Wednesday, May 6th
10:00 AM-1:15 PM ET
Overview:
The autonomic nervous system plays a central role in how clients respond to stress and trauma, shaping survival responses such as fight, flight, and freeze. This workshop examines the “window of tolerance” and the effects of hyperarousal and hypoarousal on somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Special attention is given to the freeze response, a survival strategy often used by trauma survivors, and the ways in which reenactment of this state during therapy can hinder processing and risk retraumatization.
In this presentation, Lisa Ferentz will help articipants explore how to help clients reconnect with their bodies by reframing physical sensation as a resource for grounding, safety, and containment. The training emphasizes somatic interventions that interrupt dissociation and strengthen resilience, including breath work, movement, self-touch, and other accessible strategies. Practical tools and techniques will be provided to support deeper trauma processing, foster self-compassion, and enhance self-care within clinical practice.
Objectives:
- Describe the functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in trauma response.
- Explain the concept of the “window of tolerance” and identify the manifestations of hyperarousal and hypoarousal in clients.
- Discuss why re-enactment of the freeze response in therapy may interfere with trauma processing and contribute to retraumatization.
- Implement strategies to help clients interrupt or short-circuit dissociative responses during sessions.
- Define somatic resourcing and explain why it may initially present challenges for clients in therapy.
- Identify and apply at least six somatic resourcing techniques such as breath work, movement, safe self-touch, and power poses—to enhance grounding, comfort, and containment.
Scope and Limitations Disclosure
This course introduces trauma-informed concepts and strategies designed to support clinical practice. While practical tools and interventions are discussed, the training is not a substitute for specialized certification or formal supervision in trauma-focused modalities. Participants are encouraged to apply the material within their professional scope of practice and in accordance with ethical and licensure standards.
Commercial Support Disclosure
Lisa Ferentz, MSW, LCSW-C, DAPA, is the author of several books on trauma treatment, including Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Traumatized Clients and Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing. Relevant concepts from her publications may be referenced during this webinar; however, there is no requirement to purchase any additional products or materials to complete this training. No other relevant financial relationships or commercial support have been disclosed.
Course materials are only available to enrolled students.
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Lisa Ferentz, MSW, LCSW-C, DAPA
Lisa is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for over 39 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Israel. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member at several Universities and is the Founder of “The Ferentz Institute,” now in its seventeenth year of providing continuing education to mental health professionals and graduating several thousand clinicians from her two Certificate Programs in Advanced Trauma Treatment. In 2009, she was voted the “Social Worker of the Year” by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work. Lisa is the author of “Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Traumatized Clients: A Clinician’s Guide,” now in its second edition, “Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing,” and “Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons From the Therapist’s Couch.” Lisa also hosted a weekly radio talk show, writes blogs and articles for websites on trauma, attachment, self-destructive behaviors, and self-care, teaches on many webinars, and is a contributor to Psychologytoday.com.
National Approvals
eCare BHI, as the accredited and approved sponsor, maintains responsibility for all the programs and must abide by each board’s continuing education guidelines.
Professional Counselors — The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No. 6703. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC are clearly identified. E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Addiction Professionals — NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute is officially on file with NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) as an Approved Education Provider. They are formally known as NAADAC Provider #139138. Please note that E care Behavioral Health Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.
Social Workers — Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
E Care Behavioral Health Institute, #1706, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. E Care Behavioral Health Institute maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 06-03-2020 – 06-03-2026.
CE Broker
CE Broker is a continuing education tracking system in which licensees track their compliance and report their completed CE hours credit (CE Broker Tracking #50-33336)
State Approvals
States that Accept ASWB-ACE Approved Providers |
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| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois |
| Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
| Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska |
| Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee |
| Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin |
| Wyoming | ||||||
States that Accepts NBCC Approved Courses: |
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| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut |
| Delaware | District Of Columbia | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Indiana |
| Iowa | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Missouri | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | Ohio | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota |
| Tennessee | Texas | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | Wisconsin | |
- Nevada CPC’s and MFT’s accept ASWB-approved training
- North Dakota Board Of Counselor Examiners LAPC and LAPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Rhode Island Board of Mental Health Counselors and Marriage & Family Therapists MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council LPC and LPCS accept ASWB approved training
- Utah Division of Professional Licensing – CMHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Washington State Department of Mental Health MHC’s accept ASWB approved training
- Wisconsin Council on Mental Health LPCS accepts ASWB-approved training
States that Accept NAADAC Approved Providers |
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| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | Delaware | Hawaii | Indiana |
| Kentucky | Maine | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Montana | Nevada | New Jersey |
| New Jersey | New Mexico | North Carolina | North Dakota | Oregon | Rhode Island | Tennessee |
| Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
States that Accept APA Approved Providers |
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| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Delaware | District Of Columbia |
| Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas |
| Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | New Jersey | New Mexico | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma |
| Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | Tennessee | Utah | Vermont | Virginia |
| Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | |||