Trauma-Informed Counseling Certificate

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Why Choose Trauma-Informed Counseling?

The trauma-informed counseling certificate program will focus on an overview of issues associated with trauma, stress, crisis, disaster experiences and trauma theories, assessment, and diagnosis of PTSD in clinical mental health settings with the importance of differentiating their varying characteristics. Emphasis will be on knowledge and skills of different types of interventions, skills of trauma assessment, and diagnosis using lifespan perspective. 

Wright State’s program was created for professional clinical counselors, chemical dependency counselors, clinical social workers, school counselors, and psychologists who treat patients exposed to significant trauma. Your courses will explore different types of interventions, how to rally available community resources, the issues associated with trauma, stress, crisis, and disaster experiences—and the importance of differentiating their characteristics. You will learn to assess and diagnose different types of trauma, including PTSD, using a lifespan perspective. Treatment planning incorporates family, individual, and group interventions, holistic intervention strategies, and recovery supports that include self-help groups. You will also study how trauma impairs neurodevelopment and immune systems.

Why Do We Need Trauma-Informed Counseling? 

Trauma has become an all-too-familiar factor in our society and our lives. No one is immune. Trauma can be a single, isolated event or a series of events affecting few or many. Trauma can impact every area and aspect of a person’s life. Children and adults exposed to traumatic events may experience a range of emotional and physiological reactions that can last a lifetime. 

Trauma-Informed Counseling Certificate flyer (PDF)

Contact Information-Certificate Director

Huma A. Bashir, Ed.D.
Associate Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
huma.bashir@wright.edu
389 Millett Hall
937-775-3290

Careers

The trauma-informed counseling certificate program is a great supplement to a variety of careers, including:  

  • Clinical mental health counselor 
  • Licensed social worker 
  • Clinical psychologist 
  • School counselor 
  • School administrators 
  • School personnel 
  • Certified rehabilitation counselor 
  • Chemical dependency counselor 
  • Other mental health professionals 

Real-World Experience

All students seeking the trauma-informed counseling certificate must be either in their practicum or have documented completion of practicum requirements.

Success Stories

Gwendolyn Ashby ’20

“Few counseling programs offer such advanced trauma coursework. To not take advantage of it would be to miss out on what makes the Wright State counseling program unique.”

Gwendolyn Ashby ’20
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Intern, South Community, Dayton

Ramee Linton ’20

“Trauma-informed care is needed in this day and age because of the increase of violent acts committed in mass forms. Taking these certificate courses allowed me to understand the impact trauma can have on individuals young and old.”

Academics and Curriculum

View the trauma-informed counseling certificate program information and requirements in the Academic Catalog.

Admission