Training Programs on Traumatic Stress & Complex Trauma
TRAINING PROGRAMS ON TRAUMATIC STRESS
Mission Statement
To help youths and adults learn about toxic stress, complex trauma, Developmental Trauma Disorder and practical steps that families, schools and treatment programs can utilize to promote resilience.
To help youths, parents and other caring adults find ways to re-integrate traumatic experiences and on-going fears and transform traumatized youths and parents/caregivers into tomorrow’s heroes.
To provide tools for hard-pressed practitioners to engage youths and parents/caregivers with persistent traumatic stress in evidence-supported trauma treatment.
TRAINING & CONSULTATION PROGRAMS
RLH Fundamentals
RLH Fundamentals provides therapists with field-tested tools to address critical challenges faced by child and family services and behavioral health programs including:
¨ How to engage and sustain engagement with youths and families who have experienced recurrent traumas and persistent traumatic stress.
¨ How to increase the efficacy of existing evidence-supported trauma treatment models.
¨ How to provide cost-effective training in treatment centers with high rates of turn-over, limited resources and requirements for productivity.
Tools and activities link youths and parents/caregivers to strengths in their families, communities and cultural heritage, promote development of affect modulation skills, strengthen (or build) emotionally supportive relationships, and promote trauma memory re-integration. RLH combines creative arts, mindfulness, yoga, movement, and storytelling with the imagery of the ‘hero’s journey’ in a flexible format that can be easily adapted for a broad range youths, families and programs.
RLH Fundamentals includes a trauma and resiliency-focused toolkit, life storybook, handouts, live video-streamed workshops and consultation groups, on-demand asynchronous training modules, practice guides, demonstrations and supervisory and director-level consultation sessions. These are ‘how-to’ training programs that enable therapists and program leaders to increase the efficacy of evidence-supported treatments for complex trauma with youths and families who have experienced abuse, neglect, family violence, historical traumas, losses, illness, or placements into foster families, juvenile justice, refugee, residential, hospital or school-based programs.
RLH training programs are adapted for organizations to match priorities, available time, previous training, and organizational objectives. Participants typically receive copies of RLH books and tools and have opportunities in each training session to practice development and implementation of the RLH multi-dimensional assessment and service plan, session structure, and the Real Life Heroes Life Storybook, 3rd ed., for use with youths and families. Consultation groups and video-streamed workshops include development of strategies for managing challenges frequently encountered in trauma therapy as well as adaptations to engage youths and families and implementation in a wide range of programs and communities.
GOALS
Increased Engagement:
Training in use of Real Life Heroes leads to:
o Increased levels of initial and sustained engagement in therapy for Complex Trauma/Developmental Trauma Disorder with reduced
‘no-shows’ and ‘drop-outs’ compared to years before training.
o Expansion of services to youths and families who have experienced chronic traumas and were not previously engaged in sustainable evidence-supported complex trauma therapy.
Effective Therapy: Clinicians utilize Real Life Heroes assessment and therapy tools to assure implementation of National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) recommended core components for assessment and treatment of Complex Trauma/Developmental Trauma Disorder.
Flexible, Cost-effective Training: Training in use of Real Life Heroes can be adapted to match time and financial constraints for organizations and practitioners.Clinician Endorsement: Clinicians indicate value for their work and utilization of RLH tools after completion of RLH Fundamentals training.
Sustainability: On-going training utilizing video-streamed, asynchronous & in-house train-the-trainer) and continued implementation of RLH tools by clinicians with youths and families with complex trauma.
RLH FUNDAMENTALS TRAINING SEQUENCE & COSTS
RLH Fundamentals is offered for individual clinicians registering for RLH On Demand (see below) or planned hybrid learning collaboratives ($995/clinician). Package prices will be developed for each organization with costs based on the number of clinicians registered. Hybrid programs are highly recommended combining live, video-streamed and asynchronous programs.
RLH ON DEMAND
RLH On-Demand (24 CE’s); $299 for individual clinicians (with ASWB and NBCC CE’s); $99 (without CE’s) plus cost of two RLH e books and creative arts supplies ($120)
o Discounts for groups and organizations are available for RLH On Demandlinked to the number of participants registered.
o RLH On-Demand with CE’s is included in the cost for individual clinicians enrolled in learning communities.
o Typical training costs include purchase for each therapist of one Real Life Heroes Toolkit, 2nd edition[1] (Paperback, approximately $83, or e book, $63), one Real Life Heroes Life Storybook, 3rd edition[2] (Paperback, $43 or e book, $34), peacock feathers for therapists (35-40 inches, 90- 100 cm long, approximately $1 each when purchased in bulk) and one small xylophone (two-octave note bells, approximately $20). Books are available from Routledge.com[3] or Amazon at discounted prices. Additional creative arts supplies are recommended but not required.
o RLH books can be translated by interested organizations by contracting with Routledge Press.
Certificates of Completion of RLH Fundamentals (24 CE’s, ASWB & NBCC approved) are available for therapists who complete all components of RLH On-Demand or live streamed RLH Fundamentals Training Program including readings, reflections and passing quizzes.
[1] E book available from Routledge Press at: https://www.routledge.com/Real-Life-Heroes-Toolkit-for-Treating-Traumatic-Stress-in-Children-and/Kagan/p/book/9781138963474
[2] E book available from Routledge Press at: https://www.routledge.com/Real-Life-Heroes-Life-Storybook/Kagan/p/book/9780415518048
[3] Routledge provides a 40% discount for organizational purchases for RLH books and tax-free purchases for non-profit organizations. Discounts may be obtained by contacting John Defalco, Routledge Account Manager, at: john.defalco@taylorandfrancis.com or call: 917-351-7128
REGISTRATION FOR RLH ON DEMAND
To register as an individual clinician, please select:
RLH On Demand with ASWB and NCBB CEs: https://login.mindshiftcenter.org/courses/offers/949a7ef0-a31f-4575-82ad-9cd4f2ad1991
RLH On Demand with RLH Course without CE’s:
https://login.mindshiftcenter.org/courses/offers/a66494fd-3435-4aa2-b016-53e6e3a9f960
RLH Therapist Consultation
RLH Live-streamed Small Group Therapist Consultation Sessions (One hour a month for 10 months, 4-10 therapists per group ($2500 per group in organizations), included in the cost for organizations or individual clinicians enrolled in planned learning collaboratives).s.
CONSULTATION FOR PROGRAM LEADERS
RLH Live-streamed Consultation Sessions for Supervisors and Directors (five, one-hour sessions; $1000 per organization, included in the cost for organizations).
VIDEO-STREAMED WORKSHOPS
Live-streamed Workshops (Cost determined by number of participants in organizations and included in the cost for individual clinicians enrolled in planned learning collaboratives). Workshops (90-minutes each) include :
o ‘When Trauma isn’t Post’; Increasing Engagement and Efficacy of Evidence-supported Therapy for Persistent Traumatic Stress (RLH Overview)
o Multi-dimensional Assessments, Therapy Planning and Clinical Decision-making to Promote Engagement
o RLH Phase I (Chapters 1-8); Starting the Journey
o RLH Phase II (Chapters 9-12); Life Story Integration
RLH CLINICIAN CERTIFICATION
RLH Clinician Certification. Requirements include: Completion of 24 hours of RLH On-Demand, 6 hours live-streamed RLH Fundamentals workshops, readings and passing quizzes, 10 small group one-hour consultation sessions, documentation of weekly or biweekly supervision or consultation within agencies/programs by supervisors trained in RLH or RLH trainers and implementation of RLH with four youths and families with at least moderate fidelity certified by agency/program supervisors or RLH trainers. Cost TBD for organizations and individual clinicians.
IN-HOUSE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER
RLH In-house Train-the-Trainer Program (available for organizations; cost TBD). Video-streamed (live) train-the-trainer programs are available for directors, supervisors, or consultants to prepare for leading training programs as ‘in-house trainers’ with their own staff using RLH On Demand and other RLH resources. In-house trainers can utilize RLH materials including PowerPoints and handouts to lead workshops and to promote team development and collaboration
IN-HOUSE TRAIN-THE-TRAINER
RLH In-house Train-the-Trainer Program (available for organizations; cost TBD). Video-streamed (live) train-the-trainer programs are available for directors, supervisors, or consultants to prepare for leading training programs as ‘in-house trainers’ with their own staff using RLH On Demand and other RLH resources. In-house trainers can utilize RLH materials including PowerPoints and handouts to lead workshops and to promote team development and collaboration
RLH Master Trainer (Available by invitation)
RLH ON DEMAND
RLH On Demand was developed for treatment centers experiencing high turn-over and challenges freeing therapists for scheduled training programs. This program includes the RLH Fundamentals curriculum and is available for beginning and advanced practitioners at times that best match their schedules through-out the year on a laptop or mobile device. RLH On Demand allows therapists to focus their time on learning how to use the RLH framework and tools that will be most helpful for their work. This practice-focused training program that helps therapists build on previous training in trauma treatment and implementation from the first training module.
RLH On Demand draws from implementation and adult learning research and builds sequentially beginning with a theoretical and research foundation for attachment and resiliency-focused complex trauma therapy followed by initial messages to youths and parents/caregivers, assessments, collaborative service planning, fidelity checks and chapter-by-chapter implementation of the RLH Life Storybook. The curriculum is matched to NCTSN’s recommended ‘best practices’ for child welfare and phase-based complex trauma treatment and can be used to supplement other evidence-supported trauma treatment models, e.g., ITCT, ARC, SPARCS, TST, TF-CBT, TARGET.
Each RLH On-Demand training module includes video and slide presentations, brief quizzes, therapist reflections and practice designed to help therapists become comfortable implementing tools and activities so they can adapt material to increase and sustain engagement. Reflections are designed to promote therapist growth, use of self in therapy and prevention of secondary PTSD. Modules are accompanied by PowerPoint handouts downloadable tools and worksheets that guide implementation. RLH On-Demand can be used by professionals working alone or in teams. RLH On- Demand is optimally supplemented by clinical consultation groups, supervisor/director consultation and video streamed workshops to promote application in a wide range of programs and with diverse children, adolescents, and families.
To register as an individual clinician, please select:
RLH On Demand with ASWB and NCBB CEs: https://login.mindshiftcenter.org/courses/offers/949a7ef0-a31f-4575-82ad-9cd4f2ad1991
RLH On Demand with RLH Course without CE’s: https://login.mindshiftcenter.org/courses/offers/a66494fd-3435-4aa2-b016-53e6e3a9f960
RLH LEARNING COLLABORATIVES
RLH Learning Collaboratives are planned beginning October 2026 and will provide opportunities for individual clinicians or small numbers of clinicians and supervisors from organizations to work together utilizing RLH Fundamentals. Consultation groups and live-streamed workshops will address adaptations of RLH materials to maximize efficacy in programs and communities served by participating clinicians. Learning Collaboratives will include:
¨ Live video-streamed workshops (6 hours)
¨ Live video-streamed consultation groups (4-10 therapists per group)
¨ RLH On-Demand including 24 CE’s (ASWB & NCBB-approved) with completion of all modules, activities, readings and passing quizzes.
Therapist & Organizational Learning Objectives
After completion of RLH Fundamentals, therapists will demonstrate increased understanding and abilities to:
¨ Identify different types of chronic complex traumatic stress and describe the impact of chronic traumatic stress on youths, families and communities
¨ Describe and utilize diagnostic indicators for Complex PTSD and Developmental Trauma Disorder.
¨ Describe and implement NCTSN-recommended components for treatment of Complex Trauma and Developmental Trauma Disorder.
¨ Access and implement an evidence-supported, resiliency-focused treatment program for complex traumatic stress with adaptations for diverse families and a wide range of behavioral health, child and family service, school-based, justice-involved and refugee programs.
¨ Assess a range of basic feelings, safety, levels of self and co-regulation, and emotional support for youths and parents/caregivers within primary relationships as well as the impact on youths and parents/caregivers of multigenerational and ‘historical’ traumas, discrimination, racism and community violence, chronicity of traumas and resiliency factors.
¨ Develop assessment-driven treatment plans and treatment strategies matched to a youth’s emotional and cognitive development, level of self- and co-regulation, predictability and preventability of any recurrent traumas and level of security and emotional support of primary youth-parent/caregiver relationships.
¨ Promote & sustain engagement with children, adolescents, parents and caregivers in resiliency-focused therapy for Complex Trauma/DTD and collaborative treatment planning.
¨ Promote & sustain engagement with parents & caregivers in resiliency-centered therapy for Complex Trauma/DTD.
¨ Strengthen youth and parent/caregiver attunement and trust.
¨ Utilize strategies to increase skills for self and co-regulation of feelings.
¨ Promote safety for youths, families and communities.
¨ Promote coping skills to manage stressful events.
¨ Reduce traumatic stress reactions to reminders of past traumas and on-going or predictable stressors.
¨ Help youths and parents/caregivers overcome feelings of shame and develop a positive self-image for each family member connected to their cultural heritage
¨ Engage and empower parents/caregivers to understand the impact of traumas on their children and their own lives, to learn how to prevent or reduce trauma reactions and to become the heroes youths need to restore safety and rebuild (or build) emotionally supportive relationships.
¨ Utilize life story work to help youths and their parents/caregivers to develop stronger identities linked to their families and cultural heritage including lessons learned from living through past and ongoing adversity e.g., discrimination, racism, community violence as well as relational traumas.
Organizational objectives include:
¨ High rates of therapist implementation of RLH core components, Life Storybook chapters and Toolkit resources, e.g. Circles of Caring, My Thermometers, SOS for Stress, Moving Through Tough Times, with 2-4 youths and families beginning the first weeks after the initial workshop and optimally 10 youths and families in the first year after the workshop.
¨ Sustained implementation of RLH core components and NCTSN ‘best practice’ recommendations by therapists after completion of training programs with all youths and families who have complex trauma/DTD.
¨ Sustained implementation of chapters from the RLH Life Storybook and RLH Toolkit resources, e.g. Circles of Caring, My Thermometers, SOS for Stress, Youth and Parent/Caregiver Power Plans, Moving Through Tough Times, after completion of training with youths and families who have complex trauma/DTD.
¨ Continuation of learning communities initiated or involved in RLH training including exploration of trauma and resiliency-focused treatment strategies, adaptations for youths and families served and prevention of Secondary PTSD for therapists and caregivers.
TRAINING PARTICIPANTS
Participants in RLH training programs are typically social workers, counselors, psychologists, and marriage and family therapists working in behavioral health, child and family services, and educational programs serving children and families. Most therapists in RLH training programs have had previous training in trauma treatment, e.g. TF-CBT or EMDR. Therapists seeking RLH training have often been challenged to engage youths and families referred for treatment of high-risk behavior problems or persistent traumatic stress, youths who have not disclosed the most significant traumas in their lives, youths or parents/caregivers who refuse to work in trauma-focused treatment, youths who lack a safe, non-offending caregiver who is committed to raising them and able and willing to participate in trauma-focused treatment, families where suspected traumas have not been validated, and families who are grappling with multiple problems and traumas extending over generations and into the foreseeable future. RLH books and training programs provide a framework, strategies, tools and practice tips for engaging with these youths and families and expanding the reach of evidence supported trauma therapy, building on therapists’ and organizations’ previous training in trauma treatment.
A master’s degree is required in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy or related field for Clinician Certification. Training programs often include Bachelor’s-level social workers, family support workers, intensive in-home workers, residential counselors, foster parents, and other professionals working as part of trauma-informed teams with youths and families in child and family services, educational, or behavioral health programs under the supervision of licensed therapists. Participants without licensure must be supervised within their agencies by licensed staff to implement RLH as a trauma treatment.
FIDELITY
Fidelity is assessed by program supervisor or training consultant reviews of practitioner implementation of key strategies and steps for assessment and treatment using four tools: the Trauma and Resiliency-focused Assessment and Service Planning tool, the RLH Chapter Checkpoints, the RLH Progress Note (Abbreviated or Long Form), and the RLH Service Plan Review. These tools include key tasks and points to be covered for each chapter of the workbook, in each treatment session, and in service plan reviews. Evaluations of fidelity are rated for each chapter and component of RLH Treatment with a 3-point scale: Low, Moderate, High. Moderate levels are required to demonstrate fidelity. Fidelity ratings are evaluated for individual practitioners and for programs as part of a QI approach to identify challenges and develop solutions in programs.
In addition, reviews by supervisors of practitioner’s use of the RLH Trauma and Resiliency-focused Assessment and Service Planning tool provides information on assessment and treatment planning skills. Self-report surveys of trauma-informed knowledge, skills and organizational policies and practices are also used to develop training programs and can be repeated after training programs along with pre-post practitioner stress evaluations to assess development of trauma-informed programs and reduction of secondary PTSD.
TRAINING EVALUATIONS & FEEDBACK
Therapist Feedback on Training Programs and RLH Books
“I have to share with you how helpful the curriculum has been. . . I use "My Thermometers" with ALL of my clients - they even request it - . . . Thank you for this fantastic tool.”“. . . I've witnessed how your Real Life Heroes program truly does assist children and their caretakers in processing their trauma and strengthening their relationship with each other. . . .” “It's my real first attempt to implement and I am very very pleased with how quickly your format emphasizes safety and trust. Thank you Dr. Kagan for giving us this vehicle to help families rebuild their bonds. . . . I was deeply moved earlier today with interactions between siblings and between child and parent-and all through the open doors your book allowed. . . .”“Dr Kagan had a very nice way of presenting material that is playful and engaging. I have been given more ‘tools’ to use in this presentation than any other thus far (4th day of 5 day conference)“Great presentation with provision of wonderful tools to use with children who are victims of any kind of trauma. . .”“Excellent participatory experiences. Clear, sequential—incorporated all essential ingredients”“. . . I truly enjoyed your trauma training and I honestly think it was one of the most valuable things I learned here. I can take the skills and strategies you taught us into the next chapter of my career and I am very appreciative of that. Thank you”“Great experiential exercises”“. . . really awesome”“I wanted to write you a quick note to say again how much I appreciated your presentation of "Real Life Heroes" last week. . . . I worked for over 22 years . . . and for many years I coordinated development of trauma recovery groups. I am impressed by the "Real Life Heroes" treatment and tool kit and want to thank you for your passion and work. ““The creative activities were awesome!”“Fantastico!!!”
Citations from Executive Directors, Program Directors, and Supervisors
“This has been the most successful implementation of any treatment model we’ve offered.”
“I wanted to say again how much we enjoyed the training . . .(the practitioners) said after you left that it was one of the best trainings they have ever had. . . . I am seeing a lot of Real Life Heroes in progress notes!”
“I have heard nothing but wonderful things about RLH from the staff! Sometimes a training may be well received, but it still isn’t something you see implemented very consistently. So it is especially wonderful to know that the staff are utilizing RLH.”
“It’s not ‘one more thing’, it’s ‘the thing.’”“Everyone is talking about how much they enjoyed the training and how well it applies to our population. You did a wonderful job.”
“. . . the evaluations . . . were very positive, and I was thrilled that staff were able to identify so many useful strategies and activities that they can use with the children and families.”
“It was beyond wonderful to have you here. Thank you so much for an amazing training and for bringing us together around this work.”
“Your training was interesting, inspiring (and fun!). I have to figure out a way to fit in some part time clinical practice!!”
“Your keynote presentation was well received and inspiring. We have received rave reviews for this conference and we owe a large part to your willingness to speak both as a keynote and workshop presenter.”
“Your presentation was excellent---and you covered a lot of material very clearly and succinctly.” “Wonderful model . . . Thanks for the presentation.”
“I just wanted to thank you again for the training you did for us last week. I've heard nothing but positive, enthusiastic comments from the staff who attended.”
“The clinicians have enjoyed utilizing the workbook with their clients and have found it to be very successful in working with our children and families. . . .”
“I have has ONLY very positive feedback from folks that attended RLH last week. Thank you so much!!”
“It was beyond wonderful to have you here. Thank you so much for an amazing training and for bringing us together around this work. . .”
“Dr Kagan had a very nice way of presenting material that is playful and engaging. I have been given more ‘tools’ to use in this presentation than any other thus far (4th day of 5 day conference)“Great presentation with provision of wonderful tools to use with children who are victims of any kind of trauma. . .”
“Excellent participatory experiences. Clear, sequential—incorporated all essential ingredients”
“Great experiential exercises”
“Your presentation was excellent---and you covered a lot of material very clearly and succinctly.”
“Wonderful model .... Thanks for the presentation.”
“It has been a wonderful year for the staff! We are so happy to have your model and your personal expertise to give us tools to serve the most vulnerable children.”
“I just wanted to thank you again for the training you did for us last week. I've heard nothing but positive, enthusiastic comments from the staff who attended. . . in our three days of training I really came to appreciate the breadth and depth of the model's theoretical underpinnings. It is a rich and beautiful model and I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to learn about it from you.”
PREVIOUS TRAINING SITES
RLH training has been provided to practitioners at state-wide and national conferences, conferences for regional centers for excellence, university-based training programs, and child and family mental health and family service agencies in the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong including:
- Adelphi University
- American Professional Society on Abuse of Children, Annual Conferences
- American Psychological Association, Annual Conference
- Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services and Casey Family Programs, National Convening on Youth Permanence
- ATTACh, Annual Conference
- Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
- Bethany Christian Family Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Burrell Health Services, New Frontiers Conference, Springfield, Missouri
- Catawba County Department of Social Services, Hickory, North Carolina
- Child Advocacy Center of Greater St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
- Child Welfare League of America, Annual Conference
- Children’s Home Society of Florida
- Children’s Institute International, Annual Conference
- Children’s Law Center Children’s Law Conference, Columbia, South Carolina
- Coalition of Adoption and Foster Family Agencies and the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Buffalo, New York
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Depelchin Children’s Center, Annual Conference
- Family Violence Sexual Assault Institute, the Children’s Justice Task Force of Oahu, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Catholic Charities Family Services (Oahu), and Kapi’olani Child Protective Services, Honolulu, Hawaii
- Hincks –Dellcrest Centre, Toronto, Ontario
- Hong Kong Student Aid Society, Mark Memorial Home, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Violence, Abuse and Trauma, International Conference on Family Violence
- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Annual Conferences
- Kaua'i Children's Justice Grant Committee, Lihue, Hawaii
- Lund Family Center, Annual Conference
- Mid-Maine Child Trauma Network Conference, Augusta, Maine
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network All-Network Conferences
- New Directions, Buffalo, New York
- New York State Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services, Annual Conferences
- Oakland County Community Health, Oakland, Michigan
- Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Children’s Conference
- Parsons Child and Family Center, Albany, New York
- Northeast Parent and Child Society, Schenectady, New York
- San Diego International Conference on Child & Family Maltreatment, San Diego, California
- Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, Columbia, South Carolina
- Southeast Center of Excellence, Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Starfish Family Services, Westland, Michigan
- State University of New York at Albany, School of Social Welfare
- Toronto City Youth Development, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- United Counseling Services, Annual Conference, Bennington, Vermont
- University of Buffalo, SUNY-Buffalo, School of Social Work
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sex Abuse Treatment Conference
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Summer Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Washington Department of Social Services
- Western Michigan University, Child Trauma Assessment Center
- Wisconsin Family Based Services Association, Green Bay, Wisconsin
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CUSTOMIZED TRAINING PROGRAMS
Each training program is tailored to match organizational priorities, available staff time and funding. Please contact Dr. Kagan at Training Programs on Traumatic Stress to work out a training plan that would be optimal for your organization.
E mail: richardkagan7@gmail.com