Certificate in Trauma Counselling for Mental Health Professionals: Level 2

Certificate in Trauma Counselling for Mental Health Professionals: Level 2

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Dates: January 26, 27, February 2, 3, 9 and 10, 2026 
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Facilitator: Ian Robertson, MSW, RSW.

Description: The certificate in trauma counselling for mental health professionals: Level 2 is an advanced clinical training for those who provide psychotherapy and counselling to clients who have experienced traumatic exposures. This training will introduce key components for working with client presenting historical or oriented trauma exposures.

This training will include: countertransference/ transference reactions; overview of trauma-specific assessments and structuring the assessment process; case conceptualization and formulation process; treatment planning; applying “bottom up” approach treatment approaches to assist in regaining control of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) mobilization and collapse responses; and overviewing the use of ego state therapeutic approaches such as schema and structural dissociative therapy as treatment models of care. It is an educational applied training program, having several breakout groups, dyads and practice experiences to the theories and model discussed.

Program schedule and clinical focus by day: Below is an overview of the daily structure and key clinical themes explored throughout the training.

• Day 1 - Transference and countertransference as a predictor of therapeutic attachment, treatment outcome, and potential impact on the professional doing trauma work

• Day 2 - Where to begin: stabilization, structure assessment and building the treatment plan

• Day 3 - Introduction of polyvagal theory as a viable therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Day 4 - Practical clinical application of polyvagal therapy

• Day 5 - Working with dissociative phobic ‘parts’ of self

• Day 6 - Schema therapy for PTSD

Learning objectives:

• Understand that clinical attachment is the means to “safety” in a therapeutic setting and fundamental to the treatment of trauma; this training will provide deeper insight into the clinical significance of transference reaction from clients with PTSD and the potential risks of negative countertransference reactions from the professional
• Gain a working knowledge and practical skills into a structured assessment process for PTSD, which will support in developing an individualized treatment plan
• Gain a working knowledge, based on the assessment process, how to prepare a case conceptualization and treatment formulation plan
• Develop a working knowledge and practical skills for Polyvagal therapy as a treatment approach
• Develop a working knowledge and the application of ego state therapies including Schema and Structural Dissociative treatment models
   

Registration fee: General - $1,800  |  Student - $1,620

For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/YR9v8z

Facilitator Bio:
Ian Robertson, MSW, RSW.
Advanced Clinical Supervisor, Organizational Consultant, Ian Robertson Social Work Profession Corp 

Ian Robertson is a clinical trainer in trauma, mental health, and addictions best practices throughout the province for several hospitals and community-based programs. Ian is also providing consultation and clinical supervision to therapists who operate in private practice and public agency settings. Ian worked for many years as the Regional Clinical Supervisor for Addictions and Mental Health at the Niagara Health System. He is certified as a Clinical Traumatologist, Compassion Fatigue Specialist and ARP, and Substance Abuse Counsellor. Ian has been a speaker at several international and national conferences. He currently provides trainings for organizations in the clinical areas of addictions, trauma, concurrent disorders, mental health, youth at risk, youth threat assessment, Motivational Interviewing, Organizational Trauma-informed Practices, Trauma and Mindfulness, Trauma and Addictions, Transference and Counter-Transference, and CBT for Frontline workers. Ian is Certification as an Advanced Clinical Supervisor from Smith College, School of Social Work in MA, USA and has a Master of Social Work from McMaster University. Ian also works as an organizational consultant for community-based organizations and hospital systems to establish high quality "Standards of Care" and effective service delivery approaches. Ian also owns and operates a private practice in Niagara. 

Continuing Education (CE) information: 36 CE hours