)
Course Level: Introductory

Social Work Approval

Social Work CE Credit for this course is offered with the following approvals. Many state boards of social work will accept the approvals listed. Provider Approvals by state and license type can be found here.

  • Quantum Units Education is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, CAMFT Provider #89970, to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEP. Quantum Units Education maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.
  • Florida board for Social Workers CE Provider #50-8650 (Quantum 'immediately' reports CE Credits to Florida licensees) 
  • Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, License No. 159.001261 approved CE Sponsor
  • Ohio CSWMFTB #RCST091701 approved CE Provider
  • Texas Board of SWE #5070 approved CE Provider
  • Quantum Units Education, #1289, 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: 01/03/2023 - 01/03/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 2.00 'General' continuing education credits.

To see other approvals in your state, see our state by state provider approval listings here.

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Added On: 04/09/2025

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