Confidently and effectively lead Finding Solid Ground groups!

Discover how to lead Finding Solid Ground groups, a research-backed program proven to benefit clients with complex trauma and dissociation. In these two days of training, the program’s developers will guide you step by step in teaching grounding, stabilization, and other essential skills in safe and effective group settings. The training will be interactive and engaging. Walk away with practical tools, renewed confidence, and a roadmap for helping clients move from struggling and isolation to feeling more alive and connected to others and within themselves.

Lead Trauma-Informed Groups with Greater Skill, Confidence, and Safety


Finding Solid Ground (FSG) is a specialized, research-backed program designed for individuals living with complex trauma and dissociation. In this two-day training, the program’s developers will guide you step-by-step through the essential components of running safe and effective FSG groups.

You’ll explore the foundations of FSG—why this model is needed, how it helps clients stabilize, and what research shows about its benefits across outpatient, inpatient, and virtual settings. You’ll learn how to structure groups, teach grounding skills, and support participants when they struggle with dissociation or begin sharing trauma details.

The training is highly interactive, with live role plays, demonstrations, and small-group practice on core skills such as:

  • Introducing grounding in groups

  • Responding when clients resist grounding

  • Managing dissociation safely and effectively

  • Redirecting clients when too much detail of their trauma is being shared without shaming or shutting clients down

  • Navigating Modules 1–7 with clarity and confidence

By the end of the training, you’ll have practical strategies you can apply immediately—plus the confidence to lead groups that help clients feel safer, more regulated, and more connected to themselves and others.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify and teach core FSG skills.

  • Summarize research findings on FSG groups

  • Demonstrate techniques for introducing grounding skills in a group setting.

  • Analyze how to respond when a group member begins to dissociate.

  • Describe how to manage when a group member begins to graphically describe trauma.

About the instructor

Bethany Brand, Ph.D.

Dr. Brand is Emerita Psychology Professor at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She has over 30 years of experience in researching, assessing, and treating the impact of psychological trauma with a specialization in dissociation. Dr. Brand has been honored with the endowed Martha E. Mitten Professorship as well as teaching, research and clinical awards including the Outstanding Contribution to the Science of Trauma Psychology from the American Psychological Association. She is Associate Editor of the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. Dr. Brand has served on national and international task forces that developed guidelines for the assessment and treatment of trauma-related disorders. She has published over 130 peer reviewed papers and three research-based books about assessing and treating dissociation, The Concise Guide to Assessing and Treating Trauma-Related Dissociation, Finding Solid Ground: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Treatment and The Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook. Dr. Brand is the Principal Investigator on the largest treatment outcome studies to date of dissociative disorders (the TOP DD studies). She has delivered hundreds of clinical and research presentations at national and international conferences. In addition to treating patients in her private practice, Dr. Brand serves as a forensic expert in trauma-related cases including state, federal and capital cases and an international Supreme Court case.

Ruth Lanius, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Lanius is a Psychiatry Professor and Harris-Woodman Chair at Western University of Canada, where she is the director of the Clinical Research Program for PTSD. Ruth has over 25 years of clinical and research experience with trauma-related disorders. She established the Traumatic Stress Service at London Health Sciences Center, a program that specializes in the treatment of psychological trauma. Ruth has received numerous research and teaching awards, including the Banting Award for Military Health Research. She has published over 200 research articles and book chapters focusing on brain adaptations to psychological trauma and novel adjunct treatments for PTSD. Ruth regularly lectures on the topic of psychological trauma both nationally and internationally. Ruth has co-authored four books: The Effects of Early Life Trauma on Health and Disease: The Hidden Epidemic, Healing the Traumatized Self: Consciousness, Neuroscience, Treatment, and Finding Solid Ground (textbook and workbook). Ruth is a passionate clinician scientist who endeavours to understand the first-person experience of traumatized individuals throughout treatment and how it relates to brain functioning.

Hygge Schielke, Ph.D.

Hygge Schielke, Ph.D. is the Trauma Services Development Lead for Homewood Health.  Dr. Schielke specializes in the assessment and treatment of trauma-related and dissociative disorders and the development of cultures that demonstrate trauma-informed collaboration.  Dr. Schielke's research is focused on improving understandings of how to be of meaningful help in each of these areas.

Continuing Education Credits

6.5 CE credits available

  • Bridgepoint Psychology Center (BPC) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  • You must be in attendance for the full program to recieve CE credit. Partial credit will not be available.

  • BPC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

  • Please check with your governing board to verify your continuing education license requirements.

  • For additional information regarding CEs, email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are these courses accredited for CE credits?

    Yes, our courses are accredited by [specific accrediting body, such as APA, NBCC, etc.] for continuing education credits. Please check each course description for specific accreditation details.

  • How do I receive my CE certificate after completing a course?

    Upon successful completion of the course and any required assessments, you'll be able to download your CE certificate directly from your account under the "Completed Courses" section.

  • What is the process for reporting my CE credits to my licensing board?

    We provide a CE certificate that includes all necessary details (course title, hours, provider information). Please submit this certificate according to your licensing board’s requirements. It's important to verify your board's guidelines to ensure proper credit reporting.

  • How long do I have to complete the course and earn CE credits?

    Once you enroll, you'll typically have [time period, e.g., 6 months] to complete the course and earn CE credits. Please check individual course details for any specific deadlines.

  • Can I use these CE credits to meet my state licensure requirements?

    While our courses are accredited, CE credit requirements vary by state and licensing board. We recommend checking with your specific licensing board to ensure our courses meet their criteria.

  • What are the technical requirements for taking the courses?

    ou will need a computer or mobile device with internet access, an updated web browser, and in some cases, specific software like Adobe Reader or Zoom for interactive sessions. A stable internet connection is recommended for smooth streaming of video content.

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