Trauma Therapy Online Courses: How Providers Can Learn More About Trauma

Trauma-informed care can be seen as the cornerstone of mental health treatment, whether a client is living with a trauma and stressor-related disorder or another mental health condition. Millions of people experience trauma during their lives, and therapists may benefit from preparing themselves to effectively support these individuals. Taking trauma therapy online courses can be one way to do so. Therapists may also choose to offer their services online to provide more accessible care to those who have experienced trauma.

What is trauma?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines trauma as “an emotional response to a terrible event.” These events are often life-threatening or put an individual in severe physical or emotional danger. Traumatic events can include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Abuse (emotional, physical, sexual, financial, etc.) 
• Neglect
• Sexual harassment 
• Natural disasters 
• Violence and crime
• Imprisonment 
• Homelessness
• Loss of a loved one 
• Financial insecurity 
• Betrayal 
• War 
• Accidents 
• Racism, homophobia, and other forms of identity-based violence or oppression 

Trauma can contribute to various symptoms both shortly after the event and years later. Trauma and stressor-related disorders may develop for some people, including those listed below: 

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Acute stress disorder
• Reactive attachment disorder (only in children) 
• Disinhibited social engagement disorder (only in children) 
• Adjustment disorder
• Prolonged grief disorder
• Other specified trauma and stressor-related disorders

These conditions often involve symptoms like avoidance, dependence, fear, hypervigilance, and distressing memories of the traumatic event. Some people may experience severe and repeated trauma throughout their childhood and adult lives, which may lead to a diagnosis of complex PTSD (C-PTSD). While this is not an official or clinical diagnostic label, it is used by some therapists to describe the unique symptoms people experience when they face repeated developmental trauma. 

Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event develops a disorder. However, trauma can still have emotional and physical impacts on a person, regardless of whether they have an official diagnosis. In addition, people who witness a traumatic event can also have trauma responses. One does not have to directly experience an event to be traumatized by it. 

What are trauma therapy online courses? 

How to find an online course as a provider

Several trauma therapy training courses for trauma therapists exist online. Official certifications may be offered through organizations like the Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute (TICI). This organization offers modules on eye movement reprocessing and desensitization therapy (EMDR), intensive trauma-focused therapy, art therapy, attachment, and social justice work. After the online course, therapists can earn the label of “Certified Intensive Therapist,” and they can use their experience in trauma-informed care to treat clients.

You may also find trauma therapist training by searching online for this term. Becoming a trauma therapist often involves continued learning throughout your career, as research is continually being expanded and improved. 

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) can be a helpful guide. However, it was published in 2013, and some information may not be based on current best practices and research. For that reason, therapists may also benefit from learning more about conditions like C-PTSD, as well as developmental trauma and attachment styles, to find ways to treat clients with more complex trauma histories. 

How to practice trauma-informed care

Trauma-informed care often involves a delicate balance between education, experience, and personalization. Therapists may foster a more inclusive practice in the following ways. 

Take continued education units (CEUs) 

Outside of full online trauma training courses, a trauma therapist can take continued education units (CEUs) on topics related to trauma and trauma-informed care. These units are often required to remain licensed in many states. However, even if they are not required for you, taking these courses may expand your knowledge and can be quicker to complete than a full trauma therapist training course. Mental health professionals can also add these courses to their resume, which may be helpful when looking for clients who fit their desired client base. 

Understand intersectionality and trauma

Trauma can impact people differently based on their identities. Some groups of people can experience different forms of trauma than others. For example, people who identify with the label Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) may experience racial trauma. In addition, transgender individuals may experience transphobia and a higher risk of hate crimes, which can lead to conditions like PTSD. 

Therapists can foster an environment of inclusion by understanding that these forms of trauma can look different from others. Taking online courses or CEUs about inclusive care may also be helpful. 

Providers can use inclusive language, share their pronouns, advertise their office as a safe space, be open to asking about different cultures and needs, and work with clients from all backgrounds. If a therapist is not personally part of one of these identity groups, they can ask their clients how to best support them instead of assuming what they may need. 

Some clients may find that their identity significantly impacts how they approach therapy, whereas others may not be interested in discussing their identities at all. When being an ally, try to avoid performative actions like speaking for your clients, assuming the ways they will act, or centering their identity in all conversations if this wasn’t requested. 

Be open to growth 

Trauma-informed care may also involve experience. Over time, therapists can learn which approaches typically work best for clients who have experienced trauma. Ask for feedback frequently, and consider using this feedback to better tailor your approach to each client. 

As you learn, ensure you grow, change, and find new ways to improve your techniques. Like research, therapy is also evolving, and the ways people offer support may not remain the same forever. 

Staying stuck in the same approach for years can lead to difficulty when clients seek more modern methods of support. For example, past therapists may have taken a more behavioral approach to trauma therapy, asking clients to change their behaviors to work through trauma. However, more recent research shows that an empathetic approach and specific modalities, like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), may be more effective for treating trauma than traditional modalities. 

Trauma therapy can change lives

Work with a trauma therapist online

Support options for people who have experienced trauma

Those living with trauma-related disorders may seek support from a therapist but be unsure where to turn for help. Barriers like a lack of education on treatment options or financial insecurity may prevent some individuals from asking for the support they deserve. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be more accessible.

Online platforms can offer clients a more affordable way to access support, typically charging $65 to $100 a session. In addition, online platforms can offer increased flexibility and accessibility, allowing clients to choose the time, location, and type of appointment (phone, video, or online chat).

Studies show that internet-based therapy can be effective in treating trauma disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to a 2022 study, online cognitive behavioral therapy with a trauma focus appeared to be non-inferior to its in-person counterpart when treating PTSD.