Description
Professional Certificate in Trauma-Focused Psychotherapy – 20 CPD
A Cognitive Behavioural Approach to Working with Trauma and PTSD
Working with trauma can feel challenging when a client presents with intrusive memories, flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, guilt, shame or a persistent sense of threat. The difficulty is often knowing how to bring these experiences together into a clear formulation and, importantly, what to do next in therapy.
This three-day professional training provides therapists with a practical framework for working with trauma and PTSD using trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
The course takes participants through the clinical process from assessment and formulation to active trauma-focused treatment. You will learn how to understand what is maintaining a client’s PTSD symptoms, develop an individualised formulation and use this to guide treatment.
The training will explore working with trauma memories and triggers, avoidance and safety behaviours, trauma-related beliefs and meanings, guilt, shame and self-blame, alongside the practical considerations of pacing treatment, managing complexity and monitoring progress.
Research and current treatment guidance will be integrated throughout, but the emphasis will remain firmly on clinical practice, with case examples, demonstrations and practical exercises.
The aim is for participants to leave with a clear clinical map for working with trauma and PTSD: what to assess, what may be maintaining the problem, what to target in therapy and how to begin applying trauma-focused CBT interventions within their professional competence.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this three-day training, participants will be able to:
- Recognise and assess the key clinical features of PTSD and Complex PTSD, including trauma-related symptoms, risk and common co-occurring difficulties.
- Develop an individualised CBT formulation identifying the processes maintaining a client’s trauma-related difficulties.
- Identify the role of trauma memories, triggers, avoidance, safety behaviours and trauma-related appraisals in maintaining PTSD.
- Explain PTSD and the rationale for trauma-focused CBT clearly and collaboratively to clients.
- Develop a structured trauma-focused treatment plan based on the individual client’s formulation.
- Apply cognitive and behavioural strategies for working with trauma memories, triggers, avoidance and safety behaviours.
- Work therapeutically with trauma-related meanings and beliefs, including guilt, shame and self-blame.
- Assess when and how to begin trauma-focused work, including considerations around dissociation, complexity and emotional activation.
- Monitor treatment progress, recognise when therapy has become stuck and adapt the formulation and treatment plan accordingly.
- Recognise when additional specialist input, referral or supervision is required.
- Feel confident to engage with clients presenting with PTSD
Dates & Cost
Dates & Fee
- Saturday 6 March 2027
- Saturday 13 March 2027
- Saturday 20 March 2027
Time: 10.00 am–4.30 pm
Delivery: Live online via Zoom
Course Fee: €490
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellation & Transfer Policy
I understand that circumstances can change, and I aim to be as fair and transparent as possible.
- Up to 14 days before the course start date: Paid fees will be refunded in full, less a €50 administration fee. Alternatively, if the course is running again, you may transfer your booking to a later date at no extra cost.
- Less than 14 days before the course start date: A cancellation fee of 50% of the course fee will apply. Alternatively, if the course is running again, you may transfer your booking to a later date, subject to availability.
- Less than 48 hours before the course start date / non-attendance: Unfortunately, no refund can be issued. Alternatively, if the course is running again, you may transfer your booking to a later date, subject to availability.
All cancellations or transfer requests must be made in writing by email.
If a course is cancelled by the organiser, participants will receive a full refund of fees paid or may choose to transfer to another date where available.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for:
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- Qualified counsellors and psychotherapists and allied professionals who encounter trauma-related difficulties in their clinical work
- Practitioners who want a clearer, evidence-informed framework for trauma-focused therapy
- Therapists seeking greater confidence in assessment, formulation and intervention planning
Teaching Team
About Your Course Facilitators
Our CPD programmes are delivered by a team of experienced professionals who bring together expertise in psychotherapy, psychology, education, trauma, neurodiversity, and legal and ethical practice. Each facilitator combines academic knowledge with real-world experience, ensuring the training is practical, evidence-based, and directly applicable to your work. Together, they provide a well-rounded learning experience that supports your professional growth and confidence in practice.
Susi Lodola
Susi Lodola is a psychotherapist, third-level lecturer, and IACP-accredited clinical supervisor with extensive experience in psychotherapy, working with adults and adolescents. She holds an MSc in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, a Higher Diploma in Psychology, a BA (Hons) in Linguistics from UCD, and a BA (First Class Honours) in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy. She has also completed professional certificates in CBT, Child & Adolescent Counselling, and Mindfulness, along with a Diploma in Clinical Supervision.
Susi lectures at third level, where she has developed modules for psychotherapy training programmes, and is known for her engaging and practical teaching style. She has delivered workshops for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), provided workplace wellbeing programmes, and volunteered with AWARE supporting people with depression and anxiety. Susi is also a regular contributor to the Irish media on mental health topics.
