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10 Trauma-Informed Tools You Can Use Today

CE Hours 2 2 Clinical

About this course

Trauma is less about the event itself and more about the isolation and helplessness left in its wake. This course equips clinicians with a versatile, research-backed toolkit to shift clients from survival-based reaction states into present-focused and regulated. Moving beyond traditional talk therapy, we explore the neurobiology of connection, the "bottom-up" power of somatic awareness, and the physiological reset of nature-informed grounding. This workshop is open to mental health professionals of all levels and will include case conceptualization and multiple group experientials. 


Slide deck, detailed handout, and numerous training resources are included. 

Please note: participants will be watching a recorded video.

Learning Objectives

  • Apply a developmental and neurobiological framework to trauma case conceptualization.
  • Explore the therapeutic relationship as the foundational resource in working with trauma and the neurological importance of a secure attachment.
  • Differentiate when to apply somatic “bottom-up” and cognitive “top-down” interventions to support nervous system regulation and restore the window of tolerance.
  • Practice at least 5 somatic and mindfulness-based exercises that support nervous system regulation and reduce physiological stress.
  • Examine interventions that shift therapeutic focus from symptom management to flourishing by incorporating nature, creative expression, and meaning-making to strengthen psychological resilience.

Learning Levels

  • Beginner and intermediate, all levels are welcome

Target Audience

All mental health professionals welcome.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Cara Wilkerson, MS, LMFT

    Cara Wilkerson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Florida, and Texas with over 18 years of experience providing therapy. She graduated Suma Cum Laude, from California State University San Marcos, with a Bachelor degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. She completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. She specializes in treating complex PTSD, trauma, dissociation, and anxiety.

    Cara is a trauma expert, a Consultant for both Brainspotting and EMDRIA, an EMDRIA specialty trainer, as well as certified in Brainspotting, EMDR, and the Eagala model of equine-assisted psychotherapy. She developed EquiAttune which integrates the Neuroexperiential Model of Brainspotting and the Dual Attunement Frame into equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions.

    Cara has owned and run her own private practice for the last 10 years, and has previous experience working in group practice settings, school settings, non-profits, and working with the drug court of San Bernardino. In addition, Cara is a Clinical Supervisor to associates working toward their licensure.

Disclosure

EngagedMinds Continuing Education, Erena DiGonis, and planners have no financial disclosures or commercial bias or promote commercial interests during CE activities.

References

  • Caragol, J. A., Johnson, A. R., & Kwan, B. M. (2022). A gratitude intervention to improve clinician stress and professional satisfaction: A pilot and feasibility trial. International journal of psychiatry in medicine, 57(2), 103–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091217420982112
  • Dalky, H. F., Shatnawi, B. A., Dalky, A. F., & Alkhawaldeh, A. (2025). The Relationship Between Self-Compassion, Burnout, and Job Satisfaction among Healthcare Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Study. SAGE open nursing, 11, 23779608251400639. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608251400639
  • Damiani, T., Sharkey, J., Morgan, M., & Mullin, A. (2025). Posttraumatic growth, purpose, and trauma in university survivors of sexual assault. Journal of American College Health, 73(1), 152–160.
  • Durpoix, A., Blay, M., Moog, C., Rolling, J., Weiner, L., Lalanne, L., & Weibel, S. (2026). Clarifying conceptualization of emotional dysregulation: Differences with emotional lability during 4-month DBT skills training - A naturalistic study. Journal of affective disorders, 392, 120199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.120199
  • Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positive emotions broaden and build. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 47, 1–53.
  • Grand, D. (2013). Brainspotting: The revolutionary new therapy for rapid and effective change. Sounds True.
  • Gu, X., Luo, W., Zhao, X., Chen, Y., Zheng, Y., Zhou, J., Zeng, X., Yan, L., Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Lv, J., Lang, Y., Wang, Z., Gao, C., Jiang, Y., & Li, R. (2022). The effects of loving-kindness and compassion meditation on life satisfaction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Applied psychology. Health and well-being, 14(3), 1081–1101.
  • Joseph, S. (2023, May 9). What can Carl Rogers teach therapists about trauma? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-doesnt-kill-us/202305/what-can-carl-rogers-teach-therapists-about-trauma
  • Isaacowitz, D. M., & English, T. (2024). Beyond strategies: The when and why of emotion regulation in aging. Current opinion in psychology, 56, 101763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101763
  • Knipe, J. (2019). EMDR toolbox: Theory and treatment of complex PTSD and dissociation (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
  • Mattera, E., & Zaboski, B. (2025). Rethinking the Subjective Units of Distress Scale: Validity and Clinical Utility of the SUDS. Clinics and practice, 15(7), 123. https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract15070123
  • Montanari, A., Wang, L., Birenboim, A., & Chaix, B. (2024). Urban environment influences on stress, autonomic reactivity and circadian rhythm: protocol for an ambulatory study of mental health and sleep. Frontiers in public health, 12, 1175109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1175109
  • Nation, T., Franklin, R., Cox, C., & Maurer, E. (2025). An ecology of resilience: A nature-informed pilot curriculum for improving stress management in college students. Journal of American College Health, 73(8), 3282–3289.
  • Nixon, M. (2024). Exploring women’s experiences of healing from sexual trauma through engagement in mind–body practices: A systematic review. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 24, 884–896.
  • Soliman, O. M., Messer, M., Skvarc, D., Moffitt, R. L., & Linardon, J. (2025). Exploring the role of mindfulness, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance during delivery of a Dialectical Behaviour Therapy app for recurrent binge eating. Eating disorders, 1–23. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/10640266.2025.2602455
  • Watts, J., Lazzareschi, N., Warwick, L., & Gaa, M. (2024). Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in postsecondary students exposed to childhood psychological abuse: Exploring the role of negative meta-emotions. Journal of Counseling & Development, 103, 3–14.

CE Process Info

Content

  • Materials
    9 parts
    • Slide Deck
    • Training Handout
    • Yoga and PTSD Articles
    • Yoga and PTSD Article
    • Trauma Timeline
    • Window of Tolerance
    • SUDS
    • SUDS 0-10
    • Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF)
  • Recordings
    2 parts
    • Training Recording
    • Audio Only
  • New York State Education Department's State Board for SW (NYSED SW)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0676.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education, #1858, formerly Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC, 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: 8/25/2024-8/25/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2 continuing education credits.

  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7455. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. EngagedMinds Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for LMHC (NYSED LMHC)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0284.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners (NYSED LMFT)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0117.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYSED PSY)

    Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0270.

  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is hereby recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider. Provider number: 1032895

10 Trauma-Informed Tools You Can Use Today
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  • CE Hours
    2
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Aug 15th, 2026

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