CTRS-C Certification Course (2025)

Course Introduction

The Trauma and Resilience Specialist Certification begins with participants learning about the experience of trauma as one that impacts a person’s body and are shown a demonstration of trauma’s impact on the brain. The content then shifts to a strong focus on resilience, exploring how core values and beliefs influence how professionals work with children. The four universal needs of all human beings, as outlined in the Circle of Courage model, are presented and discussed, encompassing belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. Participants learn Participants learn the importance of sensory-based interventions and how to assess a child’s private logic and universal needs. Finally, participants develop trauma-informed and resilience-focused support plans for youth.

This course will take participants more deeply into the brain science of trauma and toxic stress, exploring the polyvagal theory and more about the science of resilience. The content emphasizes the importance of hope when working with at-risk and traumatized youth. Participants learn about the SITCAP® model (Structured Sensory Interventions for Traumatized Children, Adolescents, and Parents) and practice sensory-based interventions from SITCAP® model programs, including Healing the Experience of Trauma: A Path to Resilience. Experiential activities showcase how to process trauma, nurture, and restore resilience in youth of all ages.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify at least three questions to ask to promote a trauma-informed and resilience-focused mindset, when working with youth.
• Name the four main protective factors of resilient youth.
• Describe how trauma impacts the deep and outer brain functions.
• Describe the concept of private logic and provide at least two examples of how private logic impacts behavior.
• Discuss the polyvagal theory as it relates to trauma and resilience.
• Identify the core principles of the  SITCAP® model.
• Discuss how safety is maintained when implementing the SITCAP® model.
• Give three examples of resourcing.
• Discuss the importance of body and emotional awareness.

Academic Guidelines for Courses and Exams

Starr Commonwealth recognizes the importance of academic integrity within the academic community. Starr expects that participants in Starr courses and exams will honor this principal to protect the validity of Starr’s intellectual work. Please review the below academic guidelines.

• All academic work will be done by the individual to whom it is assigned. 
• Each participant is permitted to submit the exam twice. The highest grade will be saved. If at that time you do not receive a passing grade, you will be required to retake your course or repay for your exam.
• If a participant is uncertain about an issue of academic honesty, he or she can consult a Starr faculty member to resolve any questions prior to the submission of an academic exercise.
• Cheating, fabrication, falsification and plagiarism (intentional or unintentional) are not permitted in any academic exercise for Starr courses or exams.

About the Instructor(s)

Kathy Hart (Starr Commonwealth Senior Director of Learning Services and Solutions)  

Kathryn Hart, MA, has dedicated her 32-year career to helping children and families in various capacities. Her experience with youth and family services has encompassed both clinical and administrative roles. She has over 20 years of experience training at Starr Commonwealth in a variety of subjects, including behavior management techniques, trauma and resilience training, Restorative Practices, Transition to Success, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has also been a Certified Trauma Practitioner for 15 years. She has also served as a program administrator and collaborated with IT to implement and manage electronic health records organization-wide. Kathy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University.

Jenny Sloan (LMSW, CTRT CTRP-C)

Jenny has served children and families in the fields of education and social work for 25 years. In 2001, Jenny earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Instrumental Music Education (K-12) with a dual Major in Sociology from Michigan State University, where she also taught undergraduate courses in the Integrated Social Sciences Department as a teaching assistant. 

She began her career as a certified music educator in the Detroit Public Schools system; where she taught K-12 General and Instrumental Music as the director of award-winning instrumental music programs and served as a resource instructor in specialized student services. Jenny completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Michigan in 2009, and began work providing home-based therapy for children and families referred through the Child Welfare Department in Wayne County, and as a clinician in a high secure residential treatment center where she treated youth adjudicated of violent felony and sex offenses. Over her decade-long tenure with that agency, Jenny championed the integration of Trauma-Informed Care as a lead contributor to therapeutic programming and development, authored company publications, conducted training for agency employees, community stakeholders, local courts, care management organizations, law enforcement and first responders, and state graduate schools and universities, in addition to providing supervision to clinical supervisors, Master level clinicians, and graduate level interns as a Field Instructor with several graduate schools and universities. Jenny’s been an Associate Trainer through Starr Commonwealth for many years but joined Starr full time in early 2020 – where she currently serves as the Director of Clinical Services. 

Within her respective roles, Jenny has provided direct clinical care and supervision, individual and community-based crisis counseling, assisted institutions with initiating and evolving Trauma-Informed Care practices, authored various publications, conducted trainings for myriad healthcare, educational & governmental organizations, graduate schools & universities, and presented at many state, regional and national conferences on topics ranging from Trauma, Attachment & the Brain, Verbal & Non-Aggressive De-Escalation Techniques, Suicide Risk & Prevention, Intersectional Threats and Assets amid the LGBTQ+ community, to Developmentally-Informed, Co-Treatment and Tandem Approaches to Treating Childhood Trauma. Jenny recently delivered the Key Note address at the University of Michigan School of Social Work Commencement Ceremony, and continues to provide mentorship to students and novice clinicians. 

Jenny holds certifications as a Trauma Practitioner and Trainer, and Core Supervision through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Jenny serves as a reflective supervisor and consultant to novice and evolving clinicians and supervisors, both within her agency roles and in private practice, and has remained a persistent student and collaborator with leading innovators in the field. 

Will Weeks (CTRT)

Hello. My name is Will Weeks. I am a trainer and resilience coach for Starr Commonwealth. I have had the pleasure of serving in this role for the past eight years. I am a proud US Army combat veteran.  I received my BA from WSU in broadcast journalism. While completing my degree I began working in schools as a substitute teacher. I fell in love with learning about student academics and behavior.

I am curious about how trauma and stress impact our ability to learn and what role resilience has in the brain’s ability to thrive despite adversity. I have spent the past thirteen years either working as an educator/administrator, resilience coach or with educators, social workers and administrators but always for students and helping  professionals. I have held various roles from assistant teacher to dean of students. My passion is helping others to see the positive in all, especially children. Oh, and cooking! More than anything, I am the proud father of Joshua, Cleo and Clinton and Telese.

Course Length and Access

• This course takes approximately 12-hours to complete each required component and we encourage you to take your time with it, completing it at whatever pace works best for you and your self-care needs.
  • We strongly encourage participants to watch all of the recommended videos, read all of the provided and recommended resources, and complete all of the provided activities – as this will help to ensure a trauma-informed, resilience-focused foundation is set for your future growth and the betterment of the students you serve.
• Starr eLearning courses can be completed on laptops, tablets, or mobile devices – allowing the content to be accessed whenever and wherever you need it most.
• You will have access to this course page for 1-year (365 days).

Continuing Education Credits

Starr Commonwealth awards continuing education certificates for our online courses; however, it is up to each individual to understand the licensing requirements within their jurisdiction. Participants are responsible for contacting their state licensing board to determine if credits awarded for completion of this program will be accepted.