Course Professional Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD (April Intake)

We do not issue hard copies of Professional Diploma's and longer. We use the POK & Blockchain so that qualifications can be verified worldwide by scanning the barcode on the parchment which will be delivered by secure SSL & SMTP Protocols

Course Description

The Professional Diploma in Traumatology & PTSD offered by the Institute for Counselling & Psychotherapy Studies (ICPS) is an accredited continuing professional development programme designed to provide practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of psychological trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The course is delivered live online in a lecturer-led virtual classroom, allowing participants to engage in structured learning while interacting with experienced instructors and peers.

This specialist diploma is intended for counsellors, psychotherapists, mental health practitioners, and students in related disciplines, as well as professionals whose work involves supporting individuals who have experienced trauma. The programme bridges current trauma research with applied therapeutic practice, equipping participants with the knowledge and clinical insight required to work more effectively with trauma-related presentations.

Throughout the course, participants explore the foundations of psychological trauma, including the different forms trauma can take such as acute, chronic, complex, developmental, and intergenerational trauma. Learners examine the neurobiology of trauma and how traumatic experiences affect the brain, nervous system, emotional regulation, attachment patterns, and interpersonal functioning. The programme also provides a detailed examination of PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), including diagnostic frameworks and the psychological processes underlying common trauma responses.

A key focus of the diploma is developing a trauma-informed clinical perspective. Participants learn how to conduct trauma-sensitive assessments, formulate cases through developmental and neurobiological frameworks, and work within phase-oriented models of trauma treatment. The course introduces a range of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive, narrative, and somatic strategies designed to support stabilisation, emotional regulation, and the integration of traumatic experiences.

In addition to theoretical knowledge, the programme emphasises practical clinical application and reflective practice. Participants consider ethical and professional issues when working with trauma survivors, including boundaries, risk assessment, and safeguarding. The course also addresses therapist wellbeing, exploring topics such as vicarious trauma, burnout prevention, and the importance of supervision and self-awareness in trauma-informed practice.

Delivered over ten weeks in weekly evening sessions, the programme combines live online teaching with independent learning and provides 60 CPD credits upon successful completion. The Professional Diploma is recognised by all professional accreditation bodies, including the CPD Standards Office, the Professional Development Consortium (PDC), and the Irish Counselling & Psychotherapy Association (ICPA) and many others. This qualification is accepted worldwide.

By the end of the programme, participants will have developed a deeper understanding of trauma theory, enhanced their capacity for trauma-informed case formulation, and strengthened their ability to work safely and effectively with individuals affected by trauma and PTSD in clinical and helping contexts.