Which Trauma Treatment Approach Should I Choose ?

The PTSD diagnosis in the DSM-5-TR has 24 criteria, resulting in many possible symptom configurations. Furthermore, individuals who have been exposed to chronic interpersonal violence during sensitive development periods in childhood often experience a more broad and severe range of symptoms, although no complex or developmental trauma diagnosis currently exists in the DSM-5-TR. As a result, trauma-exposed clients have very different treatment needs. 


Clinical and professional practice treatment guidelines for PTSD recommend manualized approaches based on efficacy evidence from randomized controlled trials, but manualized treatment packages often target only certain symptoms or symptom presentations, and can therefore be less effective with diverse, real-world patients, particularly those who have more severe symptoms, co-morbid conditions, or complex traumatic stress. In addition, different treatment approaches may work more or less well with different clients’ social locations or within differently resourced treatment settings. As a result, clinicians may struggle to identify the most effective treatment strategies and overall approaches to best meet the needs of their clients with traumatic stress symptoms.


This 3-hour training will focus on: 


1) increasing participants’ awareness of safe, practical, evidence-based/evidence-informed treatment approaches for PTSD/Type I symptom presentations as well as complex traumatic stress/Type II trauma presentations, and; 


2) considerations for choosing the best strategies and/or treatment packages to foster and facilitate healing in survivors with differing symptom profiles, in different treatment settings.Participants will gain the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to confidently select the best treatment approach for their clients with PTSD and complex trauma. 

Learning Objectives

  • Describe and differentiate between common post-traumatic responses in adults associated with chronic interpersonal violence exposure during sensitive developmental periods (complex/Type II trauma) vs. single-event trauma exposure in adulthood (PTSD/Type I trauma).

  • Describe several evidence-based and evidence-informed overall treatment approaches for both Type I and Type II trauma presentations, as well as the specific therapeutic strategies, or ingredients, that have been shown to be effective for common types of trauma symptoms.

  • Apply this knowledge about the relative strengths and weaknesses of different trauma-focused therapeutic strategies to select the best overall evidence-based or evidence-informed treatment approach for each of their clients’ diverse symptoms and needs.

About the instructor

Janna A. Henning, J.D., Psy.D., FT

Dr. Henning is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in providing mental health services for adults with complex trauma, PTSD, dissociative disorders, chronic and life-threatening illness, and grief and loss-related concerns. She is a Professor in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology Program at Adler University in Chicago and the creator and coordinator of its Traumatic Stress Psychology Emphasis, which provides training in effective, research-informed approaches for clients coping with traumatic stress, death and dying, life-threatening illness, bereavement, and loss. Dr. Henning earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School. She is a Fellow in Thanatology (Death, Dying and Bereavement) through the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and a Faculty Member for the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. She is the President-Elect of APA’s Division 56 (Trauma Psychology), the Co-Chair of its Task Force on a Trauma Psychology Specialty, and was the Chair/Co-Chair of its Education and Training Committee for over 10 years. She also provides trauma- and loss-focused continuing education, training, and clinical consultation, as well as self-care coaching to prevent and manage vicarious traumatization and burnout, for professionals who work with survivors of trauma and loss.

Continuing Education Credits

3 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

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