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TRAIN Program

AID In PA is accepting applicants for its April 2024 TRAIN program. This free training program was developed for therapists, counselors, and clinical social workers who already have experience working with clients who have an ID/A diagnosis and are looking to gain knowledge and skills related to trauma therapy.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both trauma and ID/A support. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program – 12 weeks of self-guided learnings and live webinars to equip therapists across Pennsylvania currently working with the ID/A populations with the skills to support clients through trauma experiences.

Participants have direct supervision from psychologists with backgrounds in both trauma and ID/A and interactive discussions with fellow participants, as well as receive Continuing Education (CE) credits provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon completion of the program. You must currently be licensed and provide 1:1 talk therapy sessions to adult clients at the moment to qualify for this course and participate in the case consultation presentations.

The TRAIN program focuses on:

  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare
  • Types and prevalence of trauma
  • Disclosures of abuse
  • Ethical principles of reporting abuse
  • Expression of trauma
  • Assessing trauma and trauma-focused interviews
  • Psychoeducation
  • Trauma response management strategies
  • Trauma processing
  • Resiliency and self-care

Course Structure:
12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long. The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through AID in PA’s online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour and a half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:

  • 4/9: Pre-training live session
  • 5/14: Module 1 live session
  • 6/11: Module 2 live session
  • 7/9: Module 3 live session
  • 8/13 – 10/29: Weekly Case Consultation Calls (8:00 am – 9:00 am, Tuesdays)

Case Consultations

After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break, followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it’s encouraged to attend all. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in a capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.

Cost and CE Credits:
It is free to participate, and if you complete the entire program, you will receive 13.5 CE credits through the NBCC.

If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please complete the survey by March 25, 2024. This is on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t delay! If you cannot attend the Spring session, the program will also be available in Fall 2024.

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What is TRAIN? Individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma; however, few therapists are skilled in both trauma and ID/A support. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program that focuses on:

  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare;
  • Types and prevalence of trauma;
  • Disclosures of abuse;
  • Ethical principles of reporting abuse;
  • Expressions of trauma;
  • Assessing trauma and trauma-focused interviews;
  • Psychoeducation;
  • Trauma response management strategies;
  • Trauma processing; and
  • Resiliency and self-care.

Course structure: 12 weeks in total, comprised of 3 modules that are each 4 weeks long.
The first three weeks are self-paced learning courses that are assigned through the online Learning Management System. The fourth week of each module is an hour and a half interactive discussion with the other group members and instructors. These live sessions are required and are held from 9:00 am – 10:30 am on the following dates:

  • 4/11: Pre-training live session;
  • 5/9: Module 1 live session;
  • 6/13: Module 2 live session; and
  • 7/11: Module 3 live session.

Target audience: Therapists, counselors, clinical social workers; individuals who have experience working with individuals who are neurodivergent (intellectual disabilities/autism); individuals who currently are licensed and provide 1:1 therapy sessions to clients.

Case consultations: After the initial 12 weeks, there is a short break followed by a second 12-week session that consists of weekly one-hour case consultations. Each participant is expected to present a case from a current patient and receive feedback/information from other participants and the instructors. Participants need to join at least 6 of the 12 weekly case consultation calls, although it’s encouraged to attend all. If you are not currently seeing patients or are not in a capacity to present any cases, this may not be the right program for you.

Cost and Continuing Education (CE) Credits: It is free to participate, and if you complete the entire program, you will receive 13.5 CE credits through the NBCC.

If you believe this program is appropriate for you and can commit to the requirements, please send an email to Aid in PA. Availability is based on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t delay! Limited spots remain for the next cohort. Also, if you are unable participate this spring due to other commitments but would still be interested in doing it for Fall 2023, please email.

Across Pennsylvania, there are qualified therapists prepared to support individuals who have experienced trauma. Likewise, there are therapists dedicated to supporting ID/A populations. However, there are few providers equipped to offer support through both the trauma and neurodiversity lenses.

To meet this need, TRAIN is being launched in early fall 2021. This pilot program, developed by psychologists with diverse backgrounds in both trauma and ID/A populations, will be comprised of live webinars and self-paced learning activities, which will take place over a span of 12 weeks. To provide a fully robust learning experience, there will be access to discussion boards and live supervision for additional communication with and between learners. Continuing Education (CE) credits will be provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Please share with any therapists you know who are currently supporting or are interested in supporting individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism. If you are a therapist currently supporting ID/A clients and would like to learn more about TRAIN, or if you would like to be considered as part of our pilot training session, please email AIDinPA.